Hein and Buckles to Face Off in District 136 Election

Incumbent Stephanie Hein and challenger Jacey Buckles compete for the Missouri House seat this November.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections

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Incumbent Representative Stephanie Hein and challenger Jacey Buckles are set to compete for the Missouri House District 136 seat this November. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Incumbent representative Stephanie Hein and business leader Jacey Buckles will face off in the Missouri House District 136 election in November 2026. Both candidates have centered their campaigns on state budget, education, and taxation policies.

Why it matters

The outcome will determine the representative for District 136 in Springfield as Stephanie Hein seeks a third term while Jacey Buckles aims to address local issues.

The election involves Missouri House District 136, where the incumbent and challenger are vying for the legislative seat. The contest follows the August primary where Amendments 4 and 5 were struck down.

The players

Stephanie Hein

Stephanie Hein is the incumbent Missouri House Representative for District 136 and a member of the House Budget Committee.

Jacey Buckles

Jacey Buckles is the chief financial officer of FTS Heating and Cooling who is campaigning for the District 136 seat.

The details

Stephanie Hein, who first won the seat in 2022, currently serves on the House Budget Committee. Challenger Jacey Buckles, an executive at FTS Heating and Cooling, has highlighted her experience expanding the firm from 5 to 25 employees while voicing support for Amendment 3.

Timeline

  1. Jacey Buckles graduated from Southwest Baptist University and joined FTS in 2017.

  2. Stephanie Hein first flipped the District 136 seat in 2022.

  3. Amendments 4 and 5 were struck down in August 2026.

  4. The general election for District 136 occurs in November 2026.

Political Context

The race is defined by a sharp divide over Amendment 3, with Stephanie Hein opposing the measure and Jacey Buckles supporting it. This highlights a broader legislative friction regarding constitutional ballot measures in the state.

Residents of District 136 will decide which candidate will influence state budget and education policy for the coming term. The results will determine who represents Springfield interests in the state legislature starting in 2027.

The takeaway

Voters can assess the candidates based on their stated policy priorities for education and state spending. Understanding these platforms helps residents prepare for the upcoming ballot decision.

Further reading

Learn more about local races in the Springfield Elections section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Springfield News-Leader.

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