Audrey Richards

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Audrey Richards

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 6, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

George Washington University, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Joplin, Mo.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Policy director

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Audrey Richards (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Missouri's 7th Congressional District. She lost in the Republican primary on August 6, 2024.

Richards completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Audrey Richards was born in Joplin, Missouri. She earned a bachelor's degree from George Washington University in 2015. Richards' professional experience includes working as a policy director, nonprofit consultant, sports writer, and knowledge manager at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Richards has been affiliated with Girl Scouts USA, The Global Leadership Coalition, and Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development.

Elections

2024

See also: Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2024

Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)

Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Incumbent Eric Burlison defeated Missi Hesketh and Kevin Craig in the general election for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Burlison (R)	71.6	263,231
		Missi Hesketh (D)	26.3	96,655
		Kevin Craig (L)	2.2	7,982

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 367,868
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Natalie Faucett (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Missi Hesketh advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Missi Hesketh	100.0	21,854

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,854
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Incumbent Eric Burlison defeated Audrey Richards, John Adair, and Camille Lombardi-Olive in the Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Burlison	83.1	79,755
		Audrey Richards	6.7	6,444
		John Adair	6.6	6,358
		Camille Lombardi-Olive	3.5	3,400

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 95,957
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Kevin Craig advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin Craig	100.0	264

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 264
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Richards in this election.

2022

See also: Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Eric Burlison defeated Kristen Radaker-Sheafer, Kevin Craig, and Roger Rekate in the general election for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Burlison (R)	70.9	178,592
		Kristen Radaker-Sheafer (D)	26.8	67,485
		Kevin Craig (L)	2.3	5,869
	Submit photo	Roger Rekate (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 251,947
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Kristen Radaker-Sheafer defeated John M. Woodman and Bryce Lockwood in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kristen Radaker-Sheafer	63.3	13,680
		John M. Woodman	25.4	5,493
		Bryce Lockwood	11.2	2,430

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,603
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Burlison	38.2	39,443
		Jay Wasson	22.5	23,253
		Alex Bryant	17.9	18,522
		Mike Moon	8.7	8,957
		Sam Alexander	5.5	5,665
		Audrey Richards	3.0	3,095
		Paul Walker	2.9	3,028
		Camille Lombardi-Olive	1.3	1,363

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 103,326
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Derral Reynolds (R)

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Kevin Craig advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin Craig	100.0	416

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 416
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2020

Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Republican primary)

Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Incumbent Billy Long defeated Teresa Montseny (Unofficially withdrew), Kevin Craig, Audrey Richards, and Dennis Davis in the general election for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Billy Long (R)	68.9	254,318
		Teresa Montseny (D) (Unofficially withdrew)	26.6	98,111
		Kevin Craig (L)	4.2	15,573
		Audrey Richards (Independent) (Write-in)	0.3	1,279
	Submit photo	Dennis Davis (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	2

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 369,283
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Teresa Montseny advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Teresa Montseny	100.0	30,568

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30,568
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Sharon Hall (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Incumbent Billy Long defeated Eric Harleman, Kevin VanStory, Steve Chentnik, and Camille Lombardi-Olive in the Republican primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Billy Long	66.1	69,319
	Submit photo	Eric Harleman	11.1	11,688
		Kevin VanStory	10.0	10,482
		Steve Chentnik	7.1	7,393
		Camille Lombardi-Olive	5.7	5,966

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 104,848
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Benjamin Holcomb (R)

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7

Kevin Craig advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Missouri District 7 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin Craig	100.0	508

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 508
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Richards' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Audrey Richards completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Richards' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised in Southwest Missouri, this area is my home. My education began at New Life Academy, a small Christian school in Hollister, but I later transferred and graduated from Reeds Spring High School. I graduated from George Washington University with a degree in political science.

I worked as the knowledge manager at a bureau of the US Treasury Department, while also working as a sportswriter for various online media outlets. I then became the policy director for a nonprofit dedicated to studying the impact of screen time and social media on child development.

I will be a leader with fresh perspectives, a strong work ethic, and a heart deeply rooted in the conservative values of our community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Congress is broken. We need Republicans who are focused on passing budgets, protecting children from big tech, and we certainly need Republicans who respect the institution.
• We need to keep American farmland out of the hands of foreign investors. As family farms continue to face a myriad of threats, we need to support our local farmers and keep that land in the hands of those who care for it. Whether it is Saudi Arabia draining water wells to grow alfalfa in Arizona or China buying farmland near military bases across the country, we need to restrict foreign ownership to protect our resources and our national security.
• We need to keep America in American hands. US Steel was sold to a Japanese company; our government put the entirety of our helium reserves up for sale, with the only bid coming from a German company; and we continue to allow oil drilled here in America to be exported to other countries before it goes to American consumers. We need to continue to encourage innovation and manufacturing in this country, not exporting some of our longest-held companies.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about the following:

• Regulating Technology
  
• Protecting Farmland
  
• Protecting American Consumers
  
• Supporting American Businesses

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I think our politicians should go back and watch "Schoolhouse Rock" to learn how to actually pass a bill.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The three things I always look for are:

1) Do they care about what I care about? When it comes to my congressman, I want to see them talk about protecting children, regulating big tech, protecting farmland, etc. When I see my congressman focusing on things like UFOs ... I wonder why aliens take precedent over the things I want to see fixed.

2) Are they willing to reach across the aisle? In these divisive times, it may seem like an impossibility to find a politician willing to build a coalition that includes members of the opposite party. However, I believe that is the only way to pass legislation that matters. If you can't get buy-in from at least a handful of people on the other side, how can you know that they won't simply pass new legislation in a few years to undo what you did? I believe in bipartisanship and nonpartisanship. It is important to me that my congressman understands that.

3) No waffling. If we disagree then we disagree, but I don't want a congressman who isn't a straight-shooter. I want to clearly understand why they did or did not vote for something. It is important that they can articulate an opinion concisely, and without repeating what another member of Congress has said.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

1) Putting the best interests of the people in Southwest Missouri above everything else.

2) Passing a budget.

3) Building coalitions to pass legislation, not simply introducing bills and allowing them to die in committee.

4) Demonstrating continued respect for the institution of Congress and presenting themselves in accordance with the weight of the office.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked with my dance team at Silver Dollar City, clogging in the gazebo on the square. I think I did that for two summers. I recall spending most of my money on rock candy.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, though I believe it is more important to have had experience at the level of government than it is to have held elected office. I have experience in a coalition working alongside the US Senate and working in the Executive Branch. I understand the federal government and how it works. It is easier to build coalitions as a legislator

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Technology. Whether it is social media, artificial intelligence, or privacy ... It touches every area of our lives and I am acutely aware of how far the government is lagging in regulating big tech.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I firmly believe elections are term limits. Term limits hinder the development of political expertise within a given legislative body and they make it impossible to become true statesmen. If you want to make candidates more accountable, you need to focus on the money. Term limits are inherently anti-democratic by denying the public their right to vote for a candidate.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I gave a speech among other candidates at a county event. After we were done, a girl came up to me wearing glasses and a campaign t-shirt for someone I can't recall. She told me that she was eighteen and heading off to college soon at MSU. She said, "I'm so glad you're here because that's the first time I have ever seen someone up there with a face like mine."

Every time I get discouraged, I remember that moment.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. That is statesmanship.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

It would play a very large role. The US House of Representatives has continuously failed to pass a budget on time. Continuing resolutions are a sign of failure.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Intentionally and sparingly, in a nonpartisan manner.

What committees interest you?

All the committees interest me. I love the institution, I love Congress, and its inner working are fascinating. If I selected a committee to sit on, I would choose either:

• Science, Space, & Technology
  
• Energy & Commerce
  
  

I am very interested in the intersection of technology and commerce.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The government should be transparent and accountable. This question seems both incredibly obvious and far too broad to answer here.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Richards' campaign website stated the following:

“	Issues “I am going to Washington DC to support the people of Southwest Missouri and carry on the Lincoln legacy of uniting the country through the Republican Party." - Audrey Richards Farmers: I believe in supporting family farms, and preventing the sale of American farmland to foreign entities like China. Veterans: I will support America's veterans at every opportunity and work to ensure veteran’s benefits do not cancel out other benefits. Immigration: We must find a solution to the humanitarian crisis at the border without prioritizing migrants over our own communities. Big Tech: Congress must regulate big technology companies to prevent them from harming children’s minds and profiting from their data. Economy: I will work to lower interest rates, lower the tax burden for the average American, and lower gas prices. Seniors: We should enable Medicare to negotiate drug prices for all medications, and ensure our seniors are not forced to work decades past retirement to make ends meet. Guns: I will continue to support the Second Amendment.	”
—Audrey Richards’ campaign website (2024)

2022

Audrey Richards completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Richards' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised in Southwest Missouri, I am a young woman dedicated to making this area a place where young people want to start small businesses and raise their families. I grew up in Stone County, so the small-town values of faith and hard work are at the core of how I conduct myself and my business. As a kid I was a Girl Scout and loved to dance, focused on ballet and clogging. (It was my dream to be a Rockette, but at 5'5 I was just a bit too short.)

I began my professional career at a bureau of the US Treasury Department in Washington DC, where I worked in the IT business unit. During that time, I was also a professional sportswriter focused on Major League Baseball sabermetrics. Currently, I am a consultant at Children and Screens, a nonprofit institute dedicated to researching the impact of screen time and digital media on the brain development of children ages six months to seventeen.

My goal is to represent everyone in Southwest Missouri with class and dignity, not divisiveness. This place is my home and I love the people in it. Whether young, old, or somewhere in between, I try to connect with everyone. This community raised me to be a strong person, fastidious in my commitment to faith, freedom, and understanding different perspectives. I want to ensure the next generation grows up with that same sense of pride in our community, and I will represent those values on the national stage.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• As Abraham Lincoln said in his First Inaugural Address, " We must not be enemies, but friends." I am committed to ending the divisiveness in Washington DC, and putting the People first. When needed, I am willing to reach my hand out across the aisle to find solutions to the problems we have here in Southwest Missouri. Talk is cheap, and it's all most politicians seem to have. I believe in taking action, and I believe in putting in the work for my people in Southwest Missouri.
• As a young American, I look at the national debt and wonder how the US plans to get it under control so people like me don't spend the next several decades paying it off. This places a massive burden on American taxpayers. I will work to rein in federal spending and focus taxpayer dollars on addressing immediate needs in our community.
• Agriculture is a huge part of our economy, and farmers are often overlooked in Washington DC. I am committed to tracking and reducing foreign ownership of American farmland. I also intend to pause merger approvals and institute anti-trust reviews so big corporations stop taking advantage of family farms.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Priority number one for me is always education. Rural schools are inherently disadvantaged due to lack of resources and funding; I experienced that firsthand growing up. Children are the future and rural America is no less valuable than major metro centers.

I am incredibly passionate about agricultural issues and big tech. The law and Congress have not kept up with the growing pace of technology. I will push to eliminate companies' ability to collect, sell, and/or purchase your personal internet data. I will also work to fund research into the impact of screen time and social media on the development of children. Finally, I will always act as a representative of family farmers. They are the growers and sowers, without whom America literally does not eat. Congress needs to acknowledge that and support them.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was at Silver Dollar City when I was eight years old. My dance class performed in the gazebo at the front of the park during the summer, where we would perform clogging routines in half-hour intervals. It was hot and I had so much fun both summers I was able to participate. I got a paycheck for $50 and spent the bulk of it on rock candy and Three Musketeers bars.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely. You need to know how the game is played, and how the laws are actually enacted. Having worked in the executive branch, I understand that sometimes Congress passes a law which has consequences they didn't foresee. (Oftentimes because they didn't care to ask.) If you don't have federal government experience, you will get gobbled up by the machine. Politics in DC is about influence and strategy; if you're not familiar with the institution or the people in it, then you won't have either of those things.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Technology. Our government is massively outpaced by other countries and foreign entities. Whether it is our dependency on third-party software, the fact that laws have not kept up with the pace of innovation, or the lack of clarity on what constitutes misinformation, the US is not prepared. In my view, our greatest challenge will be keeping pace with innovation while also not being afraid to regulate big tech.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would like to be part of:

• Education and Labor
  
• Agriculture
  
• Science, Space, and Technology
  
• Appropriations

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. The House has the power of the purse, meaning they fund everything. We have House elections every two years because that financial power needs to be held accountable by the people more often than anything else. In our capitalist system, money talks. That also means the Representatives appropriating the money need to be kept in check.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe that elections are term limits. I believe we need to limit incumbents by getting dark money out of the election process. The people should control elections, not large corporations and big donors. My campaign is not associated with PACs or SuperPACs because I believe that any good coming from them is heavily outweighed by the negative influence they have on the election process.

If candidates have equal time and each voter has equal influence, then elections are fair. We don't need term limits. We need to focus on maintaining our One Person, One Vote philosophy. America's philosophy is not One Corporation, One Thousand Votes.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Abraham Lincoln.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

While I was out knocking on doors one day, I stopped at a house with a Democrat sign out front. Never afraid of a challenge, I knocked on this woman's door and handed her the door hanger with my platform on it. She read it and shook her head with a soft smile on her face. She said,

"You give me hope."

Then she gave me a hug. It left an impression on me because she is a hardcore Democrat who voted straight blue, but she saw a young woman trying to run a positive campaign and it meant something to her. It's not about money or party, it's about showing up and showing kindness. That is how I continue to run my campaign, because people of this district deserve to be represented like that.

Tell us your favorite joke.

How do you count cattle?

With a cow-culator!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. Anyone can go up to DC and shout at people across the aisle. That doesn't take political know-how or courage. Standing up to say, "I need this, and I am willing to budge a little over here to get it," that's how you build a coalition. That is how you become a respected Representative. Talking points can get you elected, but only opening up to bipartisanship will actually accomplish anything for the community you hope to serve.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Audrey Richards completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Richards' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a born and raised southwest Missourian, passionate about American government. I graduated from Reeds Spring High School and then graduated from George Washington University in DC with a degree in political science. I worked for the US Treasury Department for six years so I could get the federal government experience I needed to better understand how bureaucracy works day-to-day. (And how to move forward when it doesn't.)

I made the decision to run because I don't like how our district, my home, is being represented on the national stage. Small town communities are my priority because I grew up in a town of 900 people, and I understand how important it is to be able to lean on your neighbors, to care for others in your community. Small towns often don't have the resources to invest in themselves, leaving them lagging behind in terms of infrastructure and internet access and access to startup capital for small businesses.

My goal as an independent write-in candidate is to represent my community in a nonpartisan, honest way. I want to fight for things that affect the day-to-day lives of everyone in our district. My goal is to help everyone, and I don't think you can say that about my opponent.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• EDUCATION: Increased funding for education, primarily in rural areas. Basing school funding off property taxes inherently disadvantages certain children, and no child's education should suffer because of where they grow up. We need parity when it comes to access to skills education, college prep, and dual-credit courses. We should also repeal Common Core education requirements.
• INFRASTRUCTURE: Missouri's roads and bridges are ranked 8th-worst in the nation. This is a safety issue that affects everyone and puts us at an economic disadvantage. I will support another FAST (Fixing America's Surface Transportation) Act with a larger budget. We need to focus on shoring up our existing infrastructure while also investing in public transportation.
• MONEY IN POLITICS: Big donors should not have more say in the political process than everyday Americans. I support the DISCLOSE Act, which requires companies and nonprofits to disclose all of their political giving/donations. It would also require federal contractors to disclose their political spending as part of the bidding process. My campaign subsists on my own money and small-dollar donations, and that is how honest campaigns should be run.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My biggest policy passion is public education. We should have the brightest minds in the world, and all children should have the opportunity to succeed regardless of learning ability or where they grow up.

I am also very passionate about infrastructure, broadband/WI-FI access, banking regulations, getting dark money out of politics, and making it easier for small businesses to get off the ground in small-town America.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I would like to follow the example of Teddy Roosevelt. When he realized that neither political party was truly serving the interests of the American people, he took it upon himself to create a third party. As an Independent write-in candidate, I definitely relate. I also very much admire his commitment to our country's national parks and the environment. Teddy Roosevelt pursued policies he believed in, even when everyone in the political system around him disagreed.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

*Integrity

• Transparency
  
• Open Heart, Open Mind, Open Doors

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

First and foremost is my integrity. I am always willing to stand up for what is right, regardless of who is watching or what is popular. Honesty is also a huge part of that; I don't lie and I can't spin. I am a straight-talker and I think after ten years of my opponent, southwest Missouri could use some of that.

My dedication to southwest Missouri is also something that I think will make me successful. Because it's not just about business interests, this job is about listening to the people you serve and understanding how laws and regulations affect them. I love the people of this district and am committed to making life better for them.

Finally, I believe my ability to listen to constituents and have genuine conversation will make me a very successful congressperson.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Mission by Qveen Herby.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I certainly do! My experience in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is invaluable. I learned so much about day-to-day operations of a government agency and that will better inform my perspective when voting on legislation. It is important to have a representative who looks at how laws impact all constituencies.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would definitely like to be part of the following committees:

• Energy & Commerce
  
• Education & Labor
  
• Natural Resources
  
• Small Business
  
• Joint Committee on the Library

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. Absolutely, because the US House of Representatives controls the purse, it is important that they are the most responsive to voters. Decisions about taxation and how our taxpayer money is spent are so important that congressmen cannot expect to just get elected and sit in a seat for several years. We need responsive people, and my opponent is not responsive. He is complacent and I would never take that responsibility so lightly.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Audrey Richards campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Missouri District 7	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
2022	U.S. House Missouri District 7	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
2020	U.S. House Missouri District 7	Lost general	$7,985	$8,113
Grand total			$7,985	$8,113
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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U.S. House Missouri District 7

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Footnotes

[show]

Missouri's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Josh Hawley (R)

Eric Schmitt (R)

Representatives

District 1

Wesley Bell (D)

District 2

Ann Wagner (R)

District 3

Bob Onder (R)

District 4

Mark Alford (R)

District 5

Emanuel Cleaver (D)

District 6

Sam Graves (R)

District 7

Eric Burlison (R)

District 8

Jason Smith (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (2)