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Melissa Viloria
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Melissa Viloria (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Missouri House of Representatives to represent District 4. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Viloria completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Melissa Viloria was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Viloria earned a bachelor's degree from Missouri State University in 2000. Her career experience includes working as a project coordinator. [1]
Elections
2024
See also: Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 4
Incumbent Greg Sharpe defeated Melissa Viloria in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 4 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Sharpe (R) | 82.8 | 14,066 | |
 | Melissa Viloria (D)  | 17.2 | 2,916 | |
| Total votes: 16,982 | |||
| = 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 Missouri House of Representatives District 4
Melissa Viloria advanced from the Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 4 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Viloria | 100.0 | 693 |
| Total votes: 693 | |||
| = 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 Missouri House of Representatives District 4
Incumbent Greg Sharpe advanced from the Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 4 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Sharpe | 100.0 | 4,963 | |
| Total votes: 4,963 | |||
| = 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 Viloria in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Viloria completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Viloria's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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With maternal roots in Northeast Missouri that stretch back 3 generations, and having an immigrant father, Melissa Jo Viloria has the proud heritage and the fortitude for change that will transpire into a confident and strong leader for House District 4. When elected, she will focus on increasing job growth, securing reproductive freedom, and protecting Missouri’s public schools.
- With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, my main concern is with reproductive freedom and healthcare privacy. When 51% of the population's reproductive freedom is denied, all freedoms are in question. Missouri has some of the strictest abortion restrictions in the nation and these are forcing Missouri's pregnant people over state lines for common healthcare needs. With abortion, being outlawed in Missouri even in cases of rape and incest, birth control and IVF are on the far-right's agenda for Missouri and I am here to stop that.
- Missouri's residents are forced to travel outside of their home counites to work and causes loss of local taxes, constant travel and commuter costs and less time spent with their families. If we can grow local economies that allows residents to stay closer to home.
- Missouri's public schools are under attack by the far-right agenda. Missouri is 49th ranked in teacher pay and our teachers are leaving the profession or traveling to neighboring states because their needs are not being met locally. Tax money needs to stay local and support local public schools. School vouchers are a scam to filter taxpayer money into religious schools that do not follow the same regulations as public school districts.
Reproductive freedom hits close to home since I am the mother of a teenage daughter whose future is directly impacted by the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Her future is in this policy. When those with uterus do not feel safe in making their own healthcare decisions that impact the rest of their lives. The fear of being attacked and then a possible unwanted pregnancy that could occur weighs heavy. Finding a healthcare provider who has received the appropriate training in her female healthcare impacts her. In Missouri, the legislature wants to limit obstetric training to healthcare providers. Knowing that if an abortion is needed, my daughter could lose her healthcare, is concerning.
I look up to women who are able to have both a career and a healthy family or successful personal life. Michelle Obama is a woman who was able to have a successful career while raising a family of good people. She was able to pivot her focus when necessary and for the betterment of the country. She was able to see the big picture.
Growing up, I was fascinated with The West Wing and how the relationships between all involved make for a productive administration. When you surround yourself with the best, the best is what you expect. In the movie Dave, he uses his normal work experiences to solve budget issues that the cabinet couldn't handle. It means that sometimes the simple way is the best way. I have started listening to podcasts lately and The Heartland Pod is one I have been listening to more often.
The ability to listen to constitutes is paramount in being an elected official. The ability to put your own views/opinions to the side while you fight for the constitutes is what good officials need.
I can listen to constitutes and can move to take concerns and create policy that will work for all. I work to encourage and inspire those to work hard for what will make their lives better.
The main responsibility of someone who is elected to HD4 is making the lives of the ALL who live in this district, better. If you cannot make policy that will help not hurt, that will enhance not impede, that will embrace not exclude then you should not hold office. If policy you create has to demean some to lift up others, is policy that should not exist.
My legacy will be that Missouri will no longer be 'Red' or 'Blue' State, it will be a state for all. It will be a state where those with uteruses don't need to fear making medical decisions with their advise from their providers. Or fear of losing their lives due to being denying reproductive healthcare. And Missouri will be a state that cherishes ALL of its citizens.
The Challenger disaster happened while I was in either 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember it distinctly because at the time, I really wanted to be an astronaut. I loved learning about space and science. That day, all of my classmates sat in our desks, watched the rolled in TV and we shared in seeing it all. We shared in seeing the shuttle launch and then the boosters separating as it rose higher and then it was gone. My teacher just turned off the TV and left the room. A classroom of 20, eight-year-olds were left sitting by ourselves after witnessing the deaths of America's finest astronauts and 1 teacher. She was our reason for watching, we were all so excited to start lessons about space, that would be taught by a teacher in space. And then she was gone, they were all gone and so was our innocence.
When I was 16, I was a lifeguard at the municipal pool during the summer. Then during the winter, I worked at Pizza Hut. I worked this same cycle until I graduated and went to college.
Interview with the Vampire because I read this as a teenager and it started my reading journey where I try to read a couple of books per month. Anne Rice wrote from a place where she pushed her Catholic boomer upbringing and explored differing cultures, opinions and lifestyles. Books that make you question, debate and think make you a better all around person.
Tom Sawyer, clever is as clever does.
Let the River Run by Carley Simon
I struggle with delegating responsibility to other when I feel I can do that work myself.
I believe the governor and state legislature need to remain separate governing bodies. While they may agree/disagree on issues, they need support if that is the will of the people.
I believe the greatest challenge Missouri will face in the next decade is rebuilding our fractured public school system. For the last 20 years, the far right has held a super majority in the Missouri legislature and has spent millions on not setting our children up for success. They have worked hard to set our children up to fail and then blame public schools and set up a school voucher system for their own monetary benefits.
I believe as long as that prior experience was productive it is beneficial. They pass supportive policy that makes our lives better, that is productive. If they have pushed bi-partisan policies and were able to compromise for the betterment of the collective that is productive. But if a legislator has been sitting in office collecting a salary and hasn't created or sponsored constructive policy they need to be voted out.
When you build relationships with others whether same or opposing party, that opens the dialog on issues. When you understand other's perspectives, experiences and expertise the discussion is a win.
We will see how this race plays out will leave all options on the table.
I am a member of a Pro-Choice organization in Northeast Missouri and West Central IL and we held a viewing of the documentary, The Janes, that discusses the plight of a group of women in the 60's and 70's who assisted women in the Chicago area to obtain an illegal abortion. We were very lucky to also have a Q&A with two of the real Janes who were featured in the documentary. And these women were mad with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This battle, should have been over. They fought and we all won, but since Roe was not codified, the Supreme Court took their liberties and overturned it. And now, we all lose. Listening to their concerns revitalized my concern regarding eliminating the restrictive abortion bans in Missouri and keeping healthcare privacy fundamental.
A mama tomato, a daddy tomato and a baby tomato were walking down the street. The baby tomato was falling behind and the daddy tomato walked back to the baby and stepped on it and said 'Ketchup'.
In extreme circumstances that is when emergency powers are needed, much like during the pandemic.
Allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest or health of the mother as soon medical professional sees fit.
Education and Transportation
I believe that all branches of government need accountability and governance. The state has an Auditor for a reason, to check on all the other branches.
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
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Missouri House of Representatives District 4 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 2, 2024
Current members of the Missouri House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Jon Patterson
Minority Leader:Ashley Aune
Representatives
District 1
Jeff Farnan (R)
District 2
District 3
Danny Busick (R)
District 4
Greg Sharpe (R)
District 5
Louis Riggs (R)
District 6
Ed Lewis (R)
District 7
Peggy McGaugh (R)
District 8
Josh Hurlbert (R)
District 9
Dean VanSchoiack (R)
District 10
Bill Falkner (R)
District 11
Brenda Shields (R)
District 12
Mike Jones (R)
District 13
Sean Pouche (R)
District 14
Ashley Aune (D)
District 15
Kenneth Jamison (D)
District 16
Chris Brown (R)
District 17
Bill Allen (R)
District 18
Eric Woods (D)
District 19
Wick Thomas (D)
District 20
Mike Steinmeyer (R)
District 21
Will Jobe (D)
District 22
Yolanda Young (D)
District 23
Michael Johnson (D)
District 24
Emily Weber (D)
District 25
Patricia Mansur (D)
District 26
Tiffany Price (D)
District 27
Melissa Douglas (D)
District 28
Donna Barnes (D)
District 29
Aaron Crossley (D)
District 30
Jon Patterson (R)
District 31
Ron Fowler (R)
District 32
Jeff Coleman (R)
District 33
Carolyn Caton (R)
District 34
Kemp Strickler (D)
District 35
Keri Ingle (D)
District 36
Anthony Ealy (D)
District 37
Mark Sharp (D)
District 38
Martin Jacobs (D)
District 39
Mark Meirath (R)
District 40
Chad Perkins (R)
District 41
Doyle Justus (R)
District 42
Jeff Myers (R)
District 43
Kent Haden (R)
District 44
John Martin (R)
District 45
Mary Steinhoff (D)
District 46
David Smith (D)
District 47
Adrian Plank (D)
District 48
Tim Taylor (R)
District 49
Jim Schulte (R)
District 50
Gregg Bush (D)
District 51
Mark Nolte (R)
District 52
Bradley Pollitt (R)
District 53
Terry Thompson (R)
District 54
Brandon Phelps (R)
District 55
William Irwin (R)
District 56
Michael Davis (R)
District 57
Rodger Reedy (R)
District 58
Willard Haley (R)
District 59
Rudy Veit (R)
District 60
Dave Griffith (R)
District 61
Bruce Sassmann (R)
District 62
Sherri Gallick (R)
District 63
Tricia Byrnes (R)
District 64
Deanna Self (R)
District 65
Wendy Hausman (R)
District 66
Marlene Terry (D)
District 67
Tonya Rush (D)
District 68
Kem Smith (D)
District 69
Scott Miller (R)
District 70
Stephanie Boykin (D)
District 71
District 72
Doug Clemens (D)
District 73
Raychel Proudie (D)
District 74
Marla Smith (D)
District 75
Chanel Mosley (D)
District 76
Marlon Anderson (D)
District 77
District 78
Marty Murray (D)
District 79
LaKeySha Bosley (D)
District 80
Elizabeth Fuchs (D)
District 81
Steve Butz (D)
District 82
Nick Kimble (D)
District 83
Raymond Reed (D)
District 84
Del Taylor (D)
District 85
District 86
Jeff Hales (D)
District 87
Connie Steinmetz (D)
District 88
Holly Jones (R)
District 89
George Hruza (R)
District 90
Mark Boyko (D)
District 91
Jo Doll (D)
District 92
Michael Burton (D)
District 93
Bridget Moore (D)
District 94
Jim Murphy (R)
District 95
Vacant
District 96
Brad Christ (R)
District 97
David Casteel (R)
District 98
District 99
Ian Mackey (D)
District 100
District 101
Ben Keathley (R)
District 102
Richard West (R)
District 103
Dave Hinman (R)
District 104
Terri Violet (R)
District 105
Colin Wellenkamp (R)
District 106
Travis Wilson (R)
District 107
Mark Matthiesen (R)
District 108
Mike Costlow (R)
District 109
John Simmons (R)
District 110
Justin Sparks (R)
District 111
Cecelie Williams (R)
District 112
Renee Reuter (R)
District 113
Phil Amato (R)
District 114
Vacant
District 115
Bill Lucas (R)
District 116
Dale Wright (R)
District 117
Becky Laubinger (R)
District 118
Mike McGirl (R)
District 119
Brad Banderman (R)
District 120
John Hewkin (R)
District 121
Bill Hardwick (R)
District 122
Tara Peters (R)
District 123
Jeff Vernetti (R)
District 124
Don Mayhew (R)
District 125
Dane Diehl (R)
District 126
Jim Kalberloh (R)
District 127
Ann Kelley (R)
District 128
District 129
John Black (R)
District 130
Bishop Davidson (R)
District 131
Bill Owen (R)
District 132
Jeremy Dean (D)
District 133
Melanie Stinnett (R)
District 134
Alex Riley (R)
District 135
Betsy Fogle (D)
District 136
Stephanie Hein (D)
District 137
Darin Chappell (R)
District 138
Burt Whaley (R)
District 139
Bob Titus (R)
District 140
Jamie Gragg (R)
District 141
Melissa Schmidt (R)
District 142
Jeff Knight (R)
District 143
Bennie Cook (R)
District 144
Tony Harbison (R)
District 145
Bryant Wolfin (R)
District 146
Barry Hovis (R)
District 147
John Voss (R)
District 148
David Dolan (R)
District 149
Donnie Brown (R)
District 150
District 151
Steven Jordan (R)
District 152
Hardy Billington (R)
District 153
Keith Elliott (R)
District 154
Lisa Durnell (R)
District 155
Matthew Overcast (R)
District 156
Brian Seitz (R)
District 157
Mitch Boggs (R)
District 158
Scott Cupps (R)
District 159
Dirk Deaton (R)
District 160
Vacant
District 161
Lane Roberts (R)
District 162
Robert Bromley (R)
District 163
Cathy Loy (R)
Republican Party (108)
Democratic Party (52)
Vacancies (3)
