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Tara Murray
Tara Murray (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Missouri House of Representatives to represent District 104. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Biography
Tara Murray was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned a high school diploma from Ritenour High School, a bachelor's degree from Northeast Missouri State University in 1993, and a graduate degree from Truman State University in 1995. Her career experience includes working as a teacher.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 104
Incumbent Terri Violet and Tara Murray are running in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 104 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Terri Violet (R) | |
 | Tara Murray (D) | |
| ||||
 = 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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Endorsements
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2024
See also: Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 104
Terri Violet defeated Tara Murray in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 104 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Terri Violet (R) | 54.9 | 10,929 |
| Tara Murray (D) | 45.1 | 8,974 | |
| Total votes: 19,903 | |||
| = 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 104
Tara Murray advanced from the Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 104 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tara Murray | 100.0 | 2,329 |
| Total votes: 2,329 | |||
| = 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 104
Terri Violet defeated Jeremy Lloyd in the Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 104 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Terri Violet | 67.8 | 2,697 |
| Jeremy Lloyd | 32.2 | 1,281 | ||
| Total votes: 3,978 | |||
| = 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 Murray in this election.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2024
Tara Murray completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murray's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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after graduating from Ritenour High School in 1989, Tara attended Northeast Missouri State University, now known as Truman University. Tara received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in Elementary Education. Tara returned to her alma mater and has been teaching middle school students for the almost 30 years in the Ritenour School District. She currently is teaching while running for public office. Tara has served as an NEA union representative for 25 years and is a member of Tri-County Labor and St. Charles Democratic Central Committee.
This will be her first public office but not her first time at public service. Some of the most fulfilling experiences have been volunteering at a food pantry and delivering "meals on wheels" Tara has been a campaign volunteer off and on 45 years, and was protesting unfair treatment of teachers since she was born. Literally, her mother, teacher also, was pregnant when she was "picketing" at a local high school.
Tara currently lives in St. Peters, with her husband Mike, and two dogs Izzy and Luca. Tara has two adult sons, and three adult "bonus" daughters and became a grandmother earlier in 2024.- I have been a public school teacher for 30 years in the Ritenour School District. I know what public schools are and what they are not. I will teach those in Jefferson City who are trying to dismantle public school and denigrate public school teachers, what our students need and do not need. I will ensure all public money go to public schools and they be fully funded. I will expand our universal K-12 programs to include early childhood education. I will push for free breakfast and lunch to all students and legislate for a 5 day school week. To deal with the teacher shortage I want to create programs that incentivize the teaching profession and attract more persons of color and those from rural and urban areas.
- All persons have the right to bodily autonomy. Simply put, the government can not make decisions for any person's healthcare decisions. We must restore reproductive rights and freedoms and access to full reproductive healthcare, as well as gender-affirming healthcare, to all Missourians. I will protect the repeal of the abortion ban after the people of Missouri have had the right to vote on it and also protect the initiative process and work to ensure no decisions made by the initiative process and be overturned. I will support, advocate for, cosponsor, and/or submit legislation to bring funding back to Planned Parenthood.
- Missourians should be able to afford a place to live, food to eat, and the right to not only live their lives but also to thrive in them in Missouri. They should also be able to stop working when they get older and still have all of the above. Unions make sure all workers have rights. Here in Missouri, our unions fight for better worker pay, better benefits, and safer conditions. I will oppose any Right to Work legislation. LGBTQ+ must have the right against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or identity. The Missouri Non-Discrimination Act must be passed. Persons of Color in Missouri need to be seen and heard. Not only seen and heard, they also need action taken to remedy the disparities between whites and non-whites.
Protect Public Schools
Protect Reproductive Rights
Protect Unions
Protect LGBTQ and Persons of Color
"Your mother is a saint" Parents, former students, my friends, community members, say this a lot. My mother takes care of and advocates for those that others would rather ignore.
She has high expectations, but always kindness backing those up. She is leader, a problem solver and is unwavering in her passion to serve others.
Lead like Jed
Advise like Leo
Think like Josh
Speak like C.J.
Argue like Toby
Write like Sam
Care like Donna
Just the other day an older gentleman told me a story. When he was a young kid maybe 8-9, he and his brother, father and pregnant stepmother were driving along Route 66. She had to use the bathroom. He told me how his dad past two gas stations, "at least" he said. A few minutes later, his dad pulled over and his stepmother got out. He asked his dad we he didn't stop at any of the gas stations, and his dad didn't say anything-he had to watch his pregnant wife climb down a ravine, through a barbwire fence to relieve herself. Then the gentleman said "we are not just going back, we're going backward and HELL if I am doing that". He then thanked me for running and he was for sure going to vote for me.
I went to a door today to talk one of my "undecided" voters into a "strong suport". Young woman late 20's. I told her she was marked "undecided" and asked her how I could convince her to vote for me. She said, " that person got it wrong, I'm all the way blue, I am voting for you".
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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
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
