Stephen Webber

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Stephen Webber

| state_senate = Missouri

| district = 19th

| term_start = January 8, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = Caleb Rowden

| successor =

| office1 = Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party

| term_start1 = December 4, 2016

| term_end1 = December 1, 2018

| predecessor1 = Roy Temple

| successor1 = Jean Peters Baker

| state_house2 = Missouri

| district2 = 46th

| term_start2 = January 7, 2009

| term_end2 = January 9, 2017

| predecessor2 = Jeff Harris

| successor2 = Martha Stevens

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|8}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = Saint Louis University {{small|(BA)}}
University of Missouri, Columbia {{small|(JD)}}

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}

| serviceyears = 2004
2006–2007

| rank = Sergeant

| battles = Iraq War

}}

Stephen Webber (born June 8, 1983) is an American politician. He is a member of the Missouri Senate from the 19th district, serving since 2025. He previously represented the 46th district in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Background and education

Webber attended The American Legion Boys State of Missouri in 2000.{{Cite web|title=Who's Who of Missouri Boys State|url=https://moboysstate.org/about/people/whoswho/#Webber2000|access-date=2021-09-16|website=moboysstate.org}} He is a 2001 graduate of Hickman High School in Columbia, MO.{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2003/apr/20030427fort003.asp | title = Military Notes | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = April 27, 2003 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160124122405/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2003/apr/20030427fort003.asp | archive-date = January 24, 2016 | url-status = dead }} He received his bachelor's degree in economics from Saint Louis University in 2006.{{cite news | url = http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/07/28/primary-primer-webber-although-young-touts-his-wealth-life-experience/ | title = Primary primer: Webber, although young, touts his wealth of life experience | last = Barker | first = Jacob | newspaper = Columbia Missourian | date = July 28, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-date = 2013-01-19 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119215800/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/07/28/primary-primer-webber-although-young-touts-his-wealth-life-experience/ | url-status = dead }} Webber received his J.D. in 2013 from the University of Missouri School of Law and is a licensed attorney in the State of Missouri.{{cite news|last1=Santiago|first1=Christina|title=Rep. Stephen Webber running for state senate|url=http://www.komu.com/news/rep-stephen-webber-running-for-state-senate/|accessdate=2015-05-29|publisher=KOMU|date=April 9, 2015|archive-date=2015-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530004730/http://www.komu.com/news/rep-stephen-webber-running-for-state-senate/|url-status=dead}}

Career

Webber has served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps.{{cite news | url = http://www.semissourian.com/story/1472514.html | title = Federal programs ease voting for those serving in military overseas | last = Keller | first = Rudi | newspaper = Southeast Missourian | date = October 24, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-06}}{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/sep/20080902news001.asp | title = An outpouring of support | last = Greaney | first = T.J. | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = September 2, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180827/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/sep/20080902news001.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }} His first tour, which began in 2004 and lasted 7 months, found him stationed outside Abu Ghraib prison. In 2006, he returned to Iraq, this time to Fallujah, as a squad leader of 12 other Marines.{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/feb/20080220news011.asp | title = Local Marine to run for seat in state House | last = Rosenbaum | first = Jason | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = February 20, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708181024/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/feb/20080220news011.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }}

After returning from Iraq, he worked as an aide to Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in Washington, D.C.

Webber completed his Juris Doctor in 2013 at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.

Political career

=Election to State House=

==Democratic primary==

On February 19, 2008, Webber announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination to replace Representative Jeff Harris as the member for the 23rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Harris, a Democrat, had previously announced he would not run for reelection in order to run for attorney general of Missouri.{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/ourtown/20080622ourtown064a.asp | title = Some area lawmakers are bound to change in this fall's elections | last = Rosenbaum | first = Jason | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = June 22, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180303/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/ourtown/20080622ourtown064a.asp | archivedate = July 8, 2011 }}

Webber defeated opponent Cande Iveson in the August 5, 2008 Democratic primary election, with 3,391 votes to her 1,735,{{cite news | url = http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/08/06/webber-still-win-democratic-nods-state-house-seats/ | title = Webber, Still win Democratic nods for state House seats | last = Barker | first = Jacob | newspaper = Columbia Missourian | date = August 6, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-05}} or 66.2 percent to 33.8 percent of the vote.{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/aug/20080806news001.asp | title = Webber easily wins 23rd seat | last = Rosenbaum | first = Jason | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = August 6, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180822/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/aug/20080806news001.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }}

During the primary campaign, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Webber had received a number of "high-powered endorsements" from "education groups, labor unions and a bevy of Columbia political figures"{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/jul/20080723news006.asp | title = War vet gets high-level support | last = Rosenbaum | first = Jason | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = July 23, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708181029/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/jul/20080723news006.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }} including former Missouri governor Roger B. Wilson and local Democratic booster Bruce Wilson.

==General election==

Webber ran unopposed in the November 4th, 2008 general election,{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/oct/20081030news008.asp | title = Students get taste of politics | last = Heavin | first = Janese | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = October 30, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180836/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/oct/20081030news008.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }}{{cite news | url = http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/05/unopposed-23rd-district-candidate-keeps-busy-election-day/ | title = Unopposed 23rd District candidate keeps busy on Election Day | last = Dieterich | first = Chris | newspaper = Columbia Missourian | date = November 5, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-06}} winning 100% of the vote{{cite web | url = http://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/ | title = Summary Report - Boone County, Missouri | publisher = Boone County Clerk's Office | date = November 4, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-06}} and making him the youngest representative in the state.{{cite web | url = http://www.house.missouri.gov/pr/Audio/12-22-08/Young%20Rep%20script.doc | title = Youngest Lawmaker Prepares for First Session | last = Aldrich | first = Dick | publisher = Missouri House of Representatives [http://www.house.missouri.gov/content.aspx?info=/audio.htm] | date = December 22, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-06}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

=In office=

Upon election, Webber and fellow incoming representatives Mary Still and Chris Kelly announced a number of legislative initiatives, vowing to increase funding for the University of Missouri,{{cite web | url = http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=225281 | title = Freshmen legislators want more university funding | last = Slavit | first = Mark | publisher = Connect Mid-Missouri | date = November 20, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006210658/http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=225281 | archive-date = October 6, 2011 | url-status = dead }} add "robo-calls" to Missouri's No Call List,{{cite web | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/dec/20081201news007.asp | title = Bill would cap payday loan rates | last = Heavin | first = Janese | publisher = Columbia Daily Tribune | date = December 1, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708181016/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/dec/20081201news007.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }} increase state restrictions on short-term or "payday" loans,{{cite news | url = http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/03/new-legislation-calls-stricter-limits-payday-loans/ | title = Proposed legislation to restrict payday loans | last = Tsukayama | first = Haley | newspaper = Columbia Missourian | date = December 3, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120724175235/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/12/03/new-legislation-calls-stricter-limits-payday-loans/ | archive-date = July 24, 2012 | url-status = dead }} and change Missouri election law to allow early voting.{{cite news | url = http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/nov/20081113comm003.asp | title = Early voting | last = Waters | first = Henry J. III | newspaper = Columbia Missourian | date = November 13, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180908/http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2008/nov/20081113comm003.asp | archive-date = July 8, 2011 | url-status = dead }}

During his first term as representative, Webber sat on the Rules Committee, a Special Standing Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety, and the Homeland Security Committee.{{cite web | url = http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=023 | title = Representative Stephen Webber | publisher = Missouri House of Representatives | accessdate=2009-07-05}}{{cite web | url = http://www.themaneater.com/blogs/politics/2009/1/19/columbia-representatives-find-their-committee-assi/ | title = Columbia representatives find their committee assignments | last = Denney | first = Andrew | publisher = The Maneater | date = January 19, 2009 | accessdate=2009-07-06}}

=State Senate elections=

In April 2015 State Rep. Stephen Webber announced his intention to seek the 19th District State Senate seat. In his announcement Webber described the importance of the Mid-Missouri community, "When I was sitting in Fallujah, the place I wanted to come back to was Boone County, it wasn't anywhere else in the world," Webber said. "The community has invested a lot in me and I want to make sure we invest in the next generation of Missourians."{{cite news|last1=Keller |first1=Rudi|title=Webber announces plans to seek Senate seat in 2016 |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/elections/webber-announces-plans-to-seek-senate-seat-in/article_b6d0b6e5-01bf-563e-aee3-01cb074e68fe.html|accessdate=1 March 2017 |work=Columbia Daily Tribune|date=9 April 2015}} The incumbent State Senator, Kurt Schaefer, was term limited. Webber was unopposed in the August 2016 Democratic primary election, and in November he faced Republican state Representative Caleb Rowden. District 19 was made up of two counties: Boone and Cooper, with 91% of the votes cast in Boone and only 9% cast in Cooper. Webber narrowly won Boone by a margin of 1,063 votes, but Rowden won Cooper by a landslide of 3,219 votes, giving Rowden the win district-wide.

In February 2024, Webber filed to run for District 19 again, which is currently made up of only Boone County, and is unopposed again in the Democratic primary.{{cite web|url =https://s1.sos.mo.gov/candidatesonweb/DisplayCandidatesPlacement.aspx?OfficeCode=20%20SE%2019&ElectionCode=750006341| publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|title=UNOFFICIAL Candidate Filing List|date=March 26, 2024|accessdate=May 27, 2024}}

Electoral history

=State Representative=

{{Election box begin | title=2008 General Election for Missouri’s 23rd District House of Representatives[http://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/ Boone County Election Archives-November 4, 2008 General Election-District 23-Retrieved July 6, 2009]}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Webber

|votes = 16,862

|percentage = 100.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = none

|votes = 0

|percentage = 0.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=2010 General Election for Missouri’s 23rd District House of Representatives[http://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/ElectionResults/20101102.htm Boone County Election Archives-November 2, 2010 General Election-District 23-Retrieved November 6, 2010]}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Webber

|votes = 9,370

|percentage = 67.99

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Paul S. Szopa

|votes = 4,411

|percentage = 32.01

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=2012 General Election for Missouri’s 46th District House of Representatives {{cite web|last1=Carnahan|first1=Robin|title=Missouri Secretary of State|url=http://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/default.aspx?eid=750002497|website=Missouri Secretary of State Election Night Results|publisher=MO Secretary of State|accessdate=29 May 2015|archive-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725021111/http://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/default.aspx?eid=750002497|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Webber

|votes = 12,202

|percentage = 65.02

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Fred Berry

|votes = 6,564

|percentage = 34.98

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=2014 General Election for Missouri’s 46th District House of Representatives {{cite web|last1=Kander|first1=Jason|title=Missouri Secretary of State|url=http://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/default.aspx|website=Missouri Secretary of State Election Night Results|publisher=MO SOS|accessdate=29 May 2015}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Webber

|votes = 7,948

|percentage = 100.00

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = NONE

|votes = 0

|percentage = 0

|change =

}}

=State Senate=

{{Election box begin|title=2016 General Election for Missouri's 19th Senate District{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/2016GeneralElection.pdf|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|date= December 7, 2016|title=Election Results; Official Election Returns|accessdate=May 27, 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Caleb Rowden

|votes = 45,335

|percentage = 51.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Webber

|votes = 43,179

|percentage = 48.78%

}}