Today, I am announcing my candidacy, in the Democratic Primary, for Missouri State Senate. There can be no overstating how important our 2020 elections will be. Together, we can make it a turning point to Move Missouri Forward. Below is my formal announcement and a special invitation to our kick-off fundraiser on May 30th. Details for the event are below and a donation button. I look forward to sharing my vision with voters from all corners of the 5th District and listening to you!
Steve Roberts, State Representative
Candidate for State Senate
State Representative Steve Roberts
Launches Campaign for State Senate
Roberts seeks the 5th senatorial district seat, and is committed to criminal justice reform and economic development
ST. LOUIS, MO, May 20, 2019—State Rep. Steve Roberts, Jr., 77th district, today announced his candidacy in the Democratic primary for the state Senate, fifth district seat. Roberts is in his second term as a member of the Missouri House, where he serves as chairman of the Missouri Legislative Back Caucus.
“The fifth district is the vibrant and exciting center of the region,” Roberts said. “If elected, I would be honored to represent the district and its diverse population, and will work tirelessly to make sure all its people’s voices are heard.”
Roberts, who served as a prosecutor in St. Louis City, has used his unique perspective to work as an advocate for criminal justice reform and economic development. Earlier this year, he filed the Money Bail Reform Act, legislation aimed at preventing nonviolent and low-level offenders from being unnecessarily confined while awaiting trial. He also authored legislation to incentivize employers to provide full-time employment to felons seeking a second chance.
As chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, he has led the caucus in advocating for criminal justice reform, voter empowerment and women’s rights.
“Social justice and economic development will continue to be a central focus in my campaign and, if I am elected, in my work as a state senator,” Roberts said. “During my time as a prosecutor, I saw firsthand how the system can ensnare those who come into contact with it, especially low-income offenders and people of color. I promise to work for a criminal justice system that is applied fairly, and actually works for the people it is supposed to protect.” In service of this goal, Roberts currently serves as the ranking minority party member on the Special Committee for Criminal Justice, as well as on the Judiciary Committee.
Roberts has also been committed to issues such as expanding Medicaid and senior services, neighborhood stabilization and preservation, economic development, voting rights and women’s issues. He serves on the Committee for Workforce Development and was appointed to the Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund by the Speaker of the House. While serving on the Utilities Committee, Roberts worked on legislation that lowered the costs of utility rates in St. Louis.
Recognizing that education is the key to many of these reforms, Roberts has worked to expand access to STEM fields and co-sponsored an [adult high school bill] with Republican colleagues, which led to the opening of the first high school in St. Louis city targeted at adult learners. He also hosts a yearly Back to School Fair at Yeatman-Liddell Middle school, providing free backpacks, school supplies and other necessities to students across the district.
“Providing a quality public education to all Missourians is among the chief responsibilities of our government,” Roberts said. “Education is the most important factor in achieving the social and economic reforms that are so necessary in our state.”
About Steve Roberts
Rep. Roberts is a fourth generation St. Louisan, whose parents and grandparents overcame segregation and discrimination to establish successful careers and become civic leaders. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communication Studies from the University of Miami and received his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. While in law school, Roberts worked in the US Congress as a legislative intern, as a certified law clerk with the District Attorney’s Office in the city of Compton, CA, and assisted the Counsel to Secure Justice in New Delhi, India, to help victims of violent sexual assault. Following the events in Ferguson, MO, in 2014, Roberts returned to serve his community as a prosecutor for the city of St. Louis, where he participated in over 100 cases, from minor weapons offenses to homicides.
He is a member of the Missouri Bar and US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, a lifetime member of the Mound City Bar Association and a founder and former president of the St. Louis chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association.
About the Fifth District
The fifth state Senate district covers a large portion of the city of St. Louis and is currently represented by State Senator Jamiliah Nasheed, who is not running for reelection.
