It’s a time-worn story throughout the Show-Me state, where the imposition of term limits has created the need to constantly replenish the roster of the Legislature.

Former state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, who now oversees the civil rights advocacy group Empower Missouri, said the phenomena is likely linked to two factors: Term limits and political team-building.

Spouses of lawmakers often spend time helping put together a campaign, she said.

“Often they are active in the local party. They may be a committeeman or ward captain. They may have already tried to build a team of people who are out knocking on doors, handing out fliers and doing the nuts and bolts part of a campaign,” Mott Oxford said.

“Then, when the spouse is term-limited out of office, it may be that it looks like an attractive thing to do and the pieces are already in place,” she said.

Term limits aren’t always behind the trend, however. Rep. Michele Kratky, D-St. Louis, took the political reins from her husband, Fred, who served as a state representative from 2002 to 2007 and made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor in 2012.

In a number of cases, family connections other than marriage play an important role.