Richardson ascends to speaker post

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Rep. Todd Richardson, a Poplar Bluff Republican, will be formally elected as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives in Missouri following his caucuses’ decision today to select them as their unchallenged designee for the post.

Richardson has served for the 2015 legislative session as majority floor leader, effectively the second-in-command for House Republicans. The position is a common stepping-stone for future House speakers, and Richardson was widely expected to pursue the post following the 2016 elections.

Richardson’s climb to one of the most powerful positions in state government comes on the heels of former Speaker John Diehl’s resignation earlier today after The Kansas City Star released text messages Diehl exchanged with a college intern in the capitol that were sexual in nature. Diehl admitted to sending the texts, calling it a “stupid thing to do” and a “mistake.” Diehl told a small gaggle of reporters earlier today he was resigning both the speakership and his House seat in an effort to “deal with it in an adult way.”

Richardson needs 82 votes, a simple majority, in the House to be officially selected as Speaker. But with the overwhelming bulk of his caucus backing him, his election is all-but-decided. He’ll be ascending to the post on the final day of the legislative session, a wholly unique event in Missouri history.

The Poplar Bluff Republican told press today that the House would pursue at least a few orders of business tomorrow, despite both the bizarre circumstances surrounding their final week and the continuing work stoppage in the senate. Richardson said the House would likely take up measures dealing with workers comp and the state’s deadly force statutes.

The post of majority floor leader, which Richardson will be vacating, will be officially filled during the Republican’s summer caucus.