Michela Skelton on Friday brought her campaign for the 50th District Missouri House seat to a friendly crowd at the weekly meeting of the Muleskinners, the Boone County Democratic club.

Skelton is seeking the seat most recently held by Caleb Jones, who resigned to become deputy chief of staff to Gov. Eric Greitens. The Aug. 8 special election will pit Skelton against Republican Sara Walsh. Bill Clark, program chairman and first vice president for Boone County Democrats, said Walsh and Skelton will be invited to attend a meeting together in July.

The district inlcudes parts of Boone, Cole, Cooper and Moniteau counties, and supported Donald Trump and other Republicans in November.

"They gerrymandered it real good," Skelton said of the district, adding that she would support having a nonpartisan commission redraw legislative districts.

She said that, in speaking with area voters, she most often hears concerns about how to protect funding for public education and provide good jobs.

"We have to stop the war on workers that's being waged in Jefferson City right now," Skelton said, adding that she supports a minimum wage increase and protection of the collective bargaining rights of workers. She said past generations, including her in-laws, were able to join unions and retire with a pension, but young workers don't have the same opportunity now.

Skelton said the state should support public education and noted there is a lot of concern in rural areas about state funding. When asked about recent efforts to expand charter schools throughout the state, Skelton said public schools already are struggling without the added threat of charter school expansion.

"I think it's just an absolute travesty," Skelton said.

Skelton said her campaign is being run on small donations and that she would not accept money from corporations. She said ensuring high voter turnout in August is crucial to her effort to win.

Clark said he has heard from people in Moniteau County about Skelton, adding that the Democrat has been able to make an impression in a traditionally Republican area.

Muleskinner David Robinson said he was impressed by Skelton on Friday.

"She seems to know her district very well," Robinson said. "She's a breath of fresh air in Missouri Democratic politics."