ST. LOUIS–It’s been said so much to the point that it’s considered cliche. Candidates in both major political parties have done it for years. “This election,” they say, “is the most important election of our lifetime.”

What You Need To Know

  • Toder is a St. Louis County business owner
  • Toder graduated from Washington University
  • 11 candidates are running for the Democratic party nomination for the U.S. Senate    
  • Learn more in the Spectrum Voters Guide

Two years ago, St. Louis County businessman Spencer Toder, one of 11 people now seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate, said he sat down with his wife, concerned about nothing less than the future of democracy. 

The two mapped out a plan for running for the seat, including what it would mean to come up short.

“It's an uphill battle no matter what. What is success going to look like if you don’t win this election?” Toder recalled from the family conversation in a recent interview with Spectrum News. “I said I need to touch as many lives as humanly possible. I need to help as many people as humanly possible and we need to leave a lasting legacy that we’ll be proud of.”

Toder has embraced an ethos of constituent service as part of the campaign, saying his team has signed up 10,000 Missourians for Medicaid, and helped 600 families access a Child Tax Credit. He pointed to a broken down sidewalk the campaign helped a voter in Kansas City get fixed. 

He’s also helping other campaigns, regularly hosting Zoom town hall chats with downballot candidates in uphill fights of their own. More substantially, Toder founded a company, Constituent Connections, which has developed software to help campaigns communicate with potential voters in a more cost-effective way. If he wins the primary, he’s promised to spend 10 % of the general election campaign on Democratic party infrastructure.

“I look at our campaign as doing something that’s transformational…changing the way campaigns operate while at the same time building that infrastructure that will be long term and staying there.” 

 

On the Issues:

 

  • Filibuster: Toder would vote to eliminate the filibuster
  • Abortion: Toder would vote to codify Roe protections
  • Healthcare: Toder supports Medicare for All/Universal Healthcare
  • Supreme Court: Toder would expand the court and supports impeachment investigations.
  • January 6 Investigation: “Accountability” for anyone involved, supports impeachment and criminal prosecution against U.S. House members involved.