ST. LOUIS–Ray Reed, who ran for Congress in Missouri’s second congressional district in 2022, confirmed to Spectrum News that he’ll seek a state legislative seat in Jefferson City in 2024.

Reed, a Brentwood, Mo. native was defeated in the 2nd district Democratic primary by then-State Rep. Trish Gunby. He plans to run in the 83rd district, a House seat representing Brentwood, Maplewood, Shrewsbury and Affton in South St. Louis County. The incumbent, State Rep. Sarah Unsicker D-Shrewsbury, is term limited in 2024 and is considering a run for Attorney General in 2024.

Reed ran on a progressive platform as a U.S. House candidate, supporting codifying Roe v. Wade protections and the elimination of student debt. He told Spectrum News he’ll run in 2024 to support gun control, improved education funding and medicaid expansion.

“Republicans actually are starting to run out of ideas. They've been in charge, they’ve done everything they really wanted to do. They’re just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks,” Reed said Monday. “Right now they believe that attacking trans kids is what’s going to stick for them and make them successful when it’s not. I think they’re actually going to bring a lot of Democratic voters this next election.” 

In order to run, Reed, 26, will step away from his role with a federal political action committee dedicated to supporting Generation Z candidates (born between 1997 and 2013) running for office around the country. It’s believed he’d be the first Democrat elected to the statehouse here from that generation. State Rep. Mazzie Boyd R-Hamilton, won a St. Joseph area House seat last fall.

No candidates for the 83rd district have filed campaign finance paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission.