Steve Butz

Steve Butz
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 81st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byFred Wessels
Personal details
Born (1959-02-28) February 28, 1959
PartyDemocratic

Stephen F. Butz (born February 28, 1959) is a Democratic member of the Missouri General Assembly representing the State's 81st House district. He is a candidate for Missouri's 4th Senate district.

Career

Butz is the president of Crawford-Butz Insurance Agency and a manager of Eagle Hurst Ranch in Steelville.[1]

Butz first ran for office in 2016 against incumbent Fred Wessels.[2] Butz was elected unopposed on 6 November 2018 from the platform of Democratic Party.[3] He was unopposed in 2020, and defeated primary challenger Bill Stephens in 2022.[2]

Political views

Butz opposes abortion but does not support legislation banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest.[4] In 2019, Butz voted against Missouri House Bill 126, which went into effect after Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization,[5] after initially supporting it.[6]

Butz has supported the state-takeover of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the establishment of the Board of Police Commissioners in the City of St. Louis.[7] In 2024, Butz requested Mike Parson to place Missouri Highway Patrol on St. Louis highways.[8] In 2025, Butz received donations from commission member and local restaurateur Chris Saracino.[9]

In 2025, Butz challenged Republican efforts to weaken paid sick leave provisions,[10] and make cuts to income tax.[11]

Butz supports school choice and gave preliminary approval for a bill to transfer money from St. Louis Public Schools to charter schools. He ultimately voted against the bill because he was not allowed time to speak in session.[5] In 2024, Butz was one of three House Democrats to vote in favor of a Sinquefield-backed education reform bill that adjusted the state funding formula, mandated a minimum salary for educators, permitted charter schools in Columbia, Missouri, and expanded the state MOScholars program.[12]

In 2025, Butz voted "present" on a measure to remove capital gains tax from Missouri revenue.[13]

In 2026, Butz co-sponsored a bill with George J. Hruza that requires Missouri public education institutions to utilize the IHRA definition of antisemitism in evaluating cases of harassment or discrimination.[14]

Electoral history

Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 2, 2016, District 81[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Alfred (Fred) Wessels 1,839 48.23%
Democratic Steve Butz 1,363 35.75%
Democratic Adam Kustra 611 16.02%
Total votes 3,813 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 7, 2018, District 81[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Butz 2,903 50.81% +15.06
Democratic Travis Estes 2,813 49.19% n/a
Total votes 5,716 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 6, 2018, District 81[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Butz 9,789 100.00%
Total votes 9,789 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 3, 2020, District 81[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Butz 11,461 100.00% 0.00
Total votes 11,461 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 2, 2022, District 81[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Butz 2,630 60.20%
Democratic Bill Stephens 1,739 39.80%
Total votes 4,369 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 8, 2022, District 81[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Butz 7,592 77.67% −22.33
Republican Jake Koehr 2,183 22.33% +22.33
Total votes 9,775 100.00%

References

  1. ↑ "Representative Steve Butz". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  2. 1 2 Rosenbaum, Jason; Kellogg, Sarah (June 28, 2023). "Missouri Rep. Steve Butz on stemming tide of gun violence in St. Louis". STLPR. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  3. ↑ "Missouri Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. ↑ Schlinkmann, Mark (2022-03-09). "Progressive St. Louis alderman to challenge House Democrat; cites abortion, schools". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  5. 1 2 "Roll Call: MO HB126 (2019 Regular Session)". LegiScan. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  6. ↑ McKinley, Ed; Hancock, Jason (February 27, 2019). "Missouri House sends sweeping anti-abortion bill to Senate; Democrats vow filibuster". Kansas City Star.
  7. ↑ Kellogg, Sarah (2025-02-21). "Missouri House passes state takeover of St. Louis police department". STLPR. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  8. ↑ Kirn, Jacob (Oct 17, 2024). "Lawmaker wants Missouri Highway Patrol back on interstates in St. Louis". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  9. ↑ Erickson, Kurt (2025-10-16). "Current and former lawmakers lead money haul in two St. Louis Senate races". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
  10. ↑ Keller, Rudi (2025-02-20). "New paid sick leave requirement targeted by Missouri Republicans • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  11. ↑ Keller, Rudi (2025-02-13). "Missouri House votes on party lines to eliminate income tax on capital gains • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  12. ↑ Drebes, Dave (April 19, 2024). "Drebes: Wish lists and a Rex Sinquefield lobbyist: Inside the state's K-12 tax credit expansion". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  13. ↑ Erickson, Kurt (2025-05-08). "As budget pressures loom, Missouri House approves massive tax cut". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
  14. ↑ Kernan, Megan (January 12, 2026). "Missouri bill would define antisemitism in schools amid rise in local hate incidents". KSDK.
  15. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 25, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 27, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. November 30, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 26, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
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