Doug Beck (2025)

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck talks about the recent special session and expectations for when lawmakers return in 2026. Beck represents Missouri’s 1st Senate District, which takes in portions of unincorporated south St. Louis County and municipalities like Crestwood and Webster Groves. As Senate Minority Leader, he is the top Democrat in a chamber that Republicans dominate. Beck said his caucus chose to work with Republicans during a June special session, especially since Democrats wanted to get more money to help rebuild parts of the city a tornado destroyed on May 16. But he said his caucus is still upset with how the regular session ended when Republicans used a procedural maneuver to pass measures aimed at upending voter-approved paid sick leave and abortion rights initiatives.