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Ray Hartmann is running as the Democratic candidate for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, seeking to unseat six-term Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner. As a renowned journalist and founder of the Riverfront Times, Ray is eager to bring his passion for advocacy and change to Washington, D.C.
Ray's unwavering commitment to women's rights is a cornerstone of his campaign. He is committed to fighting for the restoration of Roe v. Wade protections and ensuring that women's reproductive rights are safeguarded.
Missouri's 2nd Congressional District is not just any district. It's one of the most competitive in the state and one of the few Republican-held seats that is still a true swing district. This means that your vote could make a huge difference in determining the balance of power in Congress. Your voice matters.
Ray is not just a candidate, he's a dedicated public servant and is committed to serving the people of the 2nd District. He wants to address important local issues like the poisoning of thousands of St. Louisans through radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project and securing federal funding for infrastructure projects. Ray is determined to ensure the District gets its fair share of federal support and investment.
A Career of Advocacy and Impact
Ray Hartmann's career has been marked by a commitment to speaking truth to power and advocating for the community. He began his professional journey as a daily newspaper reporter in New York. But he returned to Missouri to become speechwriter for then-Gov. Kit Bond at the age of 23 in 1975.
After the 1976 election, Ray founded the Riverfront Times (RFT), a weekly alternative newspaper that grew to become a cherished community institution. Under his leadership, the Riverfront Times was known for its fearless investigative journalism and commitment to covering the issues that mattered most to St. Louis residents. Ray built the RFT into one of the 10 largest newsweeklies in the U.S. with a weekly circulation of 100,000 – and served two years as president of the national Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. The RFT received the Gold Cup from the Missouri Press Association as the top weekly newspaper in the state in the last two years Hartmann owned the paper, which he sold in 1998.
Ray was an original panelist in 1987 of Donnybrook, the Nine PBS TV show that has become another revered St. Louis institution. He held that seat for 37 years until retiring in March 2024 to become a candidate for Congress. His sharp insights and witty commentary have made him beloved in Missouri's media landscape.
Among countless awards, Ray received the Reproductive Freedom Award from the Freedom of Choice Council, the Civil Libertarian Award from the ACLU, the Good Guys Award from the St. Louis Women’s Political Caucus and was a five time winner of the Excellence in Journalism Award from the Association of Black Journalists. Ray was also the first two time winner of the Horace Mann Friend of Education Award for Journalism from the Missouri National Education Association.
Ray was inducted into the St. Louis Print Media Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Parkway Hall of Fame in 2012. A passionate advocate for disability rights, Ray served over a period of three decades on the boards of Paraquad and the Starkloff Disability Institute, where he was honored as a Gold Star member. He is an Eagle Scout.
Committed to Real Change
Ray's campaign is about more than just one issue. While protecting reproductive rights is a top priority, he also plans to focus on improving infrastructure, health care, education, and fair representation. Ray believes in increasing funding for public schools, raising teacher pay, making college more affordable, and supporting a ban on Congressional stock trading to ensure that elected officials put the public interest first.
Ray Hartmann offers a fresh perspective and a commitment to integrity and effective representation for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District. He is ready to fight for the values that most matter to you and your family.