Wick Thomas

Last updated

Wick Thomas
Member of the MissouriHouseofRepresentatives
from the 19th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2025

Wick Thomas is an American politician from Kansas City, Missouri. They were elected to represent District 19 in the Missouri House of Representatives on November 5, 2024, and assumed office on January 8, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, they are the first openly transgender or non-binary state legislator in Missouri.

Contents

Early life

Thomas is originally from Drexel, Missouri, where they say they experienced bullying in high school. They moved to Kansas City after being homeless as a teenager. They attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, receiving a B.A. in communications, before getting their M.L.S. from Emporia State University. [1]

They worked at Kansas City Public Library, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Metropolitan Community College prior to taking political office. [2]

Political career

Thomas began their political career in 2020 by running against incumbent Ingrid Burnett to represent District 19 in the Missouri House of Representatives. They ultimately lost in the democratic primaries. [3] They unsuccessfully attempted to run against Burnett again in 2022. [4]

After Burnett's retirement, Thomas ran for office in 2024 against Democrat Patricia Hernandez and Republican Karen Spalding. [5] Thomas won the election on November 5, 2024, making them the first openly transgender person elected to a statewide office in Missouri. [6]

In 2025, Republican members of the Missouri Legislature introduced bills to put permanent restrictions on access to sports and gender-affirming care by transgender youth. [7] Thomas, whose initial legislative priorities focused on education, libraries and the arts, made news when they spoke in opposition to the bill. [8]

Electoral history

Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 4, 2020, District 19 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ingrid Burnett 892 40.27% −10.34
Democratic Phyllis Harwick77935.17%n/a
Democratic Nicholas (Wick) Thomas54424.56%n/a
Total votes2,215 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 2, 2022, District 19 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ingrid Burnett 1,146 58.53% +18.26
Democratic Wick Thomas81241.47%+16.91
Total votes1,958 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 6, 2024, District 19 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Wick Thomas 951 50.06% +8.59
Democratic Patricia Ann Geronima Hernandez93049.94%n/a
Total votes1,881 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 5, 2024, District 19 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Wick Thomas 6,180 74.51 n/a
Republican Karen I Spalding2,11425.49+3.83
Total votes8,294 100.00%

Personal life

Thomas is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They live in Kansas City and run a historic arts business with their spouse Clay.. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Representative Wick Thomas: Member Details". Missouri House of Representatives. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ Kellogg, Sarah; Rosenbaum, Jason (January 17, 2025). "Missouri state representative wants to protect libraries from government interference". STLPR. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 24, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 26, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ Partian, Dorri (July 18, 2024). "Northeast Neighborhood Forum Introduces Primary Candidates". Northeast News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ Prager, Sarah (November 8, 2024). "LGBTQ candidates saw big election wins, with several historic victories". NBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ {{cite news |last1=Hanshaw |first1=Annelise |title=Missouri Republicans push to make laws restricting transgender minors permanent |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/missouri-republicans-push-to-make-laws-restricting-transgender-minors-permanent/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Missouri Independent |date=February 4, 2025}}
  8. ↑ Bayless, Kacen; Kelly, Matthew (February 6, 2025). "Transgender KC residents fear attacks from both sides of state line: 'Where do we go now?'". Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 24, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 26, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 6, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Election Results; Unofficial Election Returns". Missouri Secretary of State. November 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
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