Rik Combs

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Rik Combs

Constitution Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Alabama

Graduate

University of Florida

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

1986 - 2006

Personal

Birthplace

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Religion

German Lutheran

Contact

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Rik Combs (Constitution Party) ran for election for Vice President of the United States. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Rik Combs was born in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in 1984 and an advanced degree from the University of Florida in 1997. Combs served as a career officer in the United States Air Force from 1986 to 2006. His professional experience also includes working as the CEO of Baron AG from 2006 to 2009. Combs has been associated with the VFW, American Legion, the Air Force Association, the United Sportsmen's Club, Eagles, Rotary, United Way, Safety Net, Vitae Foundation, the Pregnancy Help Center, the Samaritan Center, Hunting for Heroes, Operation Bugle Boy, the NRA, Gun Owners of America, National Association for Gun Rights, Wreathes for Heroes, Wardsville Lions Club, Americans for Tax Reform, Missouri Club for Growth, Campaign for Liberty, Toys for Tots, Young Americans for Liberty, Cole County Parks Committee, and the LU/DBUSA.

Elections

2024

Vice presidency

Former President Donald Trump (R) won the November 5, 2024, presidential election.

Presidential election, 2024

		Candidate/Running mate	%	Popular votes	Electoral votes
✔		Donald Trump/J.D. Vance (R)	49.8	77,303,568	312
		Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (D)	48.3	75,019,230	226
		Jill Stein (multiple running mates) (G)	0.6	861,164	0
		Robert F. Kennedy Jr./Nicole Shanahan (Independent)	0.5	756,393	0
		Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (L)	0.4	650,138	0
		Claudia De La Cruz/Karina Garcia (Party for Socialism and Liberation)	0.1	165,191	0
		Cornel West/Melina Abdullah (Independent)	0.1	81,084	0
		Peter Sonski/Lauren Onak (American Solidarity Party)	0.0	41,853	0
		Randall Terry/Stephen E. Broden (Constitution Party)	0.0	41,290	0
		Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis (Independent)	0.0	28,399	0
		Richard Duncan/Mitchell Preston Bupp (Independent)	0.0	12,805	0
		Joel Skousen/Rik Combs (Constitution Party)	0.0	12,786	0
		Jay Bowman/De Bowman (Independent)	0.0	5,971	0
		Christopher Garrity/Cody Ballard (Independent)	0.0	5,294	0
		Joseph Kishore/Jerry White (Socialist Equality Party)	0.0	4,650	0
		Rachele Fruit (multiple running mates) (Socialist Workers Party)	0.0	4,118	0
		Mattie Preston/Shannel Conner (Godliness, Truth, Justice)	0.0	2,857	0
		Lucifer Everylove (no running mate) (Unaffiliated)	0.0	2,653	0
		Blake Huber/Andrea Denault (Approval Voting Party)	0.0	2,196	0
		Michael Wood/John G. Pietrowski (Prohibition Party)	0.0	1,144	0
		Vermin Supreme/Jonathan Realz (Independent)	0.0	914	0
		Laura Ebke/Trisha Butler (Liberal Party)	0.0	859	0
		William P. Stodden/Stephanie H. Cholensky (Socialist Party)	0.0	364	0
		Robert Wells Jr./Tony Jones (Independent)	0.0	359	0
		Other write-in votes	0.2	235,673	0

---

There were no incumbents in this race The results have been certified.

Total votes: 155,240,953 0 states have not been called.

2022

See also: United States Senate election in Missouri, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Missouri

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Missouri on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Schmitt (R)	55.4	1,146,966
		Trudy Busch Valentine (D)	42.2	872,694
		Jonathan Dine (L)	1.7	34,821
		Paul Venable (Constitution Party)	0.7	14,608
	Submit photo	Nathan Mooney (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	14
	Submit photo	Steve Price (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	9
		Rik Combs (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	6
		Gina Bufe (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	5
		Theodis Brown Sr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	4
	Submit photo	David Kirk (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	3
	Submit photo	Martin Lindstedt (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,069,130
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Nicholas Strauss (Independent)
• Ronald Deets (Independent)
• John Wood (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Missouri

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Missouri on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Trudy Busch Valentine	43.2	158,957
		Lucas Kunce	38.3	141,203
		Spencer Toder	4.7	17,465
		Carla Wright	3.9	14,438
		Gena Ross	2.4	8,749
		Jewel Kelly, Jr.	1.8	6,464
		Lewis Rolen	1.4	5,247
		Pat Kelly	1.4	5,002
		Ronald William Harris	1.1	4,074
		Joshua Shipp	0.9	3,334
		Clarence Taylor	0.9	3,322

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 368,255
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Timothy Shepard (D)
• Scott Sifton (D)
• Ronald Deets (D)
• MD Rabbi Alam (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Missouri

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Missouri on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Schmitt	45.6	299,282
		Vicky Hartzler	22.1	144,903
		Eric Greitens	18.9	124,155
		Billy Long	5.0	32,603
		Mark McCloskey	3.0	19,540
		Dave Schatz	1.1	7,509
	Submit photo	Patrick Lewis	0.9	6,085
		Curtis D. Vaughn	0.5	3,451
	Submit photo	Eric McElroy	0.4	2,805
	Submit photo	Robert Allen	0.3	2,111
		C.W. Gardner	0.3	2,044
	Submit photo	Dave Sims	0.3	1,949
		Bernie Mowinski	0.2	1,602
	Submit photo	Deshon Porter	0.2	1,574
		Darrell Leon McClanahan III	0.2	1,139
	Submit photo	Rickey Joiner	0.2	1,084
	Submit photo	Robert Olson	0.2	1,081
	Submit photo	Dennis Lee Chilton	0.1	755
		Russel Pealer Breyfogle Jr	0.1	685
	Submit photo	Kevin Schepers	0.1	681
	Submit photo	Hartford Tunnell	0.1	637

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 655,675
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Brinkmann (R)
• Dan McQueen (R)
• Ronald Deets (R)
• Rik Combs (R)

Constitution primary election

Constitution primary for U.S. Senate Missouri

Paul Venable advanced from the Constitution primary for U.S. Senate Missouri on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Paul Venable	100.0	792

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 792
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Missouri

Jonathan Dine advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Missouri on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jonathan Dine	100.0	2,973

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,973
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020

Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020 (August 4 Republican primary)

Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020 (August 4 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Missouri

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Missouri on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Parson (R)	57.1	1,720,202
		Nicole Galloway (D)	40.7	1,225,771
		Rik Combs (L)	1.6	49,067
		Jerome H. Bauer (G)	0.6	17,234
		Theodis Brown Sr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	5
	Submit photo	Arnie Dienoff (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	4
	Submit photo	Martin Lindstedt (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	4

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,012,287
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri

Nicole Galloway defeated Eric Morrison, Jimmie Matthews, Antoin Johnson, and Robin Van Quaethem in the Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nicole Galloway	84.6	455,203
		Eric Morrison	6.0	32,403
	Submit photo	Jimmie Matthews	3.8	20,586
		Antoin Johnson	3.8	20,254
	Submit photo	Robin Van Quaethem	1.8	9,481

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 537,927
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• La'Ondrill Brown (D)
• Edward Thurman (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Missouri

Incumbent Mike Parson defeated Saundra McDowell, James Neely, and Raleigh Ritter in the Republican primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Parson	74.9	511,566
		Saundra McDowell	12.4	84,412
		James Neely	8.7	59,514
		Raleigh Ritter	4.0	27,264

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 682,756
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Missouri

Jerome H. Bauer advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerome H. Bauer	100.0	862

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 862
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri

Rik Combs advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rik Combs	100.0	4,171

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,171
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 59

Rudy Veit defeated Linda Greeson in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 59 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rudy Veit (R)	75.9	11,863
	Submit photo	Linda Greeson (D)	24.1	3,770

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,633 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 59

Linda Greeson advanced from the Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 59 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Linda Greeson	100.0	1,656

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,656
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 59

Rudy Veit defeated Karen Leydens, Rik Combs, Randy Dinwiddie, and Kendra Lane in the Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 59 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rudy Veit	50.5	3,670
	Submit photo	Karen Leydens	26.1	1,899
		Rik Combs	16.9	1,225
		Randy Dinwiddie	3.5	251
	Submit photo	Kendra Lane	3.0	221

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,266
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Rik Combs did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Rik Combs completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Combs' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus Christ--for his example.
Andrew Jackson for his place in history and his leadership.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Bible primarily.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, humility, transparency.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Whole-person concept. Well rounded in life--education, spiritually, healthy, education, etc.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Integrity, honesty, and fidelity.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Statesman and not a politician.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Presidential election 1968 (4).

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Farm work at home--through high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible. Guidepost for life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Batman.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Baby Shark.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Fighting socialism.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

Servant of the people and steward of the states' resources.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

Protecting the people from force and fraud.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

Work in concert with the legislature to provide the best product available.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

Annually used to ensure the taxpayers' interests are protected.

If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?

Yes, the Governor is the state's gatekeeper with regard to the budget.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Working in harmony or in concert to ensure the people are taken care of.

What do you love most about your state?

The people.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Poverty is high in most counties, economic growth is slower than the national average, and drug use is rampant.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

[show]

Missouri's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Josh Hawley (R)

Eric Schmitt (R)

Representatives

District 1

Wesley Bell (D)

District 2

Ann Wagner (R)

District 3

Bob Onder (R)

District 4

Mark Alford (R)

District 5

Emanuel Cleaver (D)

District 6

Sam Graves (R)

District 7

Eric Burlison (R)

District 8

Jason Smith (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (2)