Filing for the Aug. 4 primary election closed yesterday, and with 15 Audrain County candidates seeking a spot on the ballot, contested races at both the county and state levels have emerged.

At the county level, there are contested races for county clerk and treasurer.

Stacey Higbee, Brandie Gay and Heather Lierheimer are running for Audrain County clerk. Lisa Smith and Tiffnay Burts are running for treasurer.

Incumbents Alan Winders, presiding commissioner; Teresa Allen, recorder of deeds; Amy LeCount, collector of revenue; Meagan Miller, circuit clerk; Melissa Buckman Young, associate circuit judge; and Jacob Shellabarger, prosecuting attorney, all filed for their respective seats on opening day, Feb. 24.

Higbee, Gay, Smith and Burts also filed on opening day. Lierheimer filed on March 23.

All candidates who have filed in countywide races are Republicans.

Statewide, three Audrain County residents are running for the Missouri Senate in the 18th District, representing communities across Adair, Audrain, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland and Shelby counties.

Dusty Blue, of Mexico, filed for the Republican seat on Feb. 24. He will be running against fellow Republican candidates Ed Lewis, of Moberly, and Greg Sharpe, of Ewing, in the Aug. 4 primary.

The Democratic candidates are two Audrain County residents — Nick Miller, of Mexico, and John Leykamp, of Centralia. The contested race emerged late, as Miller filed March 23 and Leykamp filed March 31.

These candidates are seeking to fill the seat currently held by Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, who is term-limited.

Mexico residents Brendan Webber and Rich Gold filed to run for Missouri House of Representatives in the 43rd District representing communities across Audrain, Monroe and Callaway counties. Webber filed as a Republican on Feb. 24, and Gold filed as a Democrat on March 30.

Both candidates are seeking to fill the seat currently held by Rep. Kent Haden, who is term-limited.