The 285 filers were the fewest in more than a decade, and even that number is likely to drop some this coming week because of withdrawals and contests of candidacy.
Owasson Aaron Brent, an independent, filed to run against Vancuren for District 74. Former House Republican Wendi Stearman, of Collinsville, also filed for the District 29 state senate seat.
The 133 offices contested this year drew just 206 applicants, the fewest for an opening day since 2012. Given that about two-thirds of all filings have historically occurred on the