| Tony Luetkemeyer is the State Senator for the 34th Senatorial District, representing Buchanan and Platte counties. Sen. Luetkemeyer was elected to the Missouri Senate on November 6, 2018, and reelected to a second term on November 8, 2022. He serves as the Majority Floor Leader, having previously served as the Majority Caucus Chairman and Majority Whip.
A fifth-generation Missourian, Sen. Luetkemeyer grew up in Farmington in southeast Missouri. His father, a career civil servant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and his mother, a nurse, taught Sen. Luetkemeyer and his two sisters the importance of serving others and giving back to their community.
After graduating from high school, Sen. Luetkemeyer attended college at the University of Missouri. During his junior year, he was elected Mizzou's student body president. In that role, he represented the more than 21,000 undergraduate students on MU's campus. It was also while campaigning for office that Sen. Luetkemeyer met his wife, Lucinda.
During the summer after college, Sen. Luetkemeyer worked as a White House intern in the Domestic Policy Council under President George W. Bush. The expertise and commitment to public service displayed by White House staff showed Sen. Luetkemeyer how individuals could shape public policy at the highest levels of government.
At the end of his summer in the Nation's Capital, Sen. Luetkemeyer enrolled at the University of Missouri School of Law. While in law school, Sen. Luetkemeyer was appointed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to serve on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, the governing board for the UM System. In that role, Sen. Luetkemeyer fought to keep tuition and fees low for Missouri students and families and served as a voting member on the committee to hire a new university president.
After graduating from law school, Sen. Luetkemeyer clerked for The Honorable Patricia Breckenridge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. He understands the importance of limited government and the individual rights and liberties protected by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. He currently practices law in Kansas City.
Prior to becoming the Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Luetkemeyer served as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees changes to the state's civil and criminal justice system. As chairman, Sen. Luetkemeyer passed historic legislation to combat the increase of violent crime by ending the catch-and-release of dangerous felons.
Sen. Luetkemeyer is a staunch supporter of law enforcement. He led the effort to block Kansas City from stripping over $42M from the Kansas City Police Department's budget, ensuring KCPD officers have the resources they need to keep the public safe. He also sponsored and passed bipartisan legislation to protect law enforcement officers and their families from harassment, raise officer pay, and give police departments additional tools to recruit and retain officers.
Throughout his time in the senate, Sen. Luetkemeyer has been a steadfast advocate for lower taxes. He sponsored and passed landmark legislation to freeze the property taxes on the homes of Missouri seniors and eliminate the income tax on Social Security and other retirement benefits. He also helped pass the largest income tax cut in state history to keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Missouri families.
Sen. Luetkemeyer and his wife are residents of Parkville. They are members of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Sen. Luetkemeyer is a member of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and Federalist Society. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, watching sports (particularly the Mizzou Tigers, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis Cardinals), and spending time outdoors with his dog, Truman.
Awards-
Missouri Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award, 2024
Mizzou Alumni Association Geyer Award, 2024
Judicial Conference of Missouri Legislative Award, 2024 & 2023
Missouri State Medical Association Legislative Award, 2024
Missouri Chamber of Commerce Business Champion, 2024-2019
Americans for Prosperity Policy Champion, 2023
Missouri Bar Association Legislative Award, 2022 & 2019
Liberty Alliance Conservative Champion, 2021
Americans for Prosperity A+ Rating, 2021
American Conservative Union Foundation Award for Conservative Achievement, 2021
Missouri Sheriffs' Association Legislative Appreciation Award, 2021
Friend of the Missouri State Troopers Association Award, 2021
Missouri Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons Legislator of the Year, 2021
Missouri Chamber of Commerce Freshman Legislator of the Year, 2019
Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Legislator of the Year, 2019
U.S. Term Limits Champion of Term Limits Award, 2019
Associated Students of the University of Missouri Legislator of the Year, 2019 |