Lifelong Republican Sparks-Holmes Joins Wellman Campaign in MO-02 House Race
After Missouri voters defeated Amendments 4 and 5 by roughly 80 and 83 percent, the former Republican primary candidate says crossing party lines continues the principles she ran on rather than abandoning them.
ST. LOUIS, Mo., August 7, 2026 — Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes, a lifelong Republican who ran in the August 4 Republican primary in Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, announced today that she is joining Fred Wellman's campaign for Congress and will campaign for him through November. She also congratulated Missouri voters on the defeat of Amendments 4 and 5.
Missouri voters rejected both measures by overwhelming margins on August 4. Amendment 4, which would have required citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in each of the state's congressional districts rather than statewide, was defeated with roughly 80 percent voting no. Amendment 5, which would have phased out the state personal income tax in favor of an expanded sales tax, was defeated with more than 83 percent voting no.
“Thank you to my fellow Missourians for showing up. We stood up to Jefferson City, and we defeated Amendments 4 and 5. Not narrowly. Decisively. That is not a close call. That is a state telling its own government exactly where the line is.”
Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes
Sparks-Holmes said the effort to put those measures on an August ballot is what moved her to support a candidate outside her own party for the first time in her life. She described the decision as a direct continuation of her conservative and populist values, rather than the party loyalty expected of her.
“Instead of protecting the people, Republicans in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. are protecting their power. No, I am not abandoning my principles, because my principles were never about empowering the ruling class of the Republican Party. My principles are based upon serving the good people of this district, regardless of party, class, or creed. Joining forces with Fred Wellman is the most effective path forward to fight for everyday citizens against one-party rule and entrenched corporate interests.”
Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes
She pointed to Wellman's background as the reason she is willing to cross party lines.
“He grew up in Kirkwood. He gave more than twenty years to the Army and flew helicopters in Iraq. He remembers where he came from and who he is fighting for, and right now that matters more to me than the letter after his name. I have met Fred personally, and he is a truly wonderful person with a good heart. I feel confident that come November, we will finally see the change Missourians have been hoping and waiting for.”
Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes
Sparks-Holmes said she intends to keep speaking directly to Republican voters who are undecided, and that building a broad coalition of independent-minded leaders is essential to bringing accountability to the district.
“If you are a Republican like me, on the fence, asking questions, carrying some doubts, please reach out. I will answer you myself. I am not going to tell you what to think. I will just tell you honestly how I got here.”
“The Republican Party in Missouri has grown too big, too powerful, and too far from the people it is supposed to serve. I am choosing a different path, but I am keeping the values and the principles I ran on: serving the people instead of the powerful.”
Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes
Wellman won the Democratic nomination in the 2nd District on August 4. Incumbent Rep. Ann Wagner won the Republican nomination.
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About Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes
Elizabeth Sparks-Holmes is a mother and longtime resident of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District who ran in the 2026 Republican primary on a platform of accessible, accountable representation, lower healthcare and living costs, support for seniors and veterans, and term limits. She is the daughter of Hal S. Sparks III, who served twenty-five years with the Tarrant Regional Water District, much of it as vice president of its board, and of Carmyn Sparks, a hospice volunteer, author, and speaker.
Her full August 6 statement to the district is available at sparksholmesformissouri.com.