Missouri Voters Overwhelmingly OK 'Right to Pray' Amendment

A state constitutional amendment touted as a "right to pray" provision has won by better than a four-to-one margin.

Proponents say Amendment 2 protects the right of Missourians to pray in public. Opponents of the measure say those protections are already guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and the amendment would be a boon for lawyers, who will battle in court over unintended consequences spawned by the provision.

Meanwhile in the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, has won. The Springfield News-Leader declared Akin the winner with about 80 percent of votes tallied. Akin faced down challengers Sarah Steelman, the former state treasurer, and businessman John Brunner has 29 percent.

In the race for the GOP nomination for governor, businessman Dave Spence is the winner to face incumbent Gov. Jay Nixon in November.

Here's a summary of results (see vote totals on the our news partner FOX2Now's website):

GOVERNOR: Incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon ran away with the nomination. In the GOP race, businessman Dave Spence won over three challengers.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: It's Susan Montee for the Democrats. In the GOP race, Peter Kinder locks it up in the race against three other challengers.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Democrat Jason Kander ran away with the nomination. For the Republican nomination, Shane Schoeller beat Scott Rupp and Bill Stouffer.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: GOP politician Ed Martin pounds Adam Lee Warren.

Here are the statewide races we're following tonight. Results will be posted as more substantial results come in.

STATEWIDE RACES/BALLOT MEASURES

Italic indicates projected or final winner. See the Secretary of State website for vote totals.

AMENDMENT 2 ()

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure: That the right of Missouri citizens to express their religious beliefs shall not be infringed; that school children have the right to pray and acknowledge God voluntarily in their schools; and; that all public schools shall display the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution."

• Yes (approving the amendment)
• No

U.S. SENATE

Republican

• John Brunner
• Todd Akin
• Sarah Steelman
• Hector Maldonado
• Mark Lodes
• Mark Memoly
• Robert Poole
• Jerry Beck

Democrat

• Claire McCaskill

Libertarian

• Jonathan Dine

GOVERNOR

Republican

• Dave Spence
• Bill Randles
• Fred Sauer
• John Weiler

Democrat

• Jay Nixon
• Clay Thunderhawk
• William B. Campbell

Libertarian

• Jim Higgins

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Republican

• Peter Kinder
• Brad Lager
• Mike Carter
• Charles Kullmann

Democrat

• Judy Baker
• Bill Haas
• Sara Lampe
• Susan Montee
• Dennis Weisenburger
• Fred Kratky
• Jackie Townes McGee
• Becky Lee Plattner

Libertarian

• Matthew Copple

Constitution

• Cynthia Davis

SECRETARY OF STATE

Republican

• Scott Rupp
• Shane Schoeller
• Bill Stouffer

Democrat

• Jason Kander
• MD Rabbi Alam

Libertarian

• Cisse Spragins

Constitution

• Justin Harter

TREASURER

Republican

• Cole McNary

Democrat

• Clint Zweifel

Libertarian

• Sean O'Toole

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Republican

• Ed Martin
• Adam Warren

Democrat

• Chris Koster

Libertarian

• Dave Browning