Senator Tony Luetkemeyer
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 re-elected to a second term on November 8, 2022.
Sen. Luetkemeyer was born and raised in Missouri. 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, were strong influences who 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 advocated for students at MU to ensure their voices were heard by university administrators. 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 Judge 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.
In addition to his other committee assignments, Sen. Luetkemeyer serves as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which oversees changes to the state’s civil and criminal justice systems. As chairman, Sen. Luetkemeyer passed historic legislation to combat the increase of violent crime. His legislation ended the catch-and-release of dangerous felons, ensuring they are off the streets.
Sen. Luetkemeyer is a staunch supporter of law enforcement. He led the effort to push back against attempts by Kansas City to strip over $42M from the Kansas City Police Department budget, ensuring the KCPD’s officers have the resources they need to keep citizens safe. He also sponsored and passed landmark, bipartisan legislation to protect law enforcement officers and their families from harassment, provide increased funding for sheriffs, 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 legislation to protect seniors from runaway real estate property taxes 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:
- Judicial Conference of Missouri Legislative Award, 2024
- Mizzou Alumni Association Geyer Award, 2024
- Missouri State Medical Association Legislative Award, 2024
- Judicial Conference of Missouri Legislative Award, 2023
- Missouri Bar Legislative Award, 2022
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce Business Champion, 2022
- 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 Business Champion, 2020
- U.S. Term Limits Champion of Term Limits Award, 2019
- Missouri Bar Legislative Award, 2019
- Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Legislator of the Year, 2019
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce Freshman Legislator of the Year, 2019
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce Business Champion, 2019
- Associated Students of the University of Missouri Legislator of the Year, 2019
Senate Committee Membership
Standing
Appropriations, Vice-ChairGubernatorial Appointments
Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence, Chair
Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics
Statutory
Joint Committee on the Justice SystemJoint Committee on the Justice System - The Missouri Criminal Code Subcommittee, Chair