Fayette resident Bradley Patty, a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Army, is one of five Republicans to file candidacy on Feb. 24 for Missouri’s newly expanded 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

Democrat incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II, of Kansas City, has held the seat in the largely blue district since January 3, 2005.

Missouri’s 5th Congressional District covers Kansas City plus parts of Jackson and Clay counties. It was recently expanded by Missouri’s Republican-controlled state legislature. However, that expansion faces legal challenges and a potential citizen referendum.

The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office reported that 368 candidates filed for office on the first day of the 2026 candidate filing period, which runs until 5 p.m. on March 31. Mr. Patty is one of five Republican candidates to have filed on opening day last Tuesday. Sean Smith of Lee’s Summit, Brett Hueffmeier of Kansas City, Taylor Burks of Jefferson, and Rick Brattin of Harrisonville also filed for the GOP. A primary election will be held on Aug. 4, with the general election to be held on Nov. 3.

In an interview with the Advertiser on Friday, Mr. Patty emphasized his core values, including his pro-life stance, affordability, and government accountability. Growing up as a foster child shaped his anti-abortion views, he said.

“I have six children. Protecting children is huge to me,” he said.

Mr. Patty, along with his wife, Marlenis, and six children, moved to Fayette in September 2024 after retiring from a 25-year career in the U.S. Army. His parents have deep roots in Howard County. Although because of his adoptive father’s job, he was raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But, he says he grew up with his parents’ midwestern common sense.

After just a year and a half in Fayette, the Pattys have already immersed themselves in the community. Mr. Patty serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and will appear unopposed on the ballot for the Board of Aldermen’s Southwest Ward. His wife works for the Fayette school district.

Mr. Patty recognized the possibility of not being able to fulfill his duties on the council if elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The primary focus is going to be the people,” Mr. Patty said.

Running for federal office is quite a task for someone with no political experience. Mr. Patty said he considered running for the state legislature when District 48 Representative Tim Taylor (R, Bunceton) ends his final term in January 2027. But after discussing the matter with party members, he decided to launch a grassroots campaign for the newly expanded 5th Congressional District.

“I want to serve because I served in the military, keeping external dangers from us. Now I sit here out of uniform, and I see there are threats to the next generation in America internally,” Mr. Patty explained. “I look at that as the Democratic Party. Emanuel Cleaver and other candidates are for transgender [issues] and abortion. I was a foster kid. Abortion is huge to me.”

Affordability and accountability are two other main issues he wants to challenge as a U.S. Representative.

He touts his role as an outsider with common-sense ideas.

“I want to represent the people of Missouri. I live in the district. And I’m a veteran. It’s really that simple,” he said. “My hope is that I can give the people a good, solid option. They don’t have to choose the lesser of two evils.”

Mr. Patty will run under the campaign committee name Service First—Brad Patty for Congress, a reflection of the core principle that has guided his life: putting duty to country above self. A formal campaign launch will be scheduled in the coming weeks.