James Lappe

James P. Lappe (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Missouri House of Representatives to represent District 81. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026.

Lappe (Democratic Party) (also known as Jimmy) was a member of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in Missouri, representing Ward 11. He assumed office on July 14, 2022. He left office on April 18, 2023. Lappe did not run for re-election to St. Louis Board of Aldermen Ward 11 in 2023.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the Saint Louis Area, I moved to the city after completing my Master's Degree in 2013.

I served on the St. Louis Board of Alderman in 2022-2023, finishing the unexpired term of Sarah Wood Martin representing the old 11th Ward, prior to ward reduction. As an Alderperson I was focused on responsiveness and constituent services, but I am proud of the role I played in passing important board bills that modernized the city's plumbing code, ensured worker voice in the governance our firefighters' pension system and that established a Reproductive Equity Fund under the City Health Department.

I currently work for the Missouri AFL-CIO where I coordinate the Dislocated Worker Program, assisting workers facing layoffs to transition to new jobs and access the benefits that they are entitled to during periods of joblessness.

Before joining the MO AFL-CIO staff I worked for Missouri Jobs with Justice from 2017-2023, where I played a critical role in fights to increase the Missouri Minimum Wage, to defeat right to work, and to promote economic and social justice across Missouri.

I am a member of IBEW Local 1, and have been a union member since 1999 when I first joined UFCW 655. I am an active member of the St. Louis City Labor Club.

I live in Carondelet with my wife, Mary and daughter Grace. We are members of St. Stephen Protomartyr. I also serve as the treasurer of both the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation, and the Third Ward Democrats.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Democracy in Missouri is under attack. I will work to defend it.

Since 1910 Missouri voters have used the initiative petitions to intact popular laws that the General Assembly cannot or will not pass. Now certain lawmakers in Jefferson City want to silence our voices, making it all but impossible to pass laws using the initiative petition process

In addition to trying to destroy our state's century-old initiative petition process certain lawmakers in Jefferson City, under direction from President Trump, are also trying to gerrymander our state's Congressional districts, effectively taking representation away from Kansas City.

We cannot allow this power grab to succeed, I will work to protect and expand democracy in Missouri.Missouri Families are facing an affordability crisis, and certain lawmakers in Jefferson City--and Washington, DC--are making it worse.

Lawmakers should be working to find ways to address the affordability crisis, but instead leaders in the Missouri General Assembly are making it worse; they rolled back our state minimum wage so that it no longer will be indexed for inflation, and they are trying to replace our progressive state income tax with a draconian tax on everything that will shift the tax burden even more onto seniors, middle income and poor Missourians, instead of making sure that the most wealthy Missourians pay their fair share.St. Louis City and other local jurisdictions must have the power to govern themselves to make life better for their residents, but certain lawmakers in Jefferson City think they know better then us how to govern our city.

During my time on the St. Louis Board of Alderman I was frequently frustrated by state pre-emption laws that tie the hands of local lawmakers. Cities and counties need to have tools at their disposal to make their communities more affordable and livable places for their residents.

I will work to protect the earnings tax that funds critical services in St. Louis City and to restore local control to St. Louis and fight against preemption.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a lifelong union member I know first hand how important unions are, not only for making workplaces better, but for protecting democracy for all of us.

I am passionate about protecting workers rights, I will fight to protect workers rights, fight against so-called 'Right to Work' laws, to protect collective bargaining rights for all working people in our state.

Public services in Missouri are chronically underfunded, with catastrophic results for Missouri residents, and certain lawmakers want to make this worse by eliminating our state's income tax, shifting the tax burden even more onto working Missourians. I will fight to restore vital social safety net programs and protect the state income tax.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

In the labor movement we have many heroes who we look up too, I will name here two that are of special importance to my family and myself:

Ernest Calloway and Harrold Gibbons came to St. Louis to organize warehouse workers here in to the CIO; over the years their union would move into the Teamsters Union, ultimately becoming Local 688. My great grandfather was a member of Local 688, and the the benefits and wages won by that union helped to ensure that my Grandmother would not grow up in poverty, and ultimately gave her the a secure footing to pursue her personal and professional goals as an adult. Gibbons & Calloway believed that trade unionism didn't end on the shop floor or job site; they fought for good wages in Local 688 facilities, but also for racial justice, and livable communities in the communities where there members worked; they stand as powerful examples for what trade unionism can be when its tied to broader social justice organizing.

Dick Kellett, Sr. is probably the closest thing I have had to mentor in labor politics. When I was young man in my 20s, working in a grocery store and attending college at UMSL, I became active in my local labor club, which he was the president of; though he was already retired--and from a powerful building trades union--he was always welcoming to me and believed strongly that all unions and all union members had a place in our movement and in our clubs. He was also among the most sharp and fierce advocate for working people and unions I have ever had the privilege to work with.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Responsiveness

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

holding the line

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job outside of my home was at Schnuck Markets, I started working there when I was a sophomore in high school. I had some bad timing, finishing college on the eve of the Great Recession, when jobs were scarce, so I continued working at Schnucks, where I knew I union had my back and I could count on excellent, union-negotiated health care benefits and even a pension. I continued worked at Schnucks for a total of 19 years.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

democracy

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

yes

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

yes...

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

We'll see...

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Job loss is always hard, but it hits low-income workers and workers in small town and rural Missouri the hardest. I hope to introduce a bill bringing Missouri's Unemployment Insurance system into line with the national average of 26 possible benefit weeks, and increase weekly benefits to ensure that low-income workers and workers in economically distressed communities are able to stay in their homes communities while they search for a new job.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Missouri AFL-CIO

St. Louis Labor Council

St. Louis Firefighters, IAFF Local 73

Laborers Missouri-Kansas District Council

Access MO

Abortion Action Missouri

Our Revolution

81st District State Representative Steve Butz (the incumbent)

Former 13th Ward Alderman and 81st District State Representative Fred Wessels

Former 4th District Senator, and 81st District State Representative Jacob Hummel

Former 11th Ward Alderwoman Sarah Martin

Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer

Alderman Shane Cohn

President of Board of Aldermen, Megan Green

(list is not exhaustive...)

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

Missouri's Initiative Petition Process has served our state well for over a century. I am opposed to changing Missouri's Initiative Petition Process.

James P. Lappe did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.