U.S. House, Missouri 3rd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District?
Bob Onder has the strongest record in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District. Bob Onder scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Bob Onder's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Jim Higgins (2 of 15 criteria) and Bethany Mann (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Jim Higgins
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Bethany Mann
On the ballot as Bethany E Mann
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Bob Onder
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jim Higgins
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Bethany Mann
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Bob Onder
- On the record2026-09
Joined Sen. Rick Brattin and two voters in a 2026 federal suit to keep the 2025 congressional map for November; the 8th Circuit agreed, and the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the 2022 map.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. See notes on the House candidate financial disclosure.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00806190
Bob Onder. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed with the House Clerk on Aug. 4, 2026, after an extension; the Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for him. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076829, House Committee on Ethics site search, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00870238
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. Voted Yea on the 2026 ROTOR Act when the Speaker, Majority Leader and Whip voted Nay, and Nay on the 2026 financial services and national security appropriations bill they supported.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 72, 2026, ROTOR Act, House Clerk Roll Call 28, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. A physician and attorney who served in the Missouri House from 2007 and two terms in the Missouri Senate, then in Congress since 2025. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: House office biography, House Committee on Ethics site search
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. Has held sworn state and federal legislative office; took his House seat in 2025. In 2026 he was a plaintiff in a federal suit seeking use of the 2025 congressional map (E21). No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House office biography, STLPR, Sept. 21, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jim Higgins. A computer systems analyst with a civil engineering degree from Ohio University. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia
Bethany Mann. An environmental chemist and technology professional, previously 11 years with Walgreens as a senior certified pharmacy technician and district pharmacy training coordinator. Has not held public office.
Bob Onder. In his first U.S. House term; previously served in the Missouri House and completed two terms in the Missouri Senate, where he was assistant majority floor leader.
Source: House office biography
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. Publishes positions on health care, voting rights and other issues, naming specific bills she supports; positions are mostly general.
Sources: Ballotpedia, campaign website excerpt, Jefferson City News Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026
Bob Onder. Serves on the House Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and Workforce committees; was assistant majority floor leader in the Missouri Senate. No current chair post.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, House office biography
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jim Higgins. Submitted a biography and political philosophy to Ballotpedia; has not completed its 2026 survey.
Source: Ballotpedia
Bethany Mann. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022, 2024 and 2026, took part in a 2024 News Tribune candidate forum and gave a 2026 ABC 17 interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jefferson City News Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, ABC 17 News, July 24, 2026
Bob Onder. Publishes a newsletter and issue pages and takes appearance requests. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: House office site, House office issues page, Ballotpedia
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. Attended Wright City High School and began work at the Wentzville Walgreens at 16, both in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 88 percent of itemized individual contributions from Missouri.
Sources: Ballotpedia, FEC contribution totals by state
Bob Onder. Lives in St. Charles County, which he represented in the Missouri Senate for two terms. FEC by-state totals show about 81 percent of itemized individual contributions from Missouri.
Sources: House office biography, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, with no administrative fine; the committee reports $541.61 in debts.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00806190
Bob Onder. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026, with no administrative fine; the committee reports $894,000 in debts and loans owed.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00870238
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. Missed 20 of 676 roll call votes, 3.0 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. Lists district offices in Cottleville and Jefferson City. No published casework totals found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jim Higgins. No public record found.
Bethany Mann. No public record found.
Bob Onder. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District?
Bob Onder has the strongest record in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District. Bob Onder scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Bob Onder's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Jim Higgins (2 of 15 criteria) and Bethany Mann (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District in 2026?
Jim Higgins (Libertarian), Bethany Mann (Democratic), Bob Onder (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jim Higgins a good candidate for Congress?
Jim Higgins has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bethany Mann a good candidate for Congress?
Bethany Mann has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bob Onder a good candidate for Congress?
Bob Onder scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Missouri race scored, and the Missouri 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.