Rebecca McClanahan

McClanahan was challenged for her seat by Greentop resident Thom Van Vleck, whom she defeated by 1,457 votes. The 2008 race was remarkable for the large sum of money spent.

McClanahan was defeated for the 2nd district seat by United States Air Force veteran, Zachary Wyatt of Novinger. Wyatt is a former intern for United States Senator Kit Bond. The 2010 campaign was remarkable for the robocalls placed into the district.[4] The calls displayed on Caller ID as originating from the Adair County Ambulance District, however District officials disavowed the calls.[4] McClanahan's campaign speculated the calls originated from Wyatt and his "anonymous supporters".[5] Wyatt and his campaign denied any prior knowledge of the calls and condemned them, describing them as "back-room politics" and further called on McClanahan "to apologize for her false accusations.".[5] Later Wyatt said: "I knew my team was not behind it and I believe the voters of the district knew that was not my style and they really didn't pay attention to that information because they knew I would never do anything like that, and I wouldn't."[4] Evidence later showed that the Missouri State Republican Party was responsible for the robocalls and paid Survey St. Louis LLC $2,135.25 for the service. The donation was listed in support of Zachary Wyatt.[6] Similar purchases were made by the Missouri Republican Party in support of four other State Representative candidates: John W. Cauthorn, Jay Houghton, Craig Redmon, and Lindell Shumake[6]

Following Zachary Wyatt's withdrawal from the race for the newly created Missouri House 3rd District in April, 2012, McClanahan announced her intent to seek the position and return to state government. She was unopposed in the August, 2012 Democratic primary. Controversy over the use of mail advertising arose in the days leading up to the November general election. McClanahan felt that mailers sent out on behalf of her opponent, Nate Walker, by the House Republican Campaign Committee and the Missouri Republican State Committee unfairly portrayed her position on issues and voting record.[7] McClanahan's campaign was also accused of unauthorized usage of a likeness and quote in one of her mailers. Retired Marine Corps Major Duane Crawford, a well-known Republican and popular former teacher/coach from Unionville, Missouri, claimed that McClanahan did not have authorization to recycle his image and a quote he gave when he supported McClanahan in her 2008 campaign for the Missouri House 2nd District seat. Said Crawford "I am very upset about this situation. I did not give her express permission." and "When I saw it (the mailer) I was completely shocked. I was embarrassed." Crawford said he told a McClanahan campaign worker that he wanted nothing to do with politics in 2012. However McClanahan said she was never informed of the request, and issued a public apology to Crawford.[7] On November 6, 2012, McClanahan suffered her second straight defeat as she lost to Republican Nate Walker by over 2,000 votes.