Jordan Herrera, an attorney, Air Force veteran, and former Missouri assistant attorney general, secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District. He defeated Hartzell Gray, a democratic socialist and tenant organizer, in a seven-way primary.
Gray, 33, gained national attention after appearing on Twitch streamer Hasan Piker’s show and criticizing “sell-out Democrats.” Despite his prominence among progressive voters, Gray lost to Herrera, a more conventional Democrat, in the primary. Herrera will face Republican Rep. Mark Alford in the November general election.
The district, redrawn earlier this year, includes parts of Kansas City and extends south through suburban and rural areas. While the new map made the district less Republican than before, it remains a strongly GOP-leaning seat.
Gray emerged as the leading fundraiser among Democrats in the race, with Federal Election Commission records showing he raised approximately $250,000 through mid-July. Herrera, by comparison, raised about $40,000, and Democratic nominee Jeanette Cass also competed in the primary.
The Kansas City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Gray, marking its first federal endorsement. The group praised Gray’s stance against corporate money and support for policies like universal health care and tenant protections. Gray has called for rent controls, Medicare for All, and ending the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
Gray’s campaign leveraged social media, including appearances on Piker’s Twitch show and The Majority Report, to boost support. His campaign reported receiving more than $30,000 in donations following his Twitch appearance. The primary also included other candidates such as Cass, Randy Miller, Ashleigh Rogers, Wayne Russell, and G. Rick.
While Gray’s nomination signifies a victory for local Democratic Socialists of America, the general election will test whether a progressive coalition can succeed in a district drawn to favor Republicans, the party said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
