Thomas Ross, a 37-year-old Republican candidate for Missouri's State House District 101, has been federally charged with conspiring to plant cocaine on his primary rival, Louise Secker, in an attempt to sabotage her campaign. The scheme came to light after Ross's own former campaign manager reported him to law enforcement and later wore a recording device for the FBI, capturing Ross allegedly agreeing to the plot. The case has prompted calls for Ross to withdraw from the race and has raised broader concerns about integrity in local elections.

According to an FBI affidavit, Ross gave his campaign manager a black nylon glove containing a bag of white powder and a pill, instructing him to hide them in Secker's purse or car while Ross was away, and to then phone in an anonymous tip; tests confirmed the substances were cocaine and Adderall. Ross narrowly beat Secker by 33 votes in the 4 August primary, and text messages cited by investigators show him hoping the plan would cause Secker "extreme egg on the face" before a Republican women's event in June. Missouri Republican Party chairman Peter Kinder has urged Ross to step down, while US and FBI officials stressed the importance of fair, transparent elections; Ross has not commented, and his public defender has not indicated how he plans to plead.