A Republican candidate for the Missouri state House, Thomas Christopher Ross, has appeared in federal court on a drug conspiracy charge after allegedly plotting to plant cocaine and prescription pills on his election rival, Louise Secker. The scheme, which unravelled after Ross's own former campaign manager turned informant and wore a wire for the FBI, has prompted the state Republican Party chairman to call for Ross to withdraw from the November election, calling the episode "serious and deeply troubling".

According to unsealed court documents, Ross, 37, allegedly asked his campaign manager to hide cocaine and an Adderall pill in Secker's purse or car while he was out of town, ahead of the August primary he won by a narrow margin. The staffer instead alerted Joplin police on 30 July, then recorded a conversation with Ross the following day in which Ross reportedly confirmed he still wanted the drugs planted, with text messages allegedly dating the plot back to May. Ross has until 8 September to voluntarily withdraw from the ballot, and federal prosecutors said the case underscores the need for electoral integrity; Ross had not responded to a request for comment.