Power Profile: Senator Tony Luetkemeyer
Senator Tony Luetkemeyer represents the 34th Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate. Photo courtesy of Sen. Luetkemeyer's office.
State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, has emerged as a key voice in the Missouri Senate, prioritizing public safety, tax reform and reliable energy policy to support families and businesses across the state.
Since joining the Senate in 2018, Luetkemeyer has championed legislation aimed at addressing Missouri’s most pressing challenges, from reducing crime in urban centers to ensuring the state’s energy grid remains reliable and affordable.
It’s a passion instilled in him by his parents, who were dedicated to their communities through both their work and volunteer efforts. His father worked as a USDA civil servant, and his mother was a nurse who was also involved with the Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“They kind of modeled for me and both my sisters what it looked like to be in public service and give back to the community,” he said.
Luetkemeyer’s own leadership journey began at the University of Missouri, where he served as student body president, representing more than 21,000 undergraduates. During his tenure, he testified before the General Assembly on behalf of student issues, an experience that he says shaped his ability to advocate effectively.
As the Senate majority floor leader, Luetkemeyer focuses on practical solutions to strengthen Missouri’s communities and economy. Public safety remains one of his top priorities, which he sees as critical to fostering strong, vibrant communities.
“These businesses want to make sure that their employees are safe coming to and from work,” he said. “They want to make sure that their property, their buildings are safe in a downtown environment.”
To address these concerns, Luetkemeyer supports returning the St. Louis Police Department to state oversight, similar to the model used in Kansas City. He said this approach removes political influence from law enforcement, making departments more effective and ensuring officers feel supported in their roles.
Luetkemeyer also takes pride in sponsoring Missouri’s Constitutional Amendment 4, which was approved twice by voters after a legal challenge. The amendment requires Kansas City to allocate at least 25% of its general revenue to the police department.
“We support our men and women in law enforcement. We don’t want to see our police defunded,” he said.
Luetkemeyer’s commitment to economic growth also extends to tax reform. Under his leadership, Missouri has passed significant income tax cuts while maintaining strong revenue streams.
“We’ve had record historic tax cuts. We’ve also had record historic revenue,” he said. “That has allowed us to simultaneously cut taxes to put more money back in the pockets of working families, but at the same time still provide record funding to different essential government services.”
Energy policy is another critical focus for Luetkemeyer, who emphasized the importance of ensuring Missouri’s energy grid is both reliable and affordable. He said energy reliability is vital not just for households but for businesses that depend on consistent power.
“We don’t want Missouri to become one of these states that we’ve seen around the country where we have these rolling blackouts,” he said.
While he supports developing sustainable energy sources, Luetkemeyer stressed the importance of balancing innovation with practicality. He sees nuclear and coal as essential parts of the state’s energy portfolio alongside newer technologies.
“We need to make sure that we have reliable energy first and foremost for our consumers,” he said.
Outside of his legislative duties, Luetkemeyer enjoys sports and spending time with family. A devoted fan of Mizzou athletics, the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals, he looks forward to an annual trip to Jupiter, Florida, with his father for Cardinals spring training.
“My dad and I go down every year,” he said. “That’s what I do during legislative spring break.”
Luetkemeyer’s work reflects his deep-rooted commitment to Missouri’s families, businesses and future. As he continues his service, he remains focused on tackling the state’s most pressing challenges with practical solutions and a steady vision for progress.