JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A candidate for the Missouri House, Thomas Ross, 37, made an initial court appearance on September 3, 2026, facing a federal drug charge. He is accused of attempting to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary opponent, Louise Secker, prior to the August 4 primary election. Court documents indicate that Ross allegedly asked a campaign manager to place a small amount of cocaine and a prescription amphetamine pill in Secker's purse or vehicle. Ross won the primary by a narrow margin of a few dozen votes.
Ross did not respond to a message seeking comment regarding the charge, which was filed on September 2, 2026. The federal public defender's office assigned to his case did not provide an immediate response about his planned plea. Missouri's Republican Party chairman, Peter Kinder, has urged Ross to withdraw from the race, labeling the circumstances of his arrest as serious and troubling.
A former campaign manager for Ross reported to law enforcement that Ross had given him a black nylon glove containing a small plastic bag of white powder and a pink and white capsule, instructing him to plant it on Secker while Ross was on vacation. Subsequent testing confirmed the substances as cocaine and Adderall.
The FBI noted that Ross had sent multiple text messages to his campaign staffer about the substances, including one where he expressed hope that they could execute the plan before Secker attended a Republican women's meeting in June, stating it would be “extreme egg on the face.” U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price emphasized that voters deserve confidence in elections, stating that candidates should conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents.