# Caleb Rowden

Caleb Rowden is an American politician and member of the Missouri State Senate for District 19, having served since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Rowden previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. In November 2018, Rowden was elected by his Republican colleagues to be the majority leader in the Missouri Senate's 2019 session. In October 2023, he announced his candidacy in the 2024 Missouri Secretary of State election. He was defeated in the August 2024 primary.

## Missouri Senate

Rowden was first elected in 2017, and was chosen to be the majority leader for the 2019 session. He became President pro tempore of the Missouri Senate in 2023.

### Committee assignments

* Administration (Vice-Chairman)
* Gubernatorial Appointments (Vice-Chairman)
* Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics (Chairman)
* Select Committee on Redistricting
* Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund Board of Trustees
* Missouri Justice Reinvestment Task Force
* Missouri State Capitol Commission

### Political issues

Rowden is an advocate for charter schools and tax-credit scholarships for private schools, and has received multiple donations from Rex Sinquefield. He introduced a bill in his final term to establish charters in Boone County, Missouri, despite wide opposition from local school boards and superintendents.

## Personal life

Rowden is married to Aubrey Rowden, the co-owner of Love Tree Studios, a wedding photography company. They have two children. Rowden himself owns Clarius Interactive, a media and marketing company. He attended the University of Missouri.

## Electoral history
### State representative

2012 Republican Primary for Missouri's 44th House of Representative District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 1,099 | 40.61 | N/A |
| | Republican | Dennis Smith | 701 | 25.91 | N/A |
| | Republican | Mike Becker | 491 | 18.14 | N/A |
| | Republican | Chris Dwyer | 415 | 15.34 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,706 | 100 |
2012 General Election for Missouri's 44th House of Representatives District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 7,996 | 51.02 |
| | Democratic | Ken Jacob | 7,676 | 48.98 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,672 | 100 |
2014 General Election for Missouri's 44th House of Representatives District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 5,249 | 63.19 |
| | Democratic | Thomas Pauley | 3,058 | 36.81 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,307 | 100 |

### State Senate

2016 General Election for Missouri's 19th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 45,335 | 51.22 |
| | Democratic | Stephen Webber | 43,179 | 48.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,514 | 100 |
2020 General Election for Missouri's 19th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Caleb Rowden | 50,570 | 51.60 | +0.38 |
| | Democratic | Judy Baker | 47,367 | 48.33 | −0.45 |
| | Write-In | James Coyne | 72 | 0.07 | +0.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,009 | 100 |