Matthew R Grant
RepublicanQ1 In their 2024–2025 report, the Missouri Office of Rural Health reported that 42% of counties in MO do not have a hospital. What policies, if any, do you plan to implement to address access to health care, primarily in rural areas?
“Missouri’s rural hospital closures are a crisis, and 42% of counties without a hospital is unacceptable. I support expanding telehealth infrastructure so rural patients can access specialists and primary care without traveling hours for an appointment. That starts with closing the broadband gap — telehealth only works if families actually have reliable internet access, so I’ll support investment in rural broadband/wifi infrastructure as a healthcare issue, not just a connectivity issue. I’ll also work to ensure federal rural health funding (like the Rural Health Transformation Program) reaches the hospitals and clinics that need it most, rather than getting absorbed into red tape. Access to care shouldn’t depend on your zip code.”
Q2 The Missouri Department of Agriculture has reported that Agriculture and related industries have contributed 93.7 billion dollars in economic output and 456,618 jobs to Missouri in 2021. Would you continue to develop and support agtech business in Missouri as well as the education and scientific training for Missourians to contribute to this industry? Why or why not?
“I strongly support continuing to grow Missouri’s agtech industry. For 20 years, I worked as a trial lawyer representing Monsanto, including its subsidiaries Climate Corp. and Precision Planting, giving me firsthand knowledge of how agricultural science and technology drive Missouri’s economy — $93.7 billion in output and over 456,000 jobs is not something to take for granted. I’ll support continued investment in agricultural research, ag science education, and technical training so Missourians — not just outside companies — are the ones developing and benefiting from the next generation of agtech innovation. Missouri should be a national leader in agricultural science, and that means investing in the people and institutions that make it possible.”
Q3 America has a growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation but raising issues of resource use, privacy, and economics. In your opinion, what are the costs and benefits of new data center construction in Missouri and how would your policies accomplish a balance between them?
“AI is the future whether we like it or not, and Missouri should get out in front of it rather than fall behind. Data centers bring real economic benefits — jobs, investment, and a stake in a growing industry. But growth can’t come at the expense of everyday Missourians. I’ll support commonsense restrictions to make sure data center development doesn’t strain local power grids, drive up utility costs, or drain water resources that families and farmers depend on. Privacy protections also need to keep pace with the technology. The goal is balance: welcome the industry and the jobs it brings, while making sure it’s a good neighbor to the communities it operates in.”
Q4 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
“Throughout my career, I’ve deferred to expert opinion rather than my own assumptions — that’s how good decisions get made, whether in a courtroom or in Congress. If elected, I’ll seek out scientific opinions on all sides of an issue before voting on policy that affects public health, agriculture, technology, or the environment. Science doesn’t always speak with one voice, and I think that’s a strength, not a weakness — hearing from experts across the spectrum leads to better, more informed policy. Missourians deserve a representative who listens to the evidence, not one who ignores it or cherry-picks it to fit a predetermined conclusion.”
Q5 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to improve the public understanding of and relationship building in science?
“STEM is the future for our students, and Missouri’s schools need to treat it that way. Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand what science and technology can do to improve the everyday lives of Missourians — from agriculture to healthcare to the courtroom. That means our K-12 standards should give students real hands-on exposure to science early, not just textbook memorization, and build stronger connections between classrooms and Missouri’s own science and tech industries — AgTech, healthcare, and beyond. If we want the next generation of Missourians competing for these jobs, we have to invest in the science education that prepares them for it. Science literacy isn’t just an academic goal — it’s an economic one.”