Elections Intelligence

Missouri 5th District

DEFENDED SEATSafe D

Emanuel Cleaver (D) has held this seat since 2005 and is running for re-election. Before that: Karen McCarthy (D).

Emanuel Cleaver Incumbent
97¢
Party market · checked 2:09 PM ETView on Kalshi ↗
3.1¢
Rick Brattin Challenger

FTP Race Signal

FTP Race SignalA composite of market, polling and money. The prediction-market price anchors it; a polling average moves it: the last 30 days, or the three most recent pollsters when fewer polled. Polls paid for by a candidate, party or allied group move 2 points toward the other side and count half. When the three most recent independent pollsters each have the race within three points, it is a Toss-up unless the market is already decisive. Fundraising counts only at a five-to-one gap. Past results are context, not inputs. A rating changes only when the evidence clears the line.

The market has run well past this seat's history: a 24-point Democratic hold in 2024, priced at 97¢ today.

Safe D
Safe DLikely DLean DToss-upLean RLikely RSafe R
Market · Safe DD 97¢: traders' price for a Democratic hold. Prior result · Likely DD+23.78 in 2024.

No public polls. The market favors Cleaver.

As of October 12.

Market

BandPRICEToss-up50¢ to 65¢Lean65¢ to 82¢Likely82¢ to 95¢Safe95¢ and above
D 97¢

Kalshi party market · checked 2:09 PM ET

View market on Kalshi ↗

Polling

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 10Likely10 to 20Safe20 and above
—

Prior result

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 12Likely12 to 25Safe25 and above
D+23.8

Emanuel Cleaver (D)

60.2% to 36.4% · 2024 general election

def. Sean E. Smith (R). Margin verified against retrieved official results.

Fundraising

BandRATIO TO 1Parity1 to 5Lean5 and above
4 to 1

Raised 2025 to 2026 · thru Jul 15

Emanuel Cleaver$1.34M ↗$1.14M cash
Rick Brattin$331.8K ↗$222.5K cash

Total receipts in the 2025 to 2026 two-year cycle, through July 15, 2026; Cleaver leads 4 to 1, short of the 5 to 1 at which fundraising takes a place on the spectrum.

The general election is on November 3, which is 22 days away.