State Rep. Cathy Jo Loy announces re-election campaign for Missouri House

Carthage, Mo. – Missouri State Representative Cathy Jo Loy announced today that she is seeking re-election to continue serving the families of Missouri’s 163rd District.

After moving to Southwest Missouri in 2000, they built their life, raised their family, and put down deep roots. Loy and her husband Clint chose Carthage as their permanent home “Carthage isn’t just where we live , it’s home,” Loy said. “This community has been part of our family’s story, and serving it has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

During her time in the Missouri House, Loy has focused on conservative, commonsense solutions that reflect the values of Southwest Missouri families, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and strong families.

Among her legislative accomplishments, Loy successfully passed legislation updating the Missouri Southern State University mission statement, which was signed into law by the Governor. The updated mission expands MSSU’s focus to reflect the growing emphasis on health sciences, strengthening workforce development and ensuring students in Southwest Missouri have access to high-demand career pathways close to home.

Loy also passed her Religious Freedom legislation out of the Missouri House, reaffirming the right of Missourians to worship freely without government overreach.

Rep. Loy currently serves on the House Budget Committee, Utilities Committee, Professional Registration and Licensing Committee, Children and Families Committee, Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, and the Joint Committee on Education, where she works to restrain government growth, protect taxpayers, and responsibly steward public dollars.

Protecting children and families remains a central focus of Loy’s work. She has supported stronger laws to combat child grooming and human trafficking, while standing firmly for parental rights and child safety.

“As a mother, grandmother of twelve, and great-grandmother, protecting children isn’t a talking point, it’s personal,” Loy said. “Parents deserve leaders who will put children first and stand with families.”

Loy and her husband Clint, an emergency medicine physician, have been married for more than four decades. They have five adult children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, and remain deeply committed to Carthage and Southwest Missouri.

“I’m running for re-election to continue fighting for limited government, responsible spending, and the freedoms that allow our communities to thrive,” Loy said. “I would be honored to continue serving the people of the 163rd District.”