The 2018 St. Louis County Executive election took place on November 6, 2018. Incumbent County Executive Steve Stenger ran for re-election to a second term. He faced a difficult challenge from businessman Mark Mantovani in the Democratic primary, and won renomination with just 50.3 percent of the vote. In the general election, Stenger was opposed by Republican Paul Berry III, a political commentator and bail bondsman. In a contrast to Stenger's close election in 2014, he won re-election in a landslide, receiving 57 percent of the vote to Stenger's 37 percent. However, Stenger did not serve out his full term as County Executive, resigning in 2019 after being indicted for bribery and fraud.[1]
Mantovani, a lawyer and wealthy businessman, announced that he would challenge Stenger in the Democratic primary. Mantovani attacked Stenger for awarding government contracts to campaign contributors,[4] and argued that his success in business would allow him to "chart a new future" for the county.[5] Mantovani attracted the support of prominent Black Democratic leaders in the county, including those who endorsed Stenger's Republican opponent in 2014.[6]
In seeking re-election, Stenger pointed to his success in "pursu[ing] a progressive agenda," generating economic growth, and creating jobs. He received the endorsement of the local police and firefighter unions. Stenger attacked Mantovani for his campaign contributions to Republican politicians, including former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. [7]
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which endorsed Stenger over Dooley in 2014, endorsed Mantovani. The paper sharply criticized Stenger's tenure as County Executive, noting that "vitriol and dysfunction . . . seem to follow St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger wherever he goes." It noted that while Stenger had a "substantial list of accomplishments," many of which "yielded impressive results," they were accomplished by "bad judgment and [a] failure to cultivate personal relations." The Post-Dispatch praised Mantovani for having "the personality and executive-level management experience to put the county back onto a professional, businesslike track" and for having a "centrist philosophy that the county needs to unite its disparate political factions and win the cooperation of a Republican-led state Legislature and conservative business community."[8]
Stenger narrowly defeated Mantovani, winning the primary by 1,100 votes. Mantovani initially refused to concede, citing issues at polling places,[9] but ultimately conceded defeat following the certification of the results.[10]
