Meeting Representative Tracy McCreery

This was written by Myla, one of our student interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.

On June 15, 2021, Civitas interns got the opportunity to speak to Representative Tracy McCreery of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 88^th district. The congresswoman began the conversation with some fun facts about herself that were not listed on her biography. McCreery grew up in a very small town and had a graduating class of 100 people. After living in a small town for 18 years, she decided that she wanted to attend Ohio State University. Why, might you ask? She stated, “After living in a small town, I realized I knew everyone, so I wanted to attend the biggest school I could find. Ohio State University had 50,000 students.” McCreery soon realized that it wasn’t the population of an area that determined if she was well known or not. She concluded that people knew her because she was friendly. During her time at Ohio State University, she was a business administration major. Her degree was helpful in ensuring that she was an effective board member and able to comprehend financial statements. With her degree in business, she has held positions in marketing, sales training, and pharmaceutical industries.

When McCreery moved to the St. Louis area, she was determined to get involved in the community. She started reaching out to special interest and volunteer groups, such as Planned Parenthood, PROMO, and the Women’s Group on Race Relations. The congresswoman finally got involved in politics after volunteering for political campaigns. She began hanging out with a bunch of elected officials and political candidates. As a result, she started to run in elections. McCreery cited the old saying of “you become what you surround yourself with.” In 2011, she filled a vacant seat in the Missouri House of Representatives in the 83^rd District. She became the first woman in the state to win and serve as an independent. This historic opportunity led her to being elected to her first two-year term in November 2014. Now, McCreery has served the state for eight years (and counting).

One thing I noticed about her is that she had a certain spunk that not many people in politics have. While she was speaking, I felt how passionate she was about improving the lives of Missouri residents. McCreery emphasized the importance of passing impactful legislation even if it only affects one citizen’s life. As many people know, passing laws is not an easy job, especially if you are a Democrat in a historically Republican state. When asked how she handles the frustration that comes along with being a member of Missouri’s congress, she highlights the importance of having support, self-care, and compromising with the other side. When times get tough, she leans on the shoulder of her Democrat colleagues for comfort and encouragement. Additionally, she makes sure to practice self-care every week. McCreery exercises twice a week and does Pilates on Sundays. She commits to self-care with the understanding that she can’t help others if her mental health is not together. 

Often, she feels like she carries the burden for women. Therefore, she has learned how to work with Republicans to get legislation passed. McCreery made an impactful statement that I will always remember, “Politics is not a place to hold grudges. You have to let it go or you will be paralyzed by it.” She has definitely let the past go, finding Republicans to support her policies. For example, with the help of Representative Bruce DeGroot, she was able to pass a bill that ensures that female prisoners have access to free feminine hygiene products. This was truly an impactful bill.

Of course, the congresswoman had to address the biggest topic of the past year: COVID-19. She discussed how at the beginning of the pandemic, the Missouri General Assembly continued to have public hearings while the building was closed off to the public. During this time, she voted against any attempt to pass a bill. She emphasized the importance of including the general public in the public hearings, which speaks to her trustworthiness as a government official.

After hearing Tracy McCreery speak, I fell in love with her passion, resilience, and transparency. She is a sincere advocate for Missouri residents. While she is only a representative for District 88, I can envision her being an advocate for the state of Missouri on a federal level.