Summary
I draw the connection between Mark Alford’s alleged intimidation of a Missouri lawmaker’s staff and the harassment I received when I began my run for Congress.
By Ricky Dana
A Familiar Tactic from Mark Alford
Recently, news broke that a Missouri state lawmaker accused Rep. Mark Alford of sending three staff members to his Capitol office to intimidate his legislative assistant.
According to the lawmaker, the staff demanded that the office stop sharing Alford’s contact information with constituents upset over major federal job cuts tied to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
The accusation is serious—especially when you consider Alford’s history and the way he handles criticism.
Alford denied the claim, saying the visit was part of routine outreach to multiple offices and that no phone numbers were discussed. But the lawmaker stood by his account, saying the encounter was unwelcome and that posting a photo of his assistant afterward was a further form of intimidation.
Why This Sounds Familiar
When I first announced my run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri’s 4th District, I faced a sudden wave of harassment online.
Multiple accounts—each with no profile picture, no followers, and no personal information—sent me messages like:
- “You’ll never beat Mark Alford!”
- “You should just drop out now.”
- “Mark Alford has his district solidified.”
These weren’t just random trolls. The volume, timing, and nearly identical wording made it feel coordinated.
I deleted the messages and blocked the accounts, but I strongly suspected they were tied to Alford’s inner circle—or even to him directly.
The Harassment Stopped Overnight
Here’s what’s most telling: the harassment ended the day my candidacy became official with the Federal Election Commission. One moment, my inbox was full of fake accounts trying to intimidate me. The next, it was silent. Not a single new message from those accounts.
It’s hard to believe that timing was a coincidence.
A Pattern That Missouri Shouldn’t Ignore
When I hear about this latest accusation against Alford, it fits a pattern—an approach that leans on intimidation to get people to back down. Whether it’s a legislative assistant in the State Capitol or a political opponent just entering the race, the tactic is the same: apply pressure until the other person folds.
This isn’t leadership. It’s bullying. And it has no place in public service.
Public servants should listen to the people they represent, not try to silence them. They should earn support through trust and accountability, not through threats or scare tactics.
Our district deserves a representative who shows up for every county, respects every constituent, and answers tough questions without hiding behind staff or intimidation.
Not much intimidates this Missouri boy anymore after the life I have had to live growing up.
Especially not some Texan transplant, whose only skill is reading from a teleprompter.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I will lead with transparency, meet people where they are, and build solutions through respectful conversation—not fear.
Sources:
Missouri congressman accused by state lawmaker of trying to intimidate his staff
Missouri lawmaker accuses Rep. Mark Alford of intimidation
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