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JEFFERSON CITY 鈥� Republican infighting in the Missouri House could come to a head as legislators convene for their next session early next year.

State Rep. Justin Sparks, R-Wildwood, he would challenge House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee鈥檚 Summit, for the speaker鈥檚 gavel in January.

Sparks, a former 51黑料 County police officer and member of the , cited Patterson鈥檚 opposition to overturning the pro-abortion-rights Amendment 3 as a key reason for his challenge.

鈥淥n Day 1, your speaker must address and tackle Amendment 3,鈥� Sparks said, adding polls show Missourians want abortion restrictions.

The bid by a member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus threatens to disrupt the beginning of session, normally a day full of ceremony in which members formally elect a speaker.

House Republicans, who have controlled the chamber for more than 20 years, have historically chosen the next speaker of the House more than year before the person actually takes the gavel.

In Patterson鈥檚 case, Republicans selected him in a closed-door vote that took place in September 2023.

Patterson hasn鈥檛 always gone along with hot-button Republican proposals, while Sparks is among the most outspoken conservative members on social issues.

In October, Patterson said that legislators would respect the will of the people if they approved Amendment 3, the abortion-rights measure voters passed last Tuesday.

He also voted against a law prohibiting puberty blockers, hormone treatment and gender surgeries for transgender minors; and put a stop to pro-gun legislation in the wake of a high-profile shooting earlier this year in Kansas City.

Sparks last month had criticized Patterson鈥檚 comments on Amendment 3 and continued to do so over the weekend.

Patterson, who is a general surgeon, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

鈥淲hen asked about Amendment 3, he said that we would have to 鈥� that abortion bans don鈥檛 work in Missouri, and we鈥檇 have to respect the law,鈥� Sparks said in his video. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not what the leader of the Republican caucus should be saying, guys.鈥�

Sparks, in his video, also criticized 鈥渢he system that gave us Jon Patterson.鈥�

鈥淭he uncomfortable truth is: Power is for sale in Jefferson City. If you want to be a chairman of a powerful committee, you got to pay,鈥� Sparks said in the video. 鈥淚f you want to be on the budget committee, you got to pay.

鈥淲hen I got to Jefferson City, they gave all the Republicans an envelope. Inside the envelope was a card,鈥� Sparks said in the video.

He said the card had a dollar amount, which varied by representative.

鈥淢ine was $20,000. That鈥檚 what I was being required to give to the House Republican Campaign Committee in order to buy my position on powerful committees and to possibly be in leadership one day,鈥� Sparks said in the video.

鈥淚鈥檝e talked to so many of my colleagues who hate this system,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat system must go.鈥�

Sparks generated attention in August when he held a news conference outside an Ellisville gym as he and others protested a transgender woman using a women鈥檚 locker room there.

Republicans will return to Jefferson City with a strong 111-52 majority. It takes 82 votes to control the House. Patterson could lose some Republican support and still take the speakership.

Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican, said Monday he has supported Patterson but would keep an open mind.

鈥淚鈥檝e supported Speaker 鈥� incoming Speaker Patterson since he announced. And I think I鈥檒l continue that support, though ... everyone in the caucus is free to run for a leadership position,鈥� Seitz said.

Asked if he is sticking with Patterson, Seitz said he鈥檇 have to speak with Sparks and see what he has to offer.

鈥淏ut Rep. Patterson has been a good friend to myself, and I think he would do a great job as speaker and I have supported him from the beginning. But I will be open-minded,鈥� Seitz said.