JEFFERSON CITY -- Shane Schoeller edged out his two rivals for the Republican nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday, earning the chance to take on Kansas City Democrat Jason Kander in November.

Schoeller, the speaker pro tem of the Missouri House, won 35.3 percent of the vote, just beating out Scott Rupp at 34.5 percent. Bill Stouffer came in third with 30.2 percent.

The race was left undecided Tuesday night, with Schoeller leading and two precincts out of 3,420 still not reporting results. Those two precincts, located in St. Louis County, were finally reported Wednesday afternoon, and Schoeller maintained a 4,500 vote lead.

The Schoeller-Kander showdown this fall will be highlighted a difference over whether Missouri voters should be required to provide a government-issued photo ID in order to cast a ballot. Schoeller is a staunch supporter of a voter ID law, arguing that it's needed to prevent fraud. Kander points out that there has never been a reported case of voter fraud in Missouri that a photo ID law would have prevented, and says such requirements would disenfranchise thousands of voters.

The winner will replace Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who announced last year that she would not seek a third term in office.