Chappell Roan’s uncle is the new Missouri House majority leader, and his record on abortion and guns is worlds away from her own politics

Missouri state Rep. Darin Chappell, the uncle of pop star Chappell Roan, was selected Wednesday to lead the chamber’s Republican majority as House majority leader. The promotion puts the Navy veteran in one of the most powerful positions in the Missouri legislature.

The family connection is raising eyebrows because the politics could hardly be further apart. Roan, an out lesbian and outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate, has been a visible presence in the political conversation since the 2024 presidential election. Her uncle, meanwhile, has built his legislative record on conservative priorities.

Those include abortion restrictions and opposition to gun control, and he has also campaigned against critical race theory in schools. According to Out Magazine, Chappell also cosponsored legislation that would have blocked public funding for abortion providers.

Who is Darin Chappell?

Chappell represents Missouri’s 137th House District. Out Magazine reports that he was first elected in 2022 and won 70 percent of his district’s vote in the 2026 midterms, a margin that helps explain his rise among House Republicans.

His new role comes at a complicated moment for his party. Republicans still control the Missouri House with 95 seats, but Democrats flipped 16 state House seats in the midterms. That cost the GOP the two-thirds majority it needs to override gubernatorial vetoes without Democratic support, so Chappell will be steering a caucus with less room to maneuver.

Where does Chappell Roan stand?

Roan, the Grammy-winning artist whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, has never been shy about her beliefs, though she hasn’t always fit neatly into a party box. During the 2024 election, she said there were “problems on both sides,” a comment that drew plenty of attention. She later clarified that she would vote for then-Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump.

She has also spoken up for trans rights. She reportedly declined an invitation to perform at the White House’s Pride celebration to protest the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza, a decision that showed she was willing to challenge Democrats too.

Her activism has been more than talk. Earlier this week, Roan raised $2 million for trans youth and LGBTQIA+ communities through her two-night Super Graphic Spectacular fundraiser. The timing is striking: one Chappell was raising money for queer communities just as another was elevated to GOP leadership in Missouri.

What happens next?

Neither Roan nor her uncle has publicly addressed the other’s news. It remains to be seen whether Roan will comment on his promotion, or whether the family dynamic will stay out of the spotlight.

What is clear is that Darin Chappell now holds significant influence over what legislation moves forward in Missouri, including on the issues his famous niece champions. With a smaller majority and a more energized Democratic minority, his first session as majority leader will be one to watch.

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