Storch, left, and Koster

Two Missouri Democrats have been selected for a fellowship program by the Aspen Institute, which offers leadership training to emerging political officials from both sides of the aisle.

State Attorney General Chris Koster and State Rep. Rachel Storch have been tapped to join 22 other state and local officeholders around the U.S. for the two year program, which includes seminars at the institute’s cozy mountain retreat in Aspen, Colo.

Others in this year’s class include the attorney general of Wisconsin; the city council president in Baltimore; and the speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Storch, 36, was an aide to former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan in Washington before being elected to represent the State House district that includes the Dogtown section of St. Louis.

Koster, 44, a former state senator, was elected attorney general last year after defecting from the GOP.

Other local alumni from the Aspen program include St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed and Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who is now running for U.S. Senate.