MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Fundraising Juggernaut - Malek Adds More Money - KC Tax Goes Down - Luetky for Schaefer and more…

Kehoe Fundraising Juggernaut

Perhaps one of the most surprising threads of the Republican gubernatorial primary race has been the margin by which Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe has outraised Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

The total from the last quarter of large contributions…

Kehoe: $870,807

Ashcroft: $276,060

Sen. Bill Eigel: $205,250

·       And, yesterday, Kehoe recorded a $500,000 from Herzog Constructions into his PAC, starting off the next quarter with thunderbolt.

Ashcroft, with his dynastic last name, has led every single poll.  And yet, Kehoe has convinced big donors that he is the candidate to back.  He’s convinced them that he has a legitimate chance to win this race, and that they should put their money where his mouth is.

I’m estimating that Kehoe will have about a $4 million cash lead (PAC and candidate committee combined) over Ashcroft when we see this quarter’s results. 

That’s a tremendous advantage.  At some point the money lead is going to be so great that he will be the new favorite in this race.

Malek Adds Another $400K to Campaign

Meanwhile, in the State Treasurer’s race a similar dynamic is emerging, although the incumbent, Vivek Malek, is relying a great deal on self-funding.

Yesterday he recorded $300,000 into his PAC from Pacifica Consulting Services LLC, which appears to be a family business.  Pacifica added $1 million to the Malek PAC in 2023.

And Malek also sent a personal check of $100,000 into his candidate committee.  He has previously put in $700,000.  So, by my calculations, he’s in for over $2 million now.

·       But regardless of the source of funds Malek appears poised to have millions more in his war-chest than his chief rivals: Sen. Andrew Koenig, and Rep. Cody Smith.

Election Results

Here’s a hodge-podge of results that caught my eye from around the state…

·       KCStar reports on the demise of a sales tax for a new stadium downtown.  “The ballot measure failed 58% to 42%, and was trounced in both eastern Jackson County and in Kansas City south of the Missouri River. In total, 56,606 voted yes, and 78,352 voted no… Prior to the vote, the Chiefs and Royals said they would explore all options, if the tax failed. The Chiefs have considered moving out of Jackson County when their lease of Arrowhead Stadium expires in January 2031, possibly to the Kansas side of the metro area. The Royals’ options are less clear. Other metro areas without a Major League Baseball team would be interested in wooing the team with hefty incentives and a new stadium.”

·       Post-Dispatch notes that “voters defeated conservative candidates across the St. Louis region Tuesday in a sweeping rebuke of right-wing efforts to gain control of local school boards. None of the 13 candidates endorsed by right-wing radio talk show host Marc Cox won their races after campaigning against what he called a ‘woke agenda’ in schools.”

·       In Kirkwood, Liz Gibbons, wife of lobbyist Mike Gibbons, won her race for mayor of that St. Louis suburb.

·       Gail Griswold, a force behind ArmorVine, narrowly lost her re-election bid to the Camdenton School Board in a squeaker.

·       One MOScouter texts that “Looks like a progressive sweep in the Jefferson City Council races. The liberals in Jefferson City have figured out things liek frequent voter lists and turn out models.  They’ve been running the tables in low turn out local elections like school board and city council lately.”

·       It was a tough night for Arnie C. AC “Arn” Dienoff aka The Public Advocate. He lost his bids to join the Fort Zumwalt School Board, the O’Fallon Fire District, and the St. Charles Community College Trustees, garnering 7.4%, 10.6%, and 8.4% respectively in those races.  Dienoff is also running for 3-CD right now.

Adams Wishes “Blow-Up” on the Senate

In yesterday’s House Elections Committee, House Republicans restored the “ballot candy” to Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s SJR 74.  Rep. Joe Adams said he was hoped the change in the would bring about a Senate blow up…

I hope you guys get it over to the Senate and let the Senate blow up again. Because when the Senator made her statement, the Senate blew up the next day. So do it, please. I want the Senate to blow up. I want the Senate to do nothing.

Luetkemeyer “Will Endorse” Schaefer

Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer said he “will endorse former Sen. Kurt Schaefer to succeed him.

“I have told everybody I’m going to be endorsing Kurt Schaefer… I’m very excited about Kurt picking up the mantle of this office and running with it. I think he’s going to do a fantastic job and I’ll whole-heartedly endorse him.”

And

Hitting the Twitterverse, this old clip of the mighty Jason Rosenbaum interviewing Kurt Schaefer, back when he was running for a swing state senate district, sounding very unenthusiastic on the pro-life issue.  Watch it here.

House Perfects Budget

The House worked late into the night approving the budget.  Kurt Erickson reports: “Led by House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, Republicans who control the chamber rejected most attempts by Democrats to boost funding for a variety of programs, ranging from child care to adult education… Although state tax revenues are flattening, the state still has a $6 billion surplus that was built up when federal pandemic relief dollars were flowing into the treasury. Nonetheless, the House version that began moving Tuesday reduces Parson’s proposal by about $2 billion.”

·       The House is expected to give final approval Thursday, sending the bills to the Senate.

Rehder Welcomes Girls State

Press release: State Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Scott City, will be hosting several of the young women starring in the soon-to-be released “Girls State” documentary... on Wednesday, April 3, two days before the film premieres on Apple’s streaming service.

·       The film focuses on teenage women from across Missouri who are challenged to build a government from the ground up in one week, including running for office and forming a supreme court. It is a follow up to a hit documentary “Boys State,” which had a similar plot from the opposite end of the gender spectrum.

Candidate Withdrawals

·       Scott Smith (Democrat) withdrew from house 40 (Perkins running for re-election).

·       Denise Billo (Democrat) withdrew from House 97 (Casteel running for re-election).

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $500,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.

American Dream PAC - $14,823 from DDI Media.

American Promise PAC (pro-Malek) - $300,000 from Pacifica Consulting Services, LLC.

Malek for Missouri - $100,000 from Vivek Malek.

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $101,000 from Certified Medical LLC.

Friends of Kemp Strickler - $5,034 from William Strickler.

IAFF FIREPAC VIC Missouri - $18,300 from International Association of Fire Fighters Interested in Registration and Education PAC (Washington, DC).

Lobbyist Registrations

Scott Hays added Missouri Pork Association.

Nancy Giddens, Shannon Cooper, and Tony Dugger added Bayer U.S. LLC.

Jessica Lynch added Pharmaceutical Research And Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Jake Silverman deleted Commercial Energy Consultants, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Dusty Schnieders, Eapen Thampy, and Ron Schieber.