Monday, July 25, 2016
Casas to Dentons
Word is that Kate Casas is leaving Pelopidas’ Gate Way Group and joining Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace and Kelvin Simmons on the Dentons lobbying team.
A few legislators I spoke were impressed by the hire… “Casas is as plugged in as any lobbyists in the Capitol,” and “Great move for both…”
Casas the latest in a series of moves by the top tier lobbying firms to add to their ranks. Earlier this summer Chris Roepe left his job as Noranda’s lobbyist and joined John Bardgett and Associates, and David Jackson left the Gate Way Group and joined Gamble, Schlemeier.
Hummel Gets Nod for Senate Seat
The mighty Jason Rosenbaum – in Philly this week to cover the Democratic National Convention – reports on the St. Louis City Democratic committee meeting that chose Rep. Jake Hummel to be the nominee for the November special election to fill the Senate 4 vacancy. See it here.
Joe Keaveny resigned for a judgeship.
It’s a safe Democratic seat so look for Hummel to join the Senate in January.
And
For the scorecards – Rep. Gail McCann Beatty is expected to become the new Minority Leader of the House.
And Sen. Gina Walsh is considered the favorite to succeed Keaveny as the Minority Leader of the Senate.
Miranda on McCaskill
In the latest Wikileaks… Democratic National Committee’s Luis Miranda says that Senator Claire McCaskill doesn’t have a backbone… See it here.
MCN Ad
Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, running against Congressman Lacy Clay, sent her latest fundraising appeal to ask for money to get her ad up and running. See the appeal here. And see the ad here. “Whether the issue is quality education, social justice or radioactive waste, I am present… You deserve a member of Congress who works and comes home to you…”
Big Checks
Another round of big checks hit over the weekend…
David Humphreys dumped another $250K into the Josh Hawley campaign. Humphreys has now given Hawley over $2 million ($2,125,000) in this race.
Humphreys also sent Rep. Andrew Koenig $50K in his Senate 15 race. That’s brings the total Humphreys’ investment in Koenig to $150K.
John Brunner gave his campaign another $1 million. That brings his total self-funding of this campaign to about $6.7 million.
Stan Herzog showed up with a pair of checks - $100K for Catherine Hanaway and $100K for Josh Hawley.
And Catherine Hanaway received another $300K+ from a Rex Sinquefield committee, Grow Missouri.
MOScout Polls
If you missed the MOScout polls over the weekend… Rep. Rick Stream leads Rep. Andrew Koenig in Senate 15 (41%-24% with 35% undecided). See it here.
And Rep. John Rizzo leads Jessica Podhola in Senate 11 (48%-14% with the other two candidates grabbing 10% and another 28% undecided). See it here.
Fear Will Keep Them In Line
Is this Election Year the year of the outsider, or the year of fear? Post-Dispatch reports on Asia-Americans upset by Josh Hawley’s ad which plays on xenophobic anxiety. See the ad here.
Pull Quote: A coalition of Asian-American businesses and organizations in Missouri on Sunday criticized what they called racist and xenophobic political ads in the state attorney general race… “The ad is clearly meant to elicit fear among Missouri voters and depicts Chinese and Asian Americans as ‘the enemy,’” the Asian-American groups said in a joint release. “The ad echoes the ‘Yellow Peril’ sentiment from darker times in our nation’s history which led to abhorrent legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese American internment camps.”
Bits
Dem VP nominee Tim Kaine has KC roots. He was a Rockhurst High School grad, class of 1976…
On Facebook, Abram Messer’s brother Aarron reacts to his brother recently raising questions about their mother’s disappearance, and he shares a lot about their upbringing. See it here.
Team Kander cheers a ranking change from the Cook Report. The Cook Political Report upgraded the race from "Likely Republican" and now lists it as "Leans Republican," its most competitive rating outside of "toss-up."
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Robert Cornejo Golf – Old Hickory Golf Course – St. Peters - 8:30AM.
25-28 Democrat National Convention – Philadelphia, PA.
$5K+ Contributions
Friends of Todd Richardson - $10,000 from Harold Wood.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local #655 Elect Political Fund - $6,470 from UFCW Local 655.
Hawley for Missouri - $10,000 from Ronald Sprouse.
Missouri Realtors PAC Inc - $20,000 from Realtors Political Action Committee.
Democratic Governors Association Missouri - $50,000 from Democratic Governors Association.
Missourians for Randles - $30,000 from Missouri Club for Growth.
Greitens for Missouri - $100,000 from Jerald L Kent.
Anne Zerr for Missouri - $10,000 from Schlichter Bogard and Denton LLP.
Anne Zerr for Missouri - $20,767 from Missouri Realtors PAC Inc.
Hanaway for Governor - $100,000 from Herzog Contracting.
Hanaway for Governor - $319,151 from Grow Missouri.
Committee to Elect Judge Grant Gorman - $6,000 from Grant Gorman.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Citizens for Jay Wasson.
MO State Council of Fire Fighters PAC - $50,000 from International Association of Fire Fighters.
MO Green Party Inc - $22,600 from Jill Stein for President.
Missourians for John Brunner - $1,000,000 from John Brunner.
Hawley for Missouri - $250,000 from David Humphreys.
Hawley for Missouri - $100,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.
Hawley for Missouri - $20,000 from Charles Wall.
Citizens to Elect Kimberly Gardner - $25,738 from Safety and Justice Committee.
Friends of Andrew Koenig - $50,000 from David Humphreys.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Drury Development Corporation.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Romine for Senate. House Republican Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC.
House Republican Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Republic Services Inc.
Friends of Brantley Atchley - $9,000 from United Steelworkers District.
Committee to Elect Judge Grant Gorman - $6,000 from Grant Gorman.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Sen. Charlie Shields, Jay Atkins, and Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green.