September 2, 2016
Silvey Loses Suit
Sen. Ryan Silvey lost his challenge to disqualify his Democratic opponent Ranen Bechthold based on the residency requirement. See the judgement here.
Rucker Case Dismissed
According to Casenet Rep. Kevin Corlew’s attorney Robert Ryan Harding filed a “Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice” yesterday, bringing an apparent end to the attempt to disqualify his Democratic opponent Martin Rucker II on a residency challenge.
And Then There Was One
We’re still waiting on the challenge against incumbent Rep. Rob Vescovo. The Democratic candidate, Robert Butler, says Vescovo should be disqualified due to delinquent taxes.
30 Day Reports
Candidates filed their 30-Day After Primary reports yesterday. I put them into an excel spreadsheet with money raised, spent, cash on-hand and debt. Find it here, under Special Reports.
Quick Thoughts
Governor
Although Chris Koster starts with a huge $6 million lead in fundraising, I think everyone assumes that between the Republican Governors Association, and the dark money SEALs for Truth, Eric Greitens will have more than enough money.
Lieutenant Governor
Sen. Mike Parson hadn’t filed his report at this writing, and Democrat Russ Carnahan has $500K on-hand.
Secretary of State
Jay Ashcroft spent his bank account down to $71K and Democrat Robin Smith has $314K in the bank.
Treasurer
Sen. Eric Schmitt, without a primary, still has a towering $2.6 million cash on-hand, while Democrat Judy Baker is at one tenth of that with $258K on-hand.
Attorney General
Republican Josh Hawley has quickly started his re-load with over $1 million in the bank. Teresa Hensley is at about half of that with $457K on-hand. Hensley was able to beat Jake Zimmerman in the primary despite being out-funded, we’ll see if she can that off again in the general.
Senate
In what will be the most competitive state senate races the Democrats have wide fundraising leads on their Republican challengers. In Senate 1, Sen. Scott Sifton has over $800K to Randy Jotte’s $200K. And in Senate 19 Rep. Stephen Webber has $890K on-hand compared to Rep. Caleb Rowden’s $360K on-hand.
However, the Republicans’ Missouri Senate Campaign Committee is sitting on nearly $500K; there are two regional Senate PAC aimed at these two races with hundreds of thousands of dollars in them (thanks to David Humphreys); plus the fundraising capacity of the incumbent Republican senators, and clearly the money playing field in both these races will be leveled.
To be continued….
Wowza
Jo Mannies reports that the amount spent on the Republican governor’s race primary was… $27.1 million. See it here.
Pull Quote: Eric Greitens, the victor of Missouri’s four-way Republican battle for governor, spent just over $10 million to win his party’s nomination… Runner up John Brunner, a St. Louis businessman who self-funded most of his campaign, spent $8.2 million. Former state House Speaker Catherine Hanaway spent $6.2 million, most of it from one donor, financier Rex Sinquefield. She came in last in the balloting. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who barely edged out Hanaway to come in third, spent the least: $2.7 million.
New Blunt Ad
Senator Roy Blunt released a new advertisement highlighting his work on the Missouri Family Stability Act. See it here. It’s a very good ad as it shows him as an effective problem solver. With his base presumably sewn up that this point, this type of ad can help him grab Independents and crossover voters.
Tesla Lawsuit
Post-Dispatch reports that Tesla lost its court case to sell cars without physical dealerships in the state. See it here.
Pull Quote: Tesla's licenses to sell cars in Missouri are in jeopardy after a circuit judge ruled the electric car maker is not a franchisee and its licenses should not be renewed by the Missouri Department of Revenue.
MADA, a Jefferson City-based trade group that represents new-car and new-truck dealers, alleged Tesla's business model selling vehicles directly to customers violates Missouri’s Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act that requires car manufacturers to sell motor vehicles through a dealer holding a franchise agreement with a manufacturer.
The DOR argued in court that Missouri law does not require a franchise agreement with another entity and that licenses issued to Tesla complied with state law. Tesla had filed a franchise agreement with the DOR that stated "Tesla Motors ... authorizes Tesla Motors" to sell Tesla vehicles.
But on Thursday, the Circuit Court of Cole County agreed with MADA and ruled in favor of MADA's motion for summary judgment.
Messenger Hits Hubbard, Dueks
Post-Dispatch columnist Tony Messenger weighs in on the Hubbard absentee ballot controversy. See it here.
Pull Quote: The first time I talked to Jane Dueker about a questionable vote involving Penny Hubbard, it had nothing to do with absentees… Hubbard had voted against the bill in the legislative session. But then Doe Run went to work. It lobbied Hubbard to change her vote. It brought her out to the company's lead mining operations for a tour. The company hired her son, Rodney Hubbard Jr., as a lobbyist. Doe Run's attorney at the time? Jane Dueker.
She denied Hubbard did anything wrong, and on Wednesday in St. Louis City Circuit Court in front of Judge Rex Burlison, she was at it again…
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Dan Shaul Cosmic Bowling – Imperial Bowl – Imperial – 7:30PM.
Changes in Lobbyist Registrations
Chris Kelley added Renovate America, and The Gate Way Group.
Katherine Casas added Wyman Center
Kim Gladstone deleted BJC Behavioral Health.
$5K+ Contributions
Friends of Robert Cornejo - $25,000 from David Humphreys.
Koster for Missouri - $9,532 from Ginger Moore.
Koster for Missouri - $9,280 from Myron Lindsey.
Koster for Missouri - $5,489 from Teamsters Local Union 600 DRVE PAC.
Hawley for Missouri - $10,000 from John Gentry.
Hawley for Missouri - $7,500 from James Boswell.
Citizens for Stephen Webber - $75,000 from AFSCME.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $75,000 from AFSCME.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Friends of Caleb Jones.
Missourians for John Brunner - $5,769 from National Safety Compliance.
Raise Your Jand for Kids - $25,000 from Alison Ferring.
Friends of Caleb Rowden - $250,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from QC Holdings Inc.
House Republican Campaign Committee INc - $6,067 from Branson Lakes/Area Chamber of Commerce.
Teresa Hensley for Missouri - $10,000 from Pipefitters Local Union 533 Volunteer Political Fund.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to House 105 candidate Phil Christofanelli, Jennifer Martin, and Amy Pridmore.
Saturday: Warren Wood.
Sunday: Former Sen. Jane Cunningham.
Labor Day: Jack Danforth (the bill 8-0), former Reps. Jenee Lowe and Rachel Storch, Kate Casas, Brett Berri, Future Rep. Fred Wessels, and Matt Teter.
MOScout News
No Update on Monday (Labor Day), but there will be a MOScout poll coming…