April 17 - Richard Endorses Wasinger
Too much this morning. I’ll speed-write, you speed-read….
Breaking This Morning: Richard Endorses Wasinger
Today, Missouri Senate President Ron Richard announces his endorsement of David Wasinger for State Auditor.
“I am proud to support David Wasinger’s campaign for auditor,” said Richard. “The people of Missouri are hungry for an auditor who will increase transparency, stop waste, and restore their trust in government. I know we can count on David to do just that in Jefferson City.”
What It Means
Wasinger who has established a wide lead in fundraising among Republicans seeking the auditor nomination is now starting to build political support.
Rumorville: Third MMJ Petition
Tipster whispers… “I'm hearing Missourians for Patient Care believes they have their signatures. That puts all 3 medical marijuana initiative petitions on a November collision course absent GA action on Rep. Neely’s 1554…”
IP signatures are due to the Secretary of States office 5PM on Sunday May 6.
Q&A #1: Will Dems Capitalize on State Senate Races?
Short answer: Doesn’t look like it.
Aside from Lauren Arthur who put up a good quarter ahead of the June 3 special election in Senate 17, Dem senate candidates in the battlefield districts posted lackluster numbers.
In Senate 3 (Jefferson County), Robert Butler has gotten a late start and only raised $4K this quarter.
In Senate 30 (Springfield) all the filed, and rumored, democratic candidates for Senate 30 raised a combined total of just over $14K. Meanwhile Republican nominee Lincoln Hough, and a PAC supporting him, raised a combined total of nearly $120k.
In Senate 34 (St. Joe) Democrat Martin Rucker has just $37K on-hand. Even after Republicans go through their primary they’ll still probably start with more in the bank than Rucker.
In other words, despite all the talk of Democratic enthusiasm this cycle, it’s not showing up in the campaign bank accounts, and that could limit Democrats’ ability to take advantage of this potentially “perfect storm” political year.
But
On the positive front for Dems, Senate 24 appears to be off the map for Republicans. Schupp has been running a methodical re-election campaign, and Republicans were unable to recruit a top tier opponent.
Greitens Wants Hawley Recusal
Post-Dispatch reports that “in a letter sent to Hawley Monday, Greitens’ defense counsel Edward Dowd said Hawley must immediately recuse himself and his office from any investigation of his fellow Republican, as well as any entity to which Greitens is associated.
Hawley joined a chorus of Republicans and Democrats in calling for Greitens to step down after last week’s release of a scathing report by a panel of state lawmakers in which the governor’s ex-lover said he hit her, shoved her and called her a ‘whore’during their 2015 affair.
In the two-page letter, Dowd said that statement taints Hawley’s investigation into separate allegations of campaign finance irregularities by Greitens, in which the governor is alleged to have used a fundraising list obtained from his former charity to help him raise cash for his maiden political campaign… ‘If AG Hawley declines to recuse himself as requested, we intend to explore legal remedies, including immediate action in Cole County Circuit Court,’ Dowd wrote.”
In response, Hawley called Dowd’s legal threat “frivolous.” See it here. “The fact that the Governor has been credibly accused of engaging in sexual misconduct does not give him or any entity with which he was associated immunity from investigation under the Missouri Merchandizing Practices Act.”
What It Means
With rumors heating up that Hawley is about to act on his investigation of Greitens, this looks like a legal stall tactic to try to stymie Hawley.
April Quarters
Auditor
Nicole Galloway raised spent and has on-hand
David Wasinger raised $68K, spent $57K, and has $745K in-hand.
Saundra McDowell raised $10K, spent $7K, and has $2K on-hand
Paul Curtman raised $6K, spent $10K, and has $41K on-hand.
Kevin Roach raised $5K and has $5K on-hand.
Senate 3
Paul Wieland raised $9K, spent $14K, and has $161K on-hand.
Robert Butler raised $4K, spent $0, and has $4K on-hand.
Senate 16
Diane Franklin raised $102K, spent $9K, and has $102K on-hand.
Justin Brown raised $9K, spent $5K, and has $203K on-hand.
Keith Frederick raised $1K, spent $1K, and has $17K on-hand.
Senate 17
Lauren Arthur raised $59K,soent $2K, and has $162K on-hand.
Kevin Corlew raised $22K, spent $4K, and has $68K on-hand.
Senate 18
Cindy O’Laughlin raised $26K, spent $2K, and has $228K on-hand.
Lindell Shumake raised $9K, spent $1K, and has $20K on-hand.
Craig Redmon raised $12K, spent $11K, and has $69K on-hand.
Nate Walker raised $6K, spent $1K and has $15K on-hand.
Senate 24
Jill Schupp raised $109K, spent $27K, and has $650K on-hand.
Gregory Powers – not committee formed yet.
Senate 34
Tony Luetkemeyer raised $86K, spent $1K, and has $381K on-hand.
Harry Roberts raised $67K, spent $20K and has $149K on-hand.
Martin Rucker raised$30K, spent $8, and has $37K on-hand.
And
Governor Greitens raised $31K, spent $293K, and has $2.5 million on-hand.
Top 50 COH Committees
We Are Missouri - $5.1 million
Greitens For Missouri - $2.5 million
Citizens for Steve Stenger - $2.3 million
Freedom To Work - $1.2 million
Hawley For Missouri - $1 million
Nicole Galloway For Missouri - $1 million
Eastern MO Laborers Education & Benevolent Fund - $986K
Mantovani For STL - $821K
Citizens For Wasinger - $745K
Friends of Gregory FX Daly - $700K
Leadership For America - $668K
Schupp for Senate - $650K
Pipefitters Assoc Local Union # 533 - $528K
Supporters of Health Research and Treatments - $522K
Carpenters Help in the Political Process (CHIPP) - $503K
Callahan for Missouri - $490K.
MO NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOC-PAC 474992.84
BUILD St. Louis PAC, Inc. - $465K
Lyda Krewson for Mayor - $459K
CLEAN Missouri - $411K
Missouri Realtors PAC Inc - $406K
HealthPAC - $395K
Luetkemeyer For Senate - $380K
MO Republican Party - $359K
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $352K
Committee to Elect Scott Taylor - $351K
Friends Of Eric Burlison - $351K
Midwest Region Laborers' Political League Education Fund - $349K
Citizens For Jake Zimmerman - $339K
Raise Up Missouri - $331K
Association of MO Electric Cooperatives-PAC - $323K
Onder for Missouri - $304K
Citizens for Schatz - $293K
Friends Of Jamilah Nasheed - $285K
Cooperative Owners Political Action Committee (COPAC) - $270K
Friends Of Lincoln Hough - $268K
Friends Of Todd Richardson - $263K
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $253K
Citizens for Jay Wasson - $250K
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $237K
Schmitt For Missouri - 235K
Missourians For O'Laughlin - $227K
Committee for Accountable Government in Missouri - $215K
Western Missouri & Kansas Laborer’s District Council - $207K
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $206K
Friends of Doug Libla - $205K
Team Justin Brown - $203K
Citizens For Page -$200K
McCullouch for Prosecutor Committee - $194K
MO Majority PAC LLC - $189K
Adding to the Resignation List
See the full list of electeds who have called on Governor Eric Greitens at the bottom of this post. New additions: Sen. Jeanie Riddle, Reps. Gretchen Bangert, Charlie Davis, Mark Matthiesen, Joe Runions, and Kathy Swan.
Emery on Greitens Scandal
In his latest Capitol Report, Sen. Ed Emery writes about the House Investigative Committee’s report and seems to cast some of the blame on pornography. See it here.
In my opinion, what is unveiled by a personal moral failure may be a reflection of a disturbing and invasive social evil – that of the proliferation of pornography and modern culture’s ambivalence toward it. Far too often, such behavior grows out of an exposure to pornography. No informed and right-minded person would deny that pornography is addictive and that it therefore can only be satisfied by increased dosages. Eventually the imagination is insufficient and only actions will satisfy. Where is the outcry against the evil of pornography?
Axiom Candidate Call
I heard from two sources that Axiom had a candidate call over the weekend. Described as a “pretty normal call” by one person, here’s what’s interesting: during it Axiom-ite Aaron Baker discussed how candidates could/should respond to media inquiries about the governor. Baker disclosed that he was being paid to represent the governor, as talked about the various approaches candidates could use.
I guess it shouldn’t be news-worthy when political consultants opt for transparency in their disclosures, but in this environment, maybe it is.
MotherPutter Golf Follow-Up
For those curious to look up lobbyist Kim Tuttle’s golf attire line of clothing you can do so here.
Readers Report Recent Polls
Reader #1
Claire McCaskill vs Josh Hawley
Asked opinion on Hawley, Trump, CMC
BATTERY on CMC negatives
1) Claire missed 50% of meetings/votes of armed services committee - failing to represent vets
2) Claire out of touch used taxpayer dollars on private airplane flights and said regular people could afford private flights
3) cmc’s husband has taken millions in tax breaks while vital veterans programs suffered
Next battery scale of 1-9 on immigration issues
1) immigration should be restricted
2) build a wall and increased border security
3) support DREAMERS path to citizenship
Describe yourself dem/repub/Ind?
demographic question
Race
Year born
Do you have a landline and a cell? Or just a cell
How often on Twitter
How often on FB
How often play games online/mobile
Reader #2
Favorables on McCaskill, Hawley, Greitens, Trump, Wagner, VanOstran
Job approval for Trump and Wagner
Would you vote for Wagner
General election held today - McCaskill or Hawley, Field of candidates or Wagner
Best reasons to support Ann Wagner which include the following: Support of veterans, the fight for better workplace conduct, leader in sex trafficking, supports strong military, tax cut
Would you vote for Ann Wagner or Cort VanOstran
Which reasons do you support to deal with recent gun violence events:
1. Ban large capacity magazines
2. Ban bump stocks
3. Better background checks
4. Restrict access to violent games and television for kids
5. Teachers carrying guns
6. Better mental health screenings
7. Enforce laws
8. Ban assault rifles
9. Raise gun age to 21
10. Armed guards in schools
Opinion of NRA
Options on how to deal with Donald Trump after reading a sentence about how he’s damaging our country and wrong every day but might have good tax and economic policies.
A. Fully support
B. Work when it makes sense
C. Resist Trump
Also basics about likely to vote and demographics.
eMailbag on Donor Intimidation
From a Rep: I find the donor thing hard to believe at this point. Nobody has approached me with a threat of mega donor(s) withholding support. But that may be because they know I would tell them to go f**k themselves.
eMailbag on Collateral Damage
Here's the other thing with the donor list: If the Mission Continues is a 501c3, the organization could lose its federal nonprofit tax status for sharing the list with a political campaign. So, there are federal laws at issue here too.
eMailbag on Impeachment
Can Gov. Eric Greitens be impeached for "moral turpitude" when the Missouri Constitution clearly says "moral turpitude while in office" and the allegations against him occurred before ran for office? Is there now a quest to find a different way to impeach him? Isn't this issue supposed to be handled during a Special Session? Creating chaos to kill bills doesn't reflect well on the Leadership or the State. There are plenty of citizens who want to see their legislators working.
Candidate Withdrawals
Jason Michael Iannantuoni (Republican) withdrew from the Senate 2 race. Sen. Bob Onder no longer has a primary, though he does still have a Democratic opponent.
Nicholas Chlebowski (Democratic) withdrew from the Senate 26 race. This leaves Sen. Dave Schatz unopposed.
New Committees
Ashley Fajkowski formed a candidate committee (Friends Of Fajkowski) to run for House 62 as a Democrat.
Matt Miller formed a candidate committee (Citizens For Miller) to run for House 121 as a Republican.
Rowland Todd formed a candidate committee (Committee For Rowland Todd) to run for Camden County Clerk as a Republican.
$5K+ Contributions
Middle Class Missouri PAC - $15,000 from Dollar, Burns & Becker, L.C.
MO Beverage PAC - $5,223 from P-Americas LLC.
Raise Up Missouri - $8,157 from Sierra Club.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Gregg Hartley, Tom Rackers, Vivian Murphy, Joe Pierle, and former Sen. Ryan Silvey.
Electeds Calling on Greitens to Resign
Senator Claire McCaskill, Congresswoman Ann Wagner, Auditor Nicole Galloway, and Attorney General Josh Hawley.
Sens. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, Kiki Curls, Bob Dixon, Jason Holsman, Denny Hoskins, Jake Hummel, Mike Kehoe, Doug Libla, Jamilah Nasheed, John Rizzo, Jeanie Riddle, Gary Romine, Caleb Rowden, Rob Schaaf, Jill Schupp, Scott Sifton, and Gina Walsh.
Reps. Joe Adams, Lauren Arthur, Gretchen Bangert, Doug Beck, Mike Bernskoetter Michael Butler, Jon Carpenter, Kathie Conway, Steve Cookson, Kevin Corlew, Charlie Davis, Shamed Dogan, Mark Ellebracht, Kevin Engler, Jean Evans, Bruce Franks, Marsha Haefner, Kip Kendrick, Donna Lichtenegger, Mark Matthiesen, Gail McCann Beatty, Peter Merideth, Rocky Miller, Judy Morgan, Stacey Newman, Crystal Quade, Greg Razer, Becky Ruth, Joe Runions, Martha Stevens, Sarah Unsicker, Nate Walker, and Fred Wessels.