MOScout Daily Update: Poll Puts Parson Ahead of Greitens, Galloway - CLEANER Day in Senate? - Schupp Gets DCCC Nod - Dogan Contra Hill and more....
American Viewpoints: Parson In Strong Position
American Viewpoints, in a poll commissioned by the pro-Mike Parson PAC Uniting Missouri, found that the incumbent governor is in a strong position against Democrat Nicole Galloway, and also against potential Republican primary challenger, Eric Greitens. See it memo here.
· The Governor’s job approval rating is strong as well, with 60% of voters approving of the job he is doing and 26% disapproving.
· Governor Parson leads Galloway 54%-36%, with 7% undecided.
· Note that the Governor’s lead is significantly higher than even President Trump’s current lead in Missouri over both Biden (50%-43%) and Warren (51%-41%).
· In a hypothetical GOP primary matchup against Eric Greitens, Parson leads 56%-30%, with 11% undecided.
· Perhaps most importantly, in the general election, while Parson leads Galloway by 18-points, Greitens trails the Auditor 44%-45%, with 7% undecided.
Driving the Day
CLEANER Missouri is expected to hit the Senate floor today. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic basket and enjoy the fireworks….
Who Is Upchurch?
As I reported yesterday, Greg Upchurch filed to run for lieutenant governor for the Dems. In case it wasn’t obvious, he wasn’t “tapped” by Dems. He’s just the first person to toss his hat in the ring.
In addition to his 2018 loss in a House primary, Upchurch also ran for the Dem nomination for Senate 23 in 2016. He lost in that primary also.
I spoke to one big Dem yesterday who puts all this at the feet of Jean Peters Baker saying that the party chair should have done a better job recruiting.
Probably more than enough blame to go around, but I guess you gotta start somewhere…
Also
The mighty Jason Rosenbaum reports that “Democrat Days, which has been a staple of northeastern Missouri political culture for decades, is not going to happen this year in March. Per this Facebook message, there's an effort to have an event in the summer. The Hannibal shindig was last held in 2018.”
Meanwhile in the Suburbs…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included Sen. Jill Schupp in its “Red to Blue” target list. Schupp is challenging Congresswoman Ann Wagner in CD-2.
· This wasn’t a surprise to Dems.
· National money will flood this race.
· Despite all the money that will be spent this race – like all others – will be a referendum on Trump.
Dogan Contra Hill
Rep. Shamed Dogan unleashed a scathing take-down of his Republican colleague Rep. Justin Hill. See it here.
My #moleg colleague @HillForMissouri believes that sit-ins are "hilarious", comparing them to "temper tantrums". He also thinks public accommodations laws are "special laws" and there should be NO protected classes. 1/4
On the one hand, he argues that discrimination based on race & sex "should be punished by boycotts, not government force" and on the other hand he mocks one of the most popular & effective forms of peaceful protest throughout American history. 2/4
Rep. Hill should open up a history book & a newspaper. Sit-ins were instrumental to helping the US defeat the evil of racial segregation, and have been used by protesters throughout the world to bring light to injustices like apartheid & China's repression in Hong Kong. 3/4
If you told me when I entered the House that one of the leaders of the Conservative Caucus would be arguing against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 & mocking the idea of sit-ins, I wouldn't have believed you. But here we are. These ppl need to be exposed and opposed from within. 4/4
Court Bit
· Governor Mike Parson appointed Jacob R. Skouby, Jr., as Associate Circuit Judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit. He will fill the Associate Circuit Judge vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Kevin Selby to Circuit Judge.
New Committees
Vote Yes Our Kids Our Community was formed. Its treasurer is Tosha T Schuller. It was formed to support an April Joplin School District bond referendum.
Lobbyists Registrations
Gamble & Schlemeier added Air Evac.
Catalyst added Advocates for a Healthy Community.
John Gaskin added City of Richmond Heights.
Darren Lee LaSorte added National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Sonette Magnus added Partners Groups Administration Services AG.
Henrio Thelemaque added Missouri Retailers Association.
Coltin Wright added Missouri Council of School Administrators.
Brian Gunderson, Jeff Rosenbaum, and Bobby Xu added Elliott Management Corporation.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for a New Approach - $10,000 from Seven Points, LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Tommie Pierson Sr., Craig Redmon, Brian Schmidt, Wayne Bledsoe, Rory Riddler, Allison Bruns, and Karen Buschmann.