MOScout Daily Update: Where The Votes Are Now - HRCC Fundraising Dips - Lenihan Proposes Amendment - MOScout Pick'em Contest and more...

Where the Votes Are Now

Using numbers from the secretary of state’s office, I put together a little spreadsheet that shows where voter registration has risen and fallen in Missouri since the 2016 presidential election.  Find the excel spreadsheet here.

Overall there are 126,647 more registered voters today compared to November 2016.

10 Largest increases, by county

St. Charles 291,625  +15,697

Jackson 270,077  +13,736

Jefferson 159,161  +10,321

Greene 204,068  +9,390

Cass 80,379  +8,804

Platte 77,030  +8,468

Clay 176,791  +6,998

Christian 63,847  +6,833

Boone  131,608  +6,710

5 Largest decreases, by county

St. Louis 760,863  -6,980

Pemiscot 10,115  -1,636

St. Louis City 220,734  -1,171

Mississippi 8,233  -740

Stoddard 19,841  -738

HRCC Fundraising Dips

Yesterday I wrote that the House Democratic Campaign Committee had raised $1 million this cycle, a big improvement over their 2018 total of $620K. 

One reader points out that this happened as the House Republican Campaign Committee’s fundraising has declined.

HRCC has raised about $2 million so far this cycle.  While that’s double the Democratic total, it’s far below the $3.6 million they had raised at this point in 2018.

Some possible reasons for HRCC’s reversal…

First, mega-donor money has been scarcer.  David Humphreys, after expressing his distaste for an abortion bill that didn’t include an exception for rape, issued a statement earlier this year saying he was focusing on family and business during the COVID crisis. 

·         Humphreys gave HRCC $1M in 2018; nothing this year.

·         Rex Sinquefield gave $150K this year to HRCC, down from $300K in 2018.

Second, one House Republican says that fundraising has been generally lower.  It’s unclear if it’s COVID related or if members are just less engaged.

Third, there’s been less stability in leadership.  In 2018, with Todd Richardson as speaker and Elijah Haahr as speaker-designate, and Rob Vescovo as floor leader, there was a solid united team.  This cycle, it’s been less so.  For example, HRCC experienced drama when Casey Burns was replaced.

ROTO (Reminder of the Obvious)

The latest White House Task Force Report for Missouri (see it here) says that “all indictors of community spread are increasing…[and] mitigation efforts must be increased to control community spread..”

Lenihan Proposes Constitutional Amendment

In Senate 1, Republican candidate David Lenihan announced support for a state constitutional amendment requiring companies to cover Missourians with pre-existing conditions regardless of what happens to the Affordable Care Act at the federal level.

Dr. Lenihan said, “There are more than two million Missourians with pre-existing conditions, and they deserve to know that their health care will be protected regardless of what happens in Washington. One of my top priorities in the legislature will be making health care more affordable and accessible. Protecting Missourians with pre-existing conditions is a major part of that.”

What It Means

Healthcare has been a hot topic, but there’s little debate about the pre-existing conditions provision.  Seemingly everyone supports it.  A constitutional amendment is a popular proposal.

MOScout Pick’em Contest

It’s time for the MOScout Pick’em Contest.  Who will win…

1.      Governor:

2.      Senate 1 (Sifton termed):

3.      Senate 15 (Koenig):

4.      Senate 19 (Rowden):

5.      House 31 (Stacy, Blue Springs):

6.      House 65 (Hannegan, St. Charles):

7.      House 94 (Murphy, STL):

8.      House 135 (Helms, Springfield):

9.      TIE BREAKER - % in favor of Amendment 3

Email me your picks by midnight Friday at dave@moscout.com

Dem LG Candidate Has Money Troubles

Post-Dispatch reports that the “Democratic candidate running to be Missouri’s next lieutenant governor has been sued at least four times for unpaid credit card debt in the past four years and filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Court records show Alissia Canady owed at least $107,800 to creditors in 2003, including a mortgage, a student loan, utilities and nearly $2,000 in state income taxes… Canady, 41, is currently being sued in Jackson County by Midland Credit Management over an unpaid debt to Synchrony Bank of $1,414…”

Mayor Pete Stumps for Schupp

Tipster: Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped into a Jill Schupp funder earlier this week. He did a superb job framing the stakes, knew the contours of the district well, and argued that the Democratic Party and its messaging arm needs to listen to people like Jill because when they win in places like MO 2, it shows that they understand how to persuade independents and bring Republicans over...

And

Roll Call changed their CD-2 outlook from toss-up to “tilt Democratic.”  See it here.

Judge Applicants

The Appellate Judicial Commission announces the following applicants for the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, created by the December 31, 2020, retirement of Judge Daniel E. Scott…. Alan M. Blankenship, David A. Dolan, Randall D. Eggert, Douglas D. Gaston, Ginger K. Gooch, Jack A. L. Goodman, Jennifer R. Growcock, Matthew P. Hamner, Cara L. Harris, Joseph L. Hensley, Scott T. Horman, Laura J. Johnson, and Steven A. Privette                                                

eMailbag on Large Contributions

Look at all that money to publicly tear each other apart. Our society is investing its dollars to deteriorate the climate needed to actually accomplish our goals. I am guilty of it too.  Think about what the “48 hour” reporting list would look like if it was required that homes for abused children had to report donations over $5,000. I bet your column would be blank most days. 

Lobbyists Registrations

Marc Lampkin added Beckman Coulter Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Forward PAC (pro-Rowden) - $240,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.

Missouri Forward PAC - $25,000 from MO Soybean Association.

Missouri Forward PAC - $15,000 from Penn National Gaming, Inc.

Freedom's Promise PAC (pro-Koenig) - $160,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee (Republican Senate campaign committee) - $25,000 from Old Drum Conservative PAC (pro-Hoskins).

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Northwest Missouri Leadership (pro-Hegeman).

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $5,250 from Missouri Chamber Political Institute.

CLEAN Missouri (anti-A3) - $15,000 from Laborers' International Union of N.A. Local No. 42 PAC Fund.

CLEAN Missouri - $11,142 from Missouri Jobs With Justice Voter Action.

CLEAN Missouri - $5,676 from Missouri Health Care Action.

CLEAN Missouri - $8,000 from North Fund (Washington DC).

Keep Government Accountable (pro-Galloway) - $10,000 from Barry Aycock.

Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from United Steel Workers District 11.

Protect Missouri Freedom (pro-Dem) - $20,000 from Majority Forward (Dem Senate campaign committee).

Limited Government PAC (pro-Brattin) - $7,500 from Alliance for Progress.

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $10,000 from Supporters of Health Research & Treatments.

Mighty Missouri PAC (pro-Vescovo) - $15,000 from Penn National Gaming.

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,700 from Charter Communications.

Democratic Association of Secretaries of State - $12,000 from Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (Los Angeles CA)

Grow MO Together - $10,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers' PAC.

MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC - $7,500 from Donald L. Schlapprizzi, P.C.

Laborers Local 660-PAC - $61,554 from Laborers Local 660.

Citizens 4 Seneca Schools - $7,969 from CTS Group.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Mike Henderson, Cara Hoover, Gail McCann Beatty, Ewell Lawson, and Chip Casteel.