MOScout Daily Update: Filing Day Watching - Greitens, McDowell, Onder, Gannon - C-Virus Update - Shawan Starts SEMOStrong and more...

Filing Day

Today is the filing deadline.  Here’s what folks are watching for….

Eric Greitens – The talk just never dies.  This time its fueled by his sudden media event.  He delivered masks to first responders with TV cameras rolling and a Twitter thread unspooling.  Some folks see this as a sign he’s jumping into the gov’s race; I’m in the camp that thinks he’s not. We’ll see.

Saundra McDowell – It’s said that McDowell will be filing for governor.  She ran unsuccessfully for auditor in 2018.  I’m usually all for drama when it comes to elections, but maybe at this time what we really need is comedy, so I’ll take it.

Bob Onder – One good source says they expect him to file today to run for LG, creating a primary for Mike Kehoe.

Elaine Gannon – During session, the rumor in the hallways was that she would be running for Senate 3.  But she never did make the trek down the secretary of state’s office.  Perhaps today is the day.  We’ll see.  Two Republicans already running there, and no Democrat, by the way.

And

·         In the new filings (below) a half-dozen Dems filed in House districts held by Republicans yesterday, signaling an expansion of their efforts.

·         In the large contributions, the pro-Mike Parson PAC, Uniting Missouri, landed another six-figure check, indicating they continue to raise money.

Corona Update

I use the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) website to watch the forecast of the spread of corona.  They updated their numbers, significantly improving Missouri’s outlook.  See the website here.

There is the risk – following every wiggle like the state daily revenue numbers – that you can get whipsawed between sadness and euphoria.  Still, yesterday’s numbers were very good news because they now show Missouri’s peak date May 18, and the hospital beds needed at that time well within our current capacity.

And the forecasted number of deaths is now only 1,219 – a vast improvement.

Like I said, these forecast numbers can/will change.

Meanwhile

St. Louis Business Journal reports that “leaders of St. Louis-area health and business groups are urging Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to issue a statewide stay-at-home order, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.  In a Friday letter, obtained by the Business Journal, the leaders told Parson that the move is necessary ‘because the catchment area for the major health systems in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield extend far beyond those immediate metropolitan areas and into rural areas across much of Missouri.’

‘Acute COVID-19 cases in those rural communities will likely be transferred to hospitals in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield,’ it said. ‘Without a statewide stay at home order and adequate mitigation, a rush of cases from rural communities could further exacerbate a crisis in terms of beds, ventilators and critical supplies. This crisis could appear in the coming weeks, so the time to act statewide is now. Every day saved is an extra day to prepare.’”

The letter was signed by BJC Healthcare CEO Rich Liekweg, SSM Health CEO Laura Kaiser, Mercy Senior Vice President Jeff Johnston, St. Louis Regional Chamber CEO Tom Chulick, AllianceSTL CEO Steve Johnson, Arch to Park CEO Jason Hall, Regional Business Council CEO Kathy Osborn and Civic Progress President Tom Santel. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Morrow and Melinda Estes, CEO of St. Luke's Health System in Kansas City, also signed….

Shawan Pivots?

For months the Senate 25 primary has been about the Republican candidates trying to out-Trump each other.  In a sign that there may be another issue on the mind of voters, Rep. Jeff Shawan is unveiling a new website: SEMOStrong.com.

It’s “a website aimed at keeping southeast Missourians up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing them to submit requests for information or assistance in acquiring necessary resources.”

From the press release: “Right now people are desperately in need of accurate, up-to-date information and resources related to COVID-19,” Shawan said. “I saw a need and realized there are a lot of southeast Missourians going without the information they need to stay safe or who are in desperate need of basic resources but have no way of getting these things. People have a lot of questions and my plan is to connect anyone who submits a request with the information and resources they need.”

New Filings

In the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Aaron Wisdom filed to run as a Republican, and Alissia Canady filed to run as a Democrat.

Donnie Owens filed to run in Senate 27 as a Democrat.  This is the Wallingford seat.

Sheoni Givens filed to run in House 22 as a Democrat.  This is now a four-way primary, including recently elected Rep. Yolanda Young.

Derron Black filed to run in House 23 as a Democrat.  This is a primary to succeed Democratic Rep. Barbara Washington; she’s running for state senate.

Chris Hager filed to run in House 34 as a Democrat.  He’ll face Republican Rick Roeber.

Tommy Schulz filed to run in House 40 as a Republican.  He becomes the fifth Republican to join this race to succeed termed Republican Rep. Jim Hansen.

Nancy J. Ragan filed to run in House 62 as a Democrat.  She’s the only Democrat to file.  There are three Republicans running.  This is termed Republican Rep. Tom Hurst’s seat.   

Michael Howard filed to run in House 64 as a Democrat.  This creates a Dmeocratic primary to face Republican Rep. Tony Lovasco.

Charles Triplett filed to run in House 98 as a Democrat.  Republican Rep. Shamed Dogan is running for re-election.

Christine Hyman filed to run in House 105 as a Democrat.  She’ll face Republican Rep. Phil Christofanelli.

Victoria Witt Datt filed to run in House 107 as a Democrat.  She’ll face Republican Rep. Nick Schroer.

New Committees

Chip Anderson formed a candidate committee (Anderson For Missouri) to run for House 56 as a Republican.  This is a three-way primary to succeed Rep. Jack Bondon.

Republican Governors Association - Missouri 2020 was formed.  Its treasurer is Greg Walker.

$5K+Contributions

Uniting Missouri PAC - $135,000 from Ketchmark & McCreight.

Lobbyist Registrations

Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, and Jake Silverman deleted Occidental Group Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Mark Ellebracht, and Allen Icet.