MOScout Daily Update: What To Watch For Tonight - Meet The Rowden Group - Keller for Kanye? - Uniting MO PAC Fined and more...

Election Day….

What To Watch For Tonight?

The Next Senate

Senate primaries… these are all either uncontested or slam dunks in November, so we’ll basically choosing our state senators today in Senate 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 23, 25, 27, 28, 31, and 33.

Medicaid Expansion

Will the Republican supermajority earn another rebuke from Missouri voters?   In 2018 voters approved an increase in the iminium wage, today they’ll decide about Medicaid expansion.

The Conservative Caucus

The source of some tension in the Senate Republican Caucus, the Conservative Caucus is trying to grow their numbers by playing in primaries.  Their candidates…

Senate 3: Joshua Barrett

Senate 23: incumbent Bill Eigel

Senate 25: Eddy Justice

Senate 27: Holly Rehder

Senate 29: Mike Moon

Senate 31: Rick Brattin

Senate 33: Robert Ross

Baptist Preachers

Don Hinkle writes on Facebook that four Missouri Southern Baptist pastors are running for state representative.

·         Tim Faber, director of missions for the Lake of the Ozarks Baptist Association in Eldon House 58)

·         Terry Brown, pastor of Maness Memorial Baptist Church in Cabool (House 142)

·         Brian Seitz, pastor, Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Branson (House 156)

·         Wally Long, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Mount Vernon (House 157)

Young Americans for Liberty

Hoping to grow the “liberty caucus” in Missouri, YAL is more aggressive this cycle.  Here are their endorsements:

•           Senate 29 – Mike Moon

•           House 9 – Tina Goodrick (St. Joseph’s, Solon termed).

•           House 33 – Chris Sander (Harrisonville, Pfautsch termed).

•           House 56 – Michael Davis (Belton, Bondon for senate).

•           House 62 – Chris Beyer (north of Rallo, Hurst termed).

•           House 115 – Ryan Jones (DeSoto, Gannon termed).

•           House 116 – Bryant Wolfin (Farmington, Wright running for re-election).

•           House 130 – Bishop Davidson (Republic, Messenger termed).

•           House 143 – Jaret Holden (Salem, Pogue termed).

•           House 148 – Will Perry (Sikeston, Rehder termed).

•           House 156 – Brian Seitz (Branson, Justus termed).

St. Louis County

The most populous county in the state with the largest economy.  Who will lead St. Louis County for the next two years until the 2022 election?

Gardner Rebuked or Vote of Confidence

St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has become a political lightning rod.  City dwellers worry about the way the office has been run.  But having earned the ire of Republicans Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Dems may rally around her. We’ll see…

Rowden Hangs Out Shingle

Lobbyist Ryan Rowden who has been the API for over a decade, is hanging out a shingle.

Press release: Rowden announced the formation of The Rowden Group, a full-service government relations firm. With more than two decades of political experience, The Rowden Group will provide a sound legislative strategy based on legislative successes and strong relationships in the industry. The Rowden Group was formed to help clients influence policy and improve their legislative awareness. They plan to provide more than just representation in the Missouri State Capitol and will offer media and content management in addition to grassroots advocacy efforts.

Prior to The Rowden Group, Rowden served as Executive Director of the Missouri Petroleum Council and as the Director of Government Affairs for the Missouri Association of Counties, where he has led effective and successful lobbying efforts for local, state, national and global corporations. Rowden is a past president of the Missouri Society Association of Executives, served on the energy committee for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as a "top 100" lobbyist by the Missouri Times. Rowden currently resides in Jefferson City, Mo. with his wife, Lindsey, and their three children.

“Ryan works hard to build relationships with legislators. He doesn’t cut corners and does it the right way. He would be a great asset to any organization in the Missouri Capitol.” - Senate Majority Floor Leader, Caleb Rowden…

Keller for Kanye?

Ben Jacobs reports on Twitter that Gregg Keller was “listed as the point of contact” on Kanye West’s presidential paperwork in Arkansas.  See it here.

One Republican consultant summed up Keller’s motivation as “$$$$$$$”

Readers Pick’em

29 readers entered the MOScout pick’em contest.  Here were their favorites…

Senate 3: Gannon (23 picks)

Senate 5: Roberts (26 picks)

Senate 25: Bean (21 picks)

Senate 31: Moon (19 picks)

Senate 33: Bondon (21 picks)

Average MedEx Yes %: 53.89%

Find my predictions for every state House and Senate race here. (I lock in my predictions two weeks in advance.)

Uniting Missouri Fined

Post-Dispatch reports that the “Missouri Ethics Commission fined a political action committee supporting Gov. Mike Parson $2,000 Monday for reporting lapses connected to a pair of flights for the governor that the group chartered.  The commission, in a consent order posted online Monday, said there was probable cause to believe the Uniting Missouri PAC violated state ethics laws by ‘failing to report the fair market value of two flights within forty-eight hours of receiving the contributions.’”

·         But the headline is a killer, practically a political ad for Galloway already written: Parson PAC fined for reporting lapses connected to Super Bowl, D.C. trips

GOP Suburban Trouble

I missed this NYTimes article over the weekend about the battleground of the suburbs.

BALLWIN, Mo. — For Heather Vaughn, a substitute teacher and graduate student, the decision last month to place the black sign with colorful lettering in her front yard — the one that said, “Black Lives Matter” and “Science is Real” — felt like an act of courage.

In previous years, such a placard might have drawn unwanted attention in her suburban, tree-lined neighborhood, where expansive homes with manicured gardens had been decked out with blue ribbons and signs of support for the police. But now it is one of three on her block that reflect support for nationwide protests against police brutality and a growing sense of unease with President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus.

A self-described independent, Ms. Vaughn, 41, had supported Representative Ann Wagner, her Republican congresswoman, in past years, but more recently soured on her. This year, given her frustration and anger with Mr. Trump, Ms. Vaughn is confident she will not vote for Ms. Wagner and is wrestling with whether she in good conscience can vote again for any of the local Republicans down the ballot whom she would normally back.

Sign of Our Times

·         Gov. Mike Parson will be hosting an election night virtual event on Tuesday, August 4th. Members of the media are invited to attend in-person. Strict social distancing and mask guidelines will be enforced. Gov. Parson will address Missourians, virtually, via Facebook Live, immediately following the election results.

·         Nicole Galloway for Missouri will host a virtual election night watch party with supporters. During the event, State Auditor Nicole Galloway will deliver remarks about how, as governor, she will take on the Jefferson City insiders and put Missouri’s working families first… Media can watch the stream at nicolegalloway.com/live and facebook.com/watch/NicoleGallowayCPA.

‘Twas the Night Before Election Day

St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones tweets: Out dropping off signs and some drunk ass hit my car and ran. But I chased his ass to get a photo of his license plate. Don’t worry about me. I’m ok. Police have been dispatched.

Yikers

One MOScouter writes me: Got a robo-call last week, which isn’t surprising during election season, but it was from a termed state senator raising money for his golf tournament.  If a legislator has a relationship with me and takes the time to call me, I try really hard to find them money.  Bonus points for a legislator that feigns interest in how session went for me.  But a robo-call?  That essentially says my money is not worth 5 minutes of their time.

Lobbyists Registrations

Ryan Rowden added Diamond Pet Foods, Ranif Corp., DBA Invisible Defender, Missouri Pipeline Coalition, and The Rowden Group; and deleted Missouri Petroleum Council - A Division of the American Petroleum Institute.

John Stewart added Elanco Animal Health.

Rebecca Lohmann and Jasmine Elizabeth Wells deleted ACLU of Missouri.

Kelli Richardson deleted Tri-State Water Resource Coalition, and County Commissioners Association of Missouri.

$5K+ Contributions

CWA-COPE Political Contributions Federal Committee - $6,450 from Communications Workers of America- COPE PCC.

Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $10,000 from United Healthcare Sys Inc.

Western Missouri Leadership Fund - $8,000 from The Madison PAC.

No on 2 in August - $14,646 from Pelopidas, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Robin Carnahan, Don Soph and Dick Wiles.