MOScout Daily Update: Haffner Commits to Floor Leader Race - Waller "Definitely Looking" at Senate - Rex Hearts Kehoe - Onder Growls at Ehlmann - MOIndy on MOSen GOP Tension and more...
Haffner Reiterates Floor Leader Commitment
Later this morning, Rep. Mike Haffner is sending an email to his House Republican Caucus colleagues reiterating his commitment to the Floor Leader race. Haffner is vying for the spot (starting January 2023 under future Speaker Dean Plocher) along with Reps. Hannah Kelly and Jonathan Patterson.
Rumors have abounded that Haffner was “keeping his options open,” also eyeing the 4th Congressional primary (where Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is vacating to run for US Senate). Haffner, in his email this morning, says he’s “humbled” by those encouraging him to look at the 4-CD race, but is “fully committed” to the Floor Leader race because that’s where he can have the “greatest impact.”
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to you directly this morning to dispel any rumors regarding my future plans. I remain fully committed to providing leadership in the Missouri House and earning your support for Floor Leader.
When I left college, I took an oath to serve and protect the Constitution. I became a US Naval Aviator and earned the privilege to lead fellow aviators in combat in some of our nation’s darkest hours to protect our freedom. I will never forget those experiences and that oath of office will never have an expiration date.
Each one of us knows Washington is broken and in need of principled conservatives with integrity, strength, and wisdom to lead in these challenging times. I am humbled by the encouragement from current and former colleagues, numerous combat veterans, as well as countless supporters to consider entering the race for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District. I will never retreat from this battle to save our country, but my mission has remained the same: to provide combat-tested and proven leadership where it will have the greatest impact and that is working with our caucus in 2022 and beyond.
It is an honor to do the people’s work and to serve alongside you. Together I know we can pass an agenda that protects our freedoms by limiting government’s role in our lives and make Missouri a better place to live, work, and raise our families. Together we will hold the line. All six million Missourians are counting on us.
Sincerely,
Mike
MOIndy on MOSen GOP Divisions
Missouri Independent has a story this morning on simmering divisions within the Republican Senate Caucus. Read it here.
· A meeting last week among GOP state Senators that excluded members of the conservative caucus has reignited the Republican factional infighting that’s been dormant in recent months only because lawmakers are not in session.
· Part of the discussion, organized by Senate GOP leadership about the upcoming session, was how to deal with the conservative group, which includes seven of the 24 Republican members, sources told The Independent. “I think there are some folks who would like to see the session be productive,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, who was present at Wednesday’s meeting…
· Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, and a member of the conservative caucus, said the meeting will make the Senate a more difficult place to work.
Waller: DEFINITELY Looking At Senate
Jefferson County Clerk Ken Waller writes to say that he is “DEFINITELY considering the Senate Race. Waiting to see how the Redistricting maps look like. I have a Great relationship with labor and will embrace their support.”
Waller announced he was running for Becky Ruth’s state representative seat back in November. But the landscape has since changed. Ruth, thought to be running for state senate, received a gubernatorial appointment, and Speaker Rob Vescovo has abandoned his senate bid as well.
That left Reps. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Dan Shaul as the only two remaining candidates. But it may have opened “the labor lane” for Waller. Although, one rumor is that former Democratic Rep. Jeff Roorda – who would also make labor claims – is looking at the race.
Let’s just say things are fluid right now.
Onder Shakes Fist at Ehlmann
Sen. Bob Onder sent an email to supporters, blasting St. Charles County Executive Steve Elhmann for a new proposal which would potentially make Onder choose between his medical practice or running against Ehlmann.
The idea of the Citizen-Legislator has existed from the founding of our Republic. Of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, almost every one was a businessman or professional - Adams and Hamilton, lawyers; George Mason, planter and real estate investor, Washington, surveyor and farmer, Franklin, printer and publisher, just to name a few.
Disappointingly, this week St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann has proposed Bill Number 5030, which could best be called the “Corrupt Career Politician Protection Act.” It would ban the County Executive from “engaging in any trade, occupation, business or enterprise.” Who would this benefit? Ehlmann himself, who is truly a career politician, having lived on taxpayer largess in various government jobs for 35 years and double- and triple-dipping multiple government pensions. As the “Sam Page of St. Charles County,” he shut down our bars and restaurants…
Under Ehlmann’s bill, his fellow Career Politician Joe Biden could be County Executive. President Donald Trump, as owner of multiple “businesses or enterprises” could not!
I don’t call people corrupt lightly, but in my 7 years serving you in the Missouri Senate, I’ve never seen anything more corrupt, sleazy, manipulative and deceitful. Ehlmann hopes to fool voters into thinking they are voting for a “good government” measure, while it’s really just the Corrupt Career Politician Protection Act to protect his own job…
What It Means
This race is going to be nasty! It’ll be interesting to see how it influences the St. Charles state senate race. One observer tells me they think the region may separate into “camps.” Ehlmann and associated candidates representing establishment GOP or old St. Charles, with Onder carrying the banner for the upstart/insurgent GOP in St Charles.
Kehoe Gets Rex Check
Rex Sinquefield delivered a second $250K check over the weekend. The first one, recorded on Friday, went Scott Fitzpatrick’s PAC. The recipient of this one was to American Dream PAC, the pro-Mike Kehoe PAC.
Kehoe, like Fitzpatrick, won re-election last year. However, unlike Fitz, he isn’t on the 2022 ballot. Kehoe is expected to run for governor in 2024.
· The early check from Sinquefield means we could see several more before now and then. In other words, we could be looking at a million dollar investment in Kehoe from Team Sinq.
Greitens One of Two to Make Anti-McConnell Pledge
Politico reports that the anti-Mitch McConnell movement hasn’t caught on. Read it here.
· Former President Donald Trump has hit a wall in his efforts to oust Mitch McConnell as GOP leader. Despite months of attacks, the Trump-led campaign to depose the Senate minority leader has resulted in firm pledges from just two Republican candidates and no senators, and it has failed to turn up a formidable challenger to run against McConnell… The former president, who remains critical of McConnell for declining to help him overturn the results of the 2020 election, has ramped up his calls for the Kentucky Republican’s ouster from leadership in recent weeks.
· Still, anti-McConnell sentiment has yet to become a dominant theme on the campaign trail ahead of 2022 elections. Republican campaign staffers in multiple states said their candidates have so far received only one or two questions at events about their support for McConnell — far short of a rallying cry from the conservative base.
· To date, just two prominent GOP Senate candidates have called for McConnell’s ouster — Kelly Tshibaka, an Alaska Republican who is challenging incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Eric Greitens, the former governor of Missouri who is running for a seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Roy Blunt.
New Committees
American Property Casualty Insurance Association Missouri PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Melissa Largent.
Anthony Ealy formed a candidate committee (Friends to Elect Anthony Ealy) to run for House 37 as a Democrat. House 37 is current represented by Rep. Annette Turnbaugh.
Lobbyists Registrations
Sam Wiles added Missouri Prosper, and Diversified Minerals & Recovery LLC; and deleted Mercy Healthcare Systems.
Charlie Pierce deleted Missouri Automobile Dealers Association.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC - $250,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $15,000 from MO Coalition for Video Lottery PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Claudia Kehoe, Bob Jacobi, Ben Murray, Dan Bryar, Bart Koman, Ellen Sherberg, and Melissa DeStefano Furey.
MOScout Schedule
It’s the time of year when things slow down a bit. I’ll be working three days this week. Monday through Wednesday, then I’ll be taking a long weekend.