MOScout Daily Update: Walsh Preps CD-4 Run - Smith Sends Mailers Beyond 8-CD - New STL Conservative Talk Radio Coming - Nixa Mayor Recall - Controversial Kunce and more....
Walsh Preps CD-4 Bid
Rep. Sarah Walsh, in an email blast, teed up a Wednesday (July 7) announcement for her entry into the 4th Congressional District race. Incumbent Vicky Hartzler is running for US Senate.
The Where and When
Wednesday, 10AM at Target Masters in Columbia.
· Seems like gun stores/ranges are the new hot spot to make announcements for Republicans.
The Candidate Rundown
Ed Emery – IN
Ryan Johnson – IN
Sara Walsh – IN
Taylor Burks – Likely to Run
Denny Hoskins – Likely to Run
Caleb Rowden – Likely to Run
Rick Brattin – Mentioned
Sandy Crawford – Mentioned
Caleb Jones – Mentioned
Saundra McDowell – Mentioned
Dan Hartmann – Out
What It Means
· We’re still months away from a special session to draw the congressional lines. But that’s not stopping politicos from making plans.
· With the 4th of July behind us and 2022 rapidly approaching, look more announcements (about many different races) in the coming weeks.
Smith Preps US Senate Bid?
Congressman Jason Smith sent mailers across the state, highlighting his conservative, pro-Trump credentials. It’s hard to tell from my vantage point whether this was a mega-mass mailing aimed at Republican primary voters, or more narrowly tailored to a list of politicos and influentials. But it was clearly all across Missouri beyond his congressional district.
It was paid for by “Jason Smith for Congress.”
Meanwhile Else in the US Senate Race
· Eric Greitens will hold grassroots rally on Saturday with headliner Rudy Giuliani. It will take place at the Once Upon A Time Ranch.
· Congressman Billy Long makes a cameo in this Washington Post article. Former president Donald Trump traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border here Wednesday for a trip billed as an opportunity to assail President Biden on immigration… he introduced and provided commentary on most of the more than two dozen House Republicans who traveled to see him at the border, often touting the electoral significance of his endorsements of them. He complimented the physical appearance of Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), the medical acumen of Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) — his former White House doctor — and the auctioneering abilities of Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), with Trump asking him to put them on display by jokingly selling the border wall….
· Mark McCloskey’s latest fundraising pitch involved him driving around his neighborhood counting American flags. See it here.
Post-Rex
St. Louis Business Journal notes how the dissolution of the Pelopidas/First Rule company has spawned new businesses. Read it here.
· It was September 2020… Rex Sinquefield had announced he would no longer fund Pelopidas, long the lobbying and media arm of the conservative philanthropist and political activist. Days later, Pelopidas' leader, Travis Brown, told employees in the e-mailed memo that "with the loss of major client revenue, we have no choice but to wind down our major operations this month."
· Tom Dempsey. The week after the firm's collapse, he created an Employer Identification Number for a new firm. He figured he could build something from a few non-Pelopidas clients he'd acquired over the years. He's since added several clients, including St. Charles County, nonprofit People United for Privacy, Greater St. Louis Inc. and eHawk Solutions, which looks to eliminate the use of ankle bracelets for offender surveillance by replacing them with a mobile application that receives location and biometric data. That allowed him to hire on Dave Berry, another former Pelopidas staffer, in January.
· Tim Jones. Jones, a former speaker of the Missouri House and attorney, hosts a weekday morning show on KWTO. And he set up a political consulting firm, Elevation Strategies, which launched in October. A primary client is Americans for Tax Reform, the flat-tax advocacy group launched by activist Grover Norquist. Jones also works with state representatives and senators, "giving advice and consultation in a term-limited world." Jones also volunteers with the conservative nonprofit American Legislative Exchange Council, acting as its private sector co-chair for Missouri.
And
Jones and other conservatives are apparently decamping from 97.1 FM in St. Louis to a new talk radio… RealTalk 93.3 will debut on July 26.
Both Sen. Bill Eigel and Jones’ Facebook pages say a “big announcement” coming.
· Eigel: Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, Michael Knowles as well as local hosts like Eric Nepute and Sonny Wilson! You may even hear a familiar voice on weekdays between 2-4 PM…is there an ECHO in here? Stay tuned for more big announcements!!
· Jones: THIS July 2021, stay tuned for a BIG announcement as to the next major chapter in my broadcast radio career & calling! I promise, it will be #YUGE
Nixa Mayor Faces Recall
Springfield News-Leader reports that “Nixa voters will have the option to recall Mayor Brian Steele at a special election set for Nov. 2… The recall petition committee objects to COVID-19 safety measures including public masking. The petition says Steele should be recalled for ‘individually and without regard to the citizens of Nixa, nor the vote of city council, enacting a mask mandate, and taking other actions detrimental to the city of Nixa, its economy and the health and welfare of the community in general.’”
Controversial Kunce
It seems that Dems are split on what to make of Lucas Kunce. He’s running for the Democratic US Senate nomination…
· I mean…did you see the weird mustache tweet from Lucas… just bizarre…
· Reason eleventy billion why Dems continue to flounder. A guy raising $1M isn’t a serious candidate because he hasn’t kissed the planned parenthood ring yet. In MO. FOH.
Boyd in House 2
This may make liberal heads explode all across Missouri… In the new committees (below) Mazzie Boyd started a committee to run for House 2.
Boyd has a solid Republican resume with Trump sparkles thrown in.
· Intern with Sen. Roy Blunt (2019)
· War Room Analyst, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (2020)
· Executive Assistant to the Director, White House Office of Presidential Personnel (2020)
But it’s her stint doing communications for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene that will make Democratic eyeballs pop. Greene has become the conservative equivalent of AOC.
Boyd enters the race as termed incumbent Rep. J Eggleston announced he’ll be running for termed Sen. Dan Hegeman’s seat in 2022.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson made two appointments to various boards and commissions and filled four county office vacancies…
· Allen Brooks, of Poplar Bluff, was appointed to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
· Kimberly Hatfield, of Knox City, was appointed as the Knox County Circuit Clerk.
· Rachel Lightfoot, of Bolivar, was appointed as the Polk County Clerk.
· Dr. Donald Eric Park, of Washington, was appointed to the Public School Retirement System of Missouri, Board of Trustees.
· LaJeana Peterson, of Paris, was appointed as the Monroe County Clerk.
· Diane Tague, of Gorin, was appointed as the Scotland County Collector of Revenue.
Help Wanted
Empower Missouri seeks Development & Operations Manager. The Development & Operations Manager will aid the Executive Director in substantially growing the organization’s fundraising activities over the next several years. This role will have the opportunities to work on several key areas of the organization’s fundraising plan, including special events, individuals giving, online fundraising, and corporate sponsorship… $45,000-$55,000 starting salary with annual opportunities for merit-based and cost-of-living raises; health, life, dental and vision insurance; generous PTO policy, paid holidays, and retirement plan…
New Committees
Mazzie Boyd formed a candidate committee (Friends of Mazzie Boyd) to run for House 2 as a Republican. J Eggleston is termed.
$5K+ Contributions
Invest in St. Louis Community College - $25,000 from Washington University.
UFCW Local 655 Elect Club - $5,213 from UFCW Local 655.
Lobbyists Registrations
Kenneth Barnes added Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Susan Montee, and Elizabeth Dumm.