MOScout Daily Update: Gregory Gets Firefighters - Dogan for County Exec - Meet Independent Cattlemen - Breitbart Hits Schmitt - Smith Robos and more...
Gregory Gets Firefighters
Rep. David Gregory is announcing today two more big endorsements for his campaign to become auditor.
· Missouri State Rep. David Gregory’s steadfast support for first responders earned him the endorsement of the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters in his campaign for Missouri auditor. The Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters represents over 6,000 firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers in Missouri. Rep. Gregory also earned the backing of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2665...
What It Means
Coupled with the law enforcement endorsement he received when he announced his campaign, Gregory can use the first responders nod as his team crafts their message. First responders are very popular with Republican primary voters.
Dogan Announces for STL County Exec
Rep. Shamed Dogan announced yesterday he’s running for St. Louis County Executive. This had been in the works for a while, but he made it official.
For nearly 8 years, Steve Stenger and Sam Page have let us down. Corruption. Population decline. Rising crime. Kids falling behind.
If the last year has made anything clear, it's that we have a County Executive who’s more concerned with his own power and self-interest than with helping regular folks.
We deserve better.
What It Means
Dogan will try to tie Page to Stenger. He has a lot of factors working in his favor (possible contentious Democratic primary, a moderate track record in Jeff City that could woo crossover voters, ability to appeal to African American voters). But with each cycle St. Louis County becomes a bit bluer, and it just feels like it’s moved beyond the reach of Republicans.
We’ll see…
Smith Robos Across State
Congressman Jason Smith sent out a robo calls to “Republicans all over Missouri” yesterday. Listen to it here.
It opens with “Joe Biden MUST resign,” and sort of goes where you’d expect from there.
Why It Matters
Smith continuing to take actions to raise his statewide profile perpetuates the possibility that he might jump into the US Senate race.
Some observers believe that Smith’s hopes are pinned to a Trump endorsement. If that is to be the deciding factor in this race, then when he enters is largely unimportant.
More on Williams
One savvy observer thinks there is a way Republicans could help Sen. Brian Williams’ long-shot bid to oust Congresswoman Cori Bush. They could draw the map so it includes substantial Jewish population in St. Louis County. Bush’s view on Israel have put her at odds with many in the Jewish community.
Meet the Independent Cattlemen of MO
In the lobbyist registration (below), there’s a lobbyist now for an organization called the Independent Cattlemen of Missouri. See their non-profit filing here. Freddie Keaton is the president of the organization. They’re a start up Missouri affiliate of R-CALF (see their website here).
They have a few issues with the incumbent Missouri cattle organization, the Missouri Cattlemen Association.
· They want a change in the labeling policy with regard to country of origin.
· They want a referendum vote on the beef check-off program.
· They want anti-trust laws “re-tooled.”
Sifton Continues Pro-Choice Push
From Scott Sifton’s latest email fundraising blast: I’m angry…Mitch McConnell STOLE a seat on the Supreme Court. Merrick Garland should be a Supreme Court Justice. He didn’t even get a hearing! Then McConnell rammed through Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, and now they’re poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The writing’s on the wall. Anti-choice conservatives have the votes because Mitch stole them. I’m running for U.S. Senate because we MUST protect a woman’s right to choose. It’s time to get RID of the filibuster, codify Roe v. Wade and EXPAND the Supreme Court.
What It Means
Sifton is going to pound away on the choice issue. It works well for him because it’s timely, speaks directly to the base, and it can distinguish him from his primary challenger, Lucas Kunce.
One MOScouter explains: Lucas has looked bold staking out uberpopulist positions across a variety of issues. Abortion is the one issue where [Sifton] can flank Lucas. Abortion is his issue against Kunce…
Schmitt Hit on China Hub
Right-wing media outlet Breitbart throws some punches at Attorney General Eric Schmitt for his tax credit plan for cargo air traffic in St. Louis. See it here.
· This appears to be the main line of attack hat Eric Greitens will use against Schmitt.
eMailbag on Fox Fundy for Schmitt
Is Jeff Fox aware that Democrats currently control the Senate and would not be "winning" control nor would the Republicans be "holding" onto control?
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Leadership Fund - $45,000 from Accel Entertainment Gaming LLC.
Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund - MO - $8,000 from Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund.
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 4 Exchange Account.
Lobbyists Registrations
Estella Osborn added Independent Cattlemen of Missouri.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Code.org.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jorgen Schlemeier, Zach Pollock, Mark Habbas, Rod Jetton, Jack Goodman, Delbert Scott, Alan Green, Garrett Webb, and Dave Plemmons.