MOScout Daily Update: MADA for Kehoe - MOGOP and Election Fraud - Updated Leg Profiles, IEPACS and more...
First in MOScout: MADA for Kehoe
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe will announce his twelfth organizational endorsement for his gubernatorial campaign today. This one, the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association (MADA), is the most predictable of them all as Kehoe once ran a dealership.
"Mike Kehoe understands our business, and small business as a whole, like no other elected official in the State of Missouri," said Doug Smith, President of MADA. "I have known and worked with Mike since his time in public office, and he's one of the best, most effective statesmen I have ever seen. This decision was extremely easy for us. While campaign endorsements are not a typical practice of the 84-year-old private industry trade association, it is a unique opportunity and privilege to endorse one of our very own dealers.”
MADA is the leading trade association representing new car dealers and automotive retail leaders in Missouri. Chartered in 1938 and located in Jefferson City, MADA is the leading voice and advocate for Missouri auto dealers.
I’m expecting a slow week this holiday week, but….
Time for Gubby Appts?
With the governor back in Missouri, one lobbyist wonders if the he will announce his AG and Treasurer appointments this week.
“If he doesn't, he is really impacting the new office-holders’ ability to get ready, and the intensity of the lobbying for the positions will really crank up, which he dislikes…”
MOScout/Remington Poll
The MOScout poll over the weekend found that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft starts with a healthy lead over Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (44% to 10%). I don’t think this surprised anyone, as the Ashcroft family name has decades of history with the Missouri Republican faithful.
· Team Kehoe hopes that his steady early endorsements – like the one this morning – together with methodical fundraising will slowly level that playing field by 2024.
· Sen. Bill Eigel’s entry divides the punditry. Some think his conservative following will siphon off Ashcroft votes. Others see this as Ashcroft’s to lose. In that view, more candidates means it’s less likely a single strong alternative emerges.
But
What I thought was most interesting is how engrained it’s become in the GOP psyche that elections are fraudulent.
Obviously, this is terrible news for those rooting for a strong USA. But in this particular case: does Ashcroft, as the sitting secretary of state, get some blame from Missouri Republicans for overseeing an election with “widespread fraud?”
Q1: Do you think the recent elections were conducted fairly, or was their widespread fraud?
I think they were conducted fairly: 40%
I think there was widespread fraud: 39%
Not sure: 21%
MO in Minority of State Without Sports Betting
Axios has a nifty map this morning – as World Cup play begins – which shows how sports betting has spread across America in the past four years. Missouri is now the minority of states without it. Will that change after next year’s session? Legislative leaders have said it’s a priority…
Meanwhile
Washington Post ran this article about how the sports betting companies limit how much the best betters can wager. It’s a business after all. Read it here.
GOP Blame Game
Were consultants to blame for the absence of the red wave? The Federalist writes that they are in an essay “The GOP’s Political Consultant Problem.” Read it here.
· Tim Huelskamp told The Federalist. “Investing in the ground game makes campaign consultants almost no money — arguably it costs them money.”
· Axiom gets called out… “Axiom, one of the top GOP consulting firms, grossed nearly $50 million this past federal election cycle…”
Updated New Leg Profiles
I did a quick update to my “quick” profiles of New House members. Tidied up some graphics, corrected some info. You can find it here.
Updated IE PACs
I updated the Independent Expenditure PACs list to include two more. Rep-elects John Voss and Ken Waller both have PACs. These are PACs that aren’t constrained by candidate campaign contribution limits. The candidates can raise money for them, however they can’t direct the how the money is spent. The expenditures must be made independent of the candidate.
· John Voss – Capaha PAC
· Ken Waller – Building JeffCo Together
Lobbyists Registrations
Daniel Hall added Invenergy.
Alissa Marie Johnson deleted Concerned Women for America of Missouri.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Anheuser Busch Companies.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $40,000 from OXG LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Ginger Steinmetz, and Henrio Thelemaque.
MOScout Slacker Schedule
This week is a short week. Only three days: Monday – Wednesday with a long Thanksgiving weekend off.
And, heads up, next week will also be a three-day week.