MOScout Daily Update: Hawley-Hartzler Joint Fundraising - Trumpstakes - Boy Who Cried "RINO" and lots of bits from Candidate Filing....

Hawley-Hartzler Open Joint Fundraising Committee

Natalie Allison reports that “Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Vicky Hartzler are opening a joint fundraising committee… the “Hawley Show-Me Strong Committee.” He’s signaling he’s going to be pretty involved in helping her Senate bid.”

This indicates that Hawley isn’t just leaving his endorsement at as announcement with a “good luck.”  He’s going to be raising money; he’s going to be a force in the primary.

Meanwhile…

·         Schmitt Mar-a-Lago Fundy – Politico reports that “ERIC SCHMITT, the Missouri A.G., sent around invitations for a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on March 10. He’s the first candidate in the race to host such an event at the former president’s resort, we’re told — prime real estate for anyone trying to swing a DONALD TRUMP endorsement.”  See the invite here.

·         Greitens to Mar-a-Lago – Maggie Haberman says “GREITENS was at Mar-a-Lago today, per someone who spotted him. Trip comes as Trump has made several disparaging comments about him to aides. A person briefed on the meeting between Trump and Greitens said it lasted about 30 minutes. Trump has made critical comments re Greitens but more recently had been more positive in his commentary.”

·         Billy Long on Trump – Long said yesterday that he’d missed Trump’s call the day before.  Trump called at 9:24PM and Long was already in bed…

The Boy Who Cried RINO?

In what universe is Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler a RINO?  In Eric Greitens’. The Greitens campaign has a webpage now calling his opponents “RINOs.”  See it here.

·         The RINO charge has jumped the shark in Missouri and become ridiculous.  For example, I’ve heard it hurled at Sen. Caleb Rowden because someone disagrees with a vote he’d made.  Rowden has run and won as a Republican multiple times, raised oodles of money for Republican candidates across the state, been elected to a position of leadership by his Republican colleagues… and he’s a RINO?  That’s not RINO; that’s the Republican Party tearing itself apart.

Filing Opens

Candidate filing for 2022 opened yesterday.  Nothing I would characterize as a major surprise, but lots of little nuggets…

15, Count’em 15, Republican US Senate Candidates.  It’s going to be a crowded ballot. For those who believe in ballot order voodoo, no-name Patrick Lewis gets the pole position, followed immediately by Eric Schmitt, Billy Long, and Eric Greitens, with Vicky Hartzler and Mark McCloskey lost in the long list.

·         Twitter notes that Greitens’ filing as a US Senate candidate was four years to the day of his indictment.

Dems Land an Auditor Candidate.  Former Democratic Rep. Alan Green filed to run for State Auditor.  We’re not talking rock star candidate here, but considering Dems didn’t have ANYONE to run for the statewide office, it’s progress for them. See Green’s website here.

Republican State Senate Filing News

·         Senate 10 (Riddle termed) – Someone I’m unfamiliar with – Joshua Price – and will be first on the ballot.  Also filing, as expected: Rep. Travis Fitzwater and former Rep. Bryan Spencer.  It’s said that Rep. Jeff Porter will be in the field eventually.  The map is important in this race; it could draw Fitz or Spence out of the district.

·         Senate 12 (Hegeman termed) – Former Rep. Delus Johnson filed, as well as Rep. J Eggleston.  Look for Rep. Rusty Black to add his name to the list too, depending on how the map looks (see below).

·         Senate 16 – Sen. Justin Brown drew two opponents.  Scott Riedel, who has already started campaigning, and Rep. Suzie Pollock (who’s not term limited).   The knock on Brown is that he’s not conservative enough.  But having two folks split the opposition vote, plus Brown’s name ID (his father served before him) means I wouldn’t bet against his re-election chances.

·         Senate 22 (Weiland termed) – Rep. Shane Roden filed.  I hadn’t heard him mentioned for this race in a while.  Also filing: Reps. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Dan Shaul, as well as former Democratic Rep. Jeff Roorda.  Ken Waller, who said he was considering running, filed instead for House 114.  One hallway source said he wouldn’t be surprised if Speaker Rob Vescovo takes a second look at the race, but I have no information he’s serious about it.

·         Senate 26 (Schatz termed) – Rep. Nate Tate jumped into this one.  Ben Brown filed as well; he’s been running hard for six months or so and has a big organizing lead.  Businessman Bob Jones did not make the trip to file on opening day.

MOGOP says No to Antisemite – Their statement: The Missouri Republican Party has rejected the filing fee of Steve West, who sought to run for office as a member of the GOP. West's past statements are vile and conflict with the fundamental values of our platform…

Railsback Faces Primary Challenge – In House 2, incumbent Rep. Randy Railsback faces a very serious primary challenge from Mazzie Boyd. She can run to his right as a former Donald Trump staffer, and former Marjorie Taylor Greene staffer. See her website here. 

·         The big question: To what extent will the House Republican Campaign Committee spend money to defend incumbents in safe Republican districts?

Dems Who Didn’t File – Some prominent Dems didn’t file on the first day. 

·         Minority Leader Crystal Quade didn’t make it down to the SOS office, leading to speculation that she’s waiting on the Senate maps to see if Senate 30 would be accommodating.

·         Rep. Peter Merideth has been upfront about a desire to spend more time at home. He hasn’t closed the door on running for his final term, but it looks like he’s 70% there. 

·         The same is true for Rep. Wes Rogers.  He’s wants to be a year-round dad to his son.  He’ll look at local office.

·         Rep. Mark Ellebratch didn’t file.  One politico thinks he might eschew the district he was drawn into, House 38) and slide over to House 17 which is an easier campaign for a Democrat.

·         Also missing from first day filing: STL City Reps. Rasheen Aldridge and LaKeySha Bosley.

Comebacks?

·         Former Democratic Rep. Deb Lavender stood in line yesterday.  She’s running for House 98 where the Democrat, Rep. Trish Gunby is vacating to run for Congress.  Lavender served three terms in a different part of St. Louis County before leaving to run unsuccessfully against Sen. Andrew Koenig in 2020.  House 98 is a swing district, so Dems are lucky to have a furiously hard worker like Lavender knocking doors there.

·         And former Republican Rep. Mark Matthiesen running in House 107 (around Dardenne Prairie).  It’s a safe GOP district and so far he’s the only Republican filed.

Black and McGaugh File for House 7 – Republican Reps. Rusty Black and Peggy McGaugh both filed for House 7. But I’m told it’s unlikely we’ll see them face off in August.  Rather, Black’s filing is a placeholder, as he awaits the state senate maps.  He’s hopeful that he’ll be running in Senate 12.

Reps Under a Cloud

·         Rep. Chad Perkins, under investigation for his behavior as a policeman years ago, filed for re-election in House 40.

·         Rep Tricia Derges, under federal indictment for misdeeds with her medical clinic, did not.

St. Charles Races

·         Rep. Adam Schwadron filed to run for re-election in House 105 (St. Charles).  He’s getting a rematch from his Dem opponent, Cindy Berne.  Schwadron won in a squeaker last time (51.4% - 48.6%), but Dems hope their chances are aided this year by the filing of a Libertarian candidate – who would theoretically take votes from the GOP.

·         And it’s neighbors running against each other in House 106.  Republican Travis Wilson (3492 Wainwright Street) is in a primary with Republican William “Buddy” Hardin (3499 Wainwright Street).  I might have to take a look at the yard sign war on that street later this Spring.

Oh Yeah… The Legislature

The House passed several bills out yesterday, sending them over to the Senate.  This continues the session pattern of the House moving legislation and the Senate in gridlock.

The Senate did nothing yesterday.  Sen. Mike Moon read a book.  He’s protesting being removed from committees after he wore overalls on the Senate floor. Pro Tem Dave Schatz has asked Moon to apologize.  Moon says he’ll apologize to any individual senator he offended but is obstinate in offering an apology at large.

The good news was that talk in the hallway makes in sound like there’s been progress on finding a Congressional map compromise.  We’ll see….

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $50,000 from James Lincoln.

Lobbyists Registrations

Pia Dandiya added Apple Inc.

Sherry Doctorian added TCC Software Solutions. 

Erika Leonard added Special Learning Center.

Jessica Pabst added Indivior, and Consumer Technology Association FKA Consumer Electronics Association; and deleted Union Electric Co. DBA Amerenue, Ameren Services, Ameren Corp.

Keith Antone Willis added Keith Antone Willis, Sr.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Paula Brown and Rick Stream.