MOScout Daily Update: Wieland for JeffCo Executive - Porter for Senate 10 - Hruza for Senate 24 - Neustadt to United - Arnold to J&J - Steelmans for Schatz and more...
Wieland to Take On Gannon
Termed Sen. Paul Wieland is running for Jefferson County Executive. Wieland has originally filed for the County Collector position, but he withdrew and switched to County Executive race.
He’ll be taking on incumbent Dennis Gannon – the husband of his colleague, Sen. Elaine Gannon. Just what the Senate needs right now…
Behind Wieland’s change of ambition…
· Wieland sees a massive opportunity in JeffCo’s port if they can leverage local funds and state funds. He believes he can rally the resources to get it done.
· Wieland felt “pressure” from local leaders pushing for change in the county level.
· Internal polling is auspicious. Team Wieland says he’s up 13 points by their numbers.
Porter Joins Senate 10 Scrum
Rep. Jeff Porter filed to run in Senate 10. He’s the fourth Republican to enter the race to succeed Sen. Jeanie Riddle.
· There’s talk that this could turn into a 5-way scrum should term-limited Rep. Randy Pietzman decide to jump as well.
· And then with five men in, would a woman be enticed to make a run?...
McCreery Gets GOP Opponent
Republican George Hruza filed to run in Senate 24. He’ll face Democratic Rep. Tracy McCreery. Hruza is a doctor. See his profile here. On the same day as filing, Hruza wrote a check for $75K to seed his campaign. McCreery reported over $400K on-hand in her January campaign finance filing.
Republicans were cheered that they found someone who will contest the district, but it’s hard to see Hruza’ path.
· President Joe Biden won the district by 12 points in 2020, and it’s an area of St. Louis County which is continuing to trend Democratic.
Senate Collects Itself for New Start
The first nine weeks of session before Spring Break saw really only one accomplishment from the legislature: the passage of the supplemental budget.
Today starts the second half. There’s eight weeks left. The House has sent several priority bills to the Senate. We’ll get a first temperature reading on the mood of the upper chamber this afternoon. Look for longer work days as we enter the second half.
· And look for another (perhaps final) run at the congressional map this week. I’m told the latest compromise map could garner “25 or so votes,” and that it has the backing of the Republican congressional delegation.
Also
Keep an eye on tomorrow morning’s Senate Appropriations Committee where House Budget Chair Cody Smith’s HJR 117 will receive a hearing. This will be a big deal, as it’s seen as an effort to roll back Medicaid Expansion. That’s another potential landmine in the Senate’s future.
Neustadt to United, Arnold to J&J
Latest lobbying moves…
· Jennae Neustadt has joined United HealthGroup as Vice President for External Affairs covering Missouri and Oklahoma. She was previously with SHI International. And before that she staffed Sen. Bob Onder.
· Justin Arnold has left Travelers. He’s been hired by Johnson & Johnson to handle their lobbying in Missouri, “and a handful of other states in the Midwest.”
Steelmans For Schatz
The end-of-the-month fundraiser for Dave Schatz’ US Senate campaign (featuring Governor Mike Parson as the special guest) as has the names of Sarah and David Steelman on the host committee. See it here.
Steelman had been appointed Office of Administration Commissioner by then-Governor Eric Greitens. He is also running for US Senate.
Calls for An Investigation into Walker’s Death
There are a variety of heavy rumors about the circumstances surrounding former Rep. Cora Walker’s death. It seems certain we’ll be hearing more about this.
· Post-Dispatch reports that the “St. Louis Fire Department has forwarded its EMS incident report involving the death… to the Drug Enforcement Administration.”
· St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch is asking for the Missouri Highway Patrol to investigate.
MEC Nabs More Free Press
This time from Politico. Read it here.
Missouri lawmakers want to stop their residents from having abortions — even if they take place in another state.
The first-of-its-kind proposal would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps a Missouri resident have an abortion — from the out-of-state physician who performs the procedure to whoever helps transport a person across state lines to a clinic, a major escalation in the national conservative push to restrict access to the procedure.
Republican state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who is pushing the Missouri policy as an amendment to multiple health bills, said it specifically targets a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois just across the river from St. Louis that opened in 2019 with the explicit goal of serving Missouri patients….
PD: Arnolds Bankrolling Better Elections
Post Dispatch’s Kurt Erickson fingers John and Laura Arnold as the power couple bankrolling the ranked choice voting initiative petition which is currently collecting signature for the November ballot.
University of Missouri-St. Louis political scientist David Kimball said the jury is still out on how ranked choice voting will work at a statewide level because most of the jurisdictions that use it are cities, where the elections are nonpartisan. “It does appear that it encourages more people to run, particularly nontraditional candidates,” Kimball said. “It’s not clear whether it will reduce polarization.”
Congress Sounds More Impressive
Phil Newbold, running for state representative in House 41 (Troy), formed a campaign committee: Newbold for Congress. His Republican primary opponent, Milton Schaper, hasn’t formed a committee yet. But might I suggest “Schaper for Senate” has a nice ring to it?
New Candidate Filings
Brant Harper withdrew from running for House 98 as a Republican, and filed to run in House 100 (Ballwin) as a Republican.
Gloria Stone filed to run in House 29 as a Republican. This is an open seat in Independence. Republicans have a 3-way primary and Dems have a 2-way primary. It’s a lean Republican seat.
John Burrows filed to run in House 35 (Kansas City) as a Republican. He’ll face incumbent Democratic Rep. Keri Ingle.
Dave Raithel filed to run in House 44 (Columbia) as a Democrat. He’ll face incumbent Republican Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch.
Jessica DeVoto filed to run in House 69 (St. Charles) as a Democrat. She’ll face incumbent Republican Rep. Adam Schnelting.
Yonnee Fortson filed to run in House 85 (St. Louis) as a Democrat, creating a 3-way primary.
Anthony Campbell filed to run in House 109 (Washington) as a Republican, primarying Rep. John Simmons.
$5K+ Contributions
Hruza for Missouri – $75,000 from George Hruza.
American Dream PAC (Pro-Kehoe) - $12,500 from Husch Blackwell LLP.
American Dream PAC - $12,500 from Husch Blackwell Strategies.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $50,000 from Green Precision Analytics Inc.
Onder For Missouri - $25,000 from 1776 PAC.
Together KC - $75,000 from Health Forward Foundation.
Together KC - $15,000 from University Health.
Together KC - $10,000 from Saint Luke’s Health Systems.
Together KC - $7,500 from Lathrop GPM LLP.
Together KC - $7,500 from Lathrop GPM LLP.
Southland Progress - $10,000 from Together KC.
Page PAC - $10,000 from The Union Labor Life Insurance Company (Silver Spring, MD)
Local Jobs for STL - $20,000 from Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Yes on Prop 1 STL Infrastructure - $20,000 from Greater St. Louis Inc.
Yes on Prop 1 STL Infrastructure - $20,000 from Regional Business Council.
Citizens for Joe Nicola - $5,400 from Joe Nicola.
Citizens for David Martin - $10,000 from David Martin.
Show Me Integrity Action Fund - $20,000 from The Center for Election Science.
Missouri Leadership Fund - $7,000 from Erick Jansson.
Clay County Democratic Central Committee - $10,000 from UAW Region 4 Midwet States CAP Council.
Baird For Mayor - $5,500 from Lees Summit Police Officers Association PAC.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jennae Neustadt added United Healthcare Services Inc., and Optum Inc; and deleted SHI International Corporation.
Jake Silverman added The Swain Group.
Jackie Wood added Missouri National Guard Association.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Thomas Long, Clay Rodgers, and Trent Summers.