MOScout Daily Update: Next Moves on Redistricting - Kunce Says No Surrender - New Super PAC - Jeff City School Board Elections Tomorrow and more...
Next Moves on Map
With six weeks of the legislative session left, the congressional redistricting still looms unresolved.
Last week the House rejected the Senate’s version of the map, and the Senate rejected the House’s offer of a conference committee. I had wondered if we might see legislative leaders tire of the stalemate, throw up their hands and admit defeat. Nope.
One Senate source says a conference committee with the House is “very very unlikely,” citing the Conservative Caucus’ lack of trust in leadership. Instead, we’ll probably see each side pass new redistricting bills, introducing more vehicles into the equation.
The Senate could send the same map over as a Senate bill which would allow the House to amend it and send it back avoiding a conference committee.
The House might send a new map over as a House bill. In theory, negotiations would take place beforehand giving any new map a legitimate chance.
We’ll see….
What It Means
· While these maneuvers are occurring, regular business will continue on other bills. But redistricting will take attention and focus away. And it can complicate and poison other items.
· Bottomline: bad situation for anyone trying to pass something this session; good news for folks trying to stop stuff.
Driving the Week: Elections Tomorrow
Elections tomorrow across the state will feature a mix of school board races, municipal races, and various tax and bond issues.
Of particular interest to MOScouters… the Jefferson City School Board race. There are two open seats. One reader sums up the field: Adam Gresham is Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe; Erika Leonard, long-time lobbyist with the John Bardgett Team; Mark Ellinger, well-known Republican attorney, best known for repping Rex Sinquefield; and Anne Bloemke-Warren, a lesser-known state employee.
No Surrender From Kunce
The entry of Trudy Busch Valentine as a Democratic candidate for US Senate brought an immediate retreat from Scott Sifton. But the other visible Democratic candidate, Lucas Kunce, has signaled no surrender.
To that end his team has been rolling out endorsements…
Latest press release: Today, Councilwoman Katheryn Shields (Kansas City), Representative Michael Johnson (Kansas City), Mayor Reggie Jones (City of Dellwood), Kansas City entrepreneur Charlie Lowe, and Councilman Terry Wilson (City of Jennings) are throwing their support behind 13-year Marine veteran Lucas Kunce in the Missouri U.S. Senate Race….
This announcement comes on the heels of Lucas Kunce earning support from a number of St. Louis leaders, including Representative Rasheen Aldridge Jr., St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Tommie Pierson Sr., St. Louis Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, and St. Louis Alderman John Collins-Muhammad Jr.
What It Means
The consensus is that Kunce’s path to the nomination is now a long-shot. It’s expected that we’ll see a very big personal check from Busch Valentine which will create an asymmetry in the available resources between the two candidates.
And of course, Valentine has to spend money to introduce herself to voters, so there’s no harm in her team rolling out ads before the primary. It might even help preemptively define her before her eventual Republican opponent does
New Super PAC in MO Senate Race?
Missouri Conservative Political Action Committee was formed on Saturday according to documents with the FEC. See the filing here.
There’s no indication about the Super PAC’s purpose or who it might support. (In fact, it might not have anything to do with Missouri. It could just be a conduit PAC. We’ll see.)
Googling the name of its treasurer, Thomas Datwyler, shows that he’s something of a professional PAC treasurer, garnering small news mentions over the years…
· NPR: The group’s treasurer, Thomas Datwyler, also holds that role for a handful of political action committees that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting GOP politicians ranging from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA). Another PAC connected to Datwyler is reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
· Hartford Courant: Thomas C. Datwyler, the treasurer of the No Socialism PAC, is listed as the treasurer for a slew of other PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. One PAC, the Pine Tree PAC, based in Maine, contributed more than $77,000 in 2018 to Republican congressional races across the country, including in California, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts. Another PAC, the Strong Leadership for America, spent nearly $300,000 on a Kansas congressional race in 2016. Datwyler’s LinkedIn profile lists him as the campaign finance treasurer for 9SevenConsulting, a Wisconsin-based political consulting company. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the company has made payments to nearly 100 PACs this election season.
Bipartisan Pop and Son?
One reader points out a fun filing fact… “Seems that JC Crossley, a Republican running for House 34, is the father of Aaron Crossley, running for House 29 as a Democrat.”
· House 29 looks like a pretty solid Republican seat, so don’t expect to see family squabbles breaking out on the House floor in 2023.
Gubby Appt
Press release: Governor Mike Parson appointed Matthew Wilson as Circuit Judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Adair, Knox, and Lewis Counties. He will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Russell E. Steele.
New Committees
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee was formed. It’s a federal PAC. Its treasurer is Larry Tinker.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Common Sense PAC (pro-Gelner, Senate 20) - $7,500 from Richard Gelner.
Missouri Common Sense PAC - $6,500 from Heart of America Beverage.
Page PAC (pro-Sam Page) - $10,000 from Lou Fusz Automotive Network.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $5,925 from Michael Mathieu.
Citizens for Gerling (running for Jackson County Legislature) - $10,000 from Thuylinh Pham.
Committee To Elect Crispin Rea (running for Kansas City Council) - $10,000 from Crispin Rea Jr.
Lobbyists Registrations
David Klarich added Invenergy Transmission.
Brett Michelin added Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM).
Charles Raymond Miller added Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, and River City Outdoors.
Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, and Brittany Hyatt Robbins deleted The Home Loan Expert.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jessica Petrie Thelemaque, and Theresa Garza.