MOScout Daily Update: Bell Pivots - The Springfield Experiment - Pro-Lifers Begin Organizing for IPs - Gooch to SCOMO and more...

Bell Pivots

Last week, I wrote that Dems were looking at St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, and former Rep. Clem Smith, as possible primary challengers to Congresswoman Cori Bush.  I didn’t realize things were apparently farther along, and moving fast.

Bell announced yesterday that he was in fact, dropping his US Senate bid to mount a campaign against Bush.

·       From the Bell statement: “[O]ver the last several weeks, as I’ve campaigned around the state, I’ve heard one refrain from Democrats above all else: yes, we need you in Washington, but St. Louis needs you in the House of Representatives.”

What It Means

·       Bell’s campaign will be an immediate outlet for the rage some St. Louisans are feeling for Bush’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.  Bush hasn’t softened her rhetoric accusing Israel of “ethnic cleansing.”

·       Obviously, the first test for Bell is capitalizing on the moment, and putting up a some strong fundraising numbers.  If he looks viable, one would imagine some big third-party help coming in, for example, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Meanwhile

Lucas Kunce moved to consolidate support.  He still faces Sen. Karla May in his bid for the US Senate Democratic nomination.  But the same day that Bell dropped, Kunce rolled out two new St. Louis County Council endorsements…

St. Louis County Councilwomen Lisa Clancy and Kelli Dunaway are endorsing Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate. They join St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Days and St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb. Lucas now has earned the support of all Democratic members of the St. Louis County Council.

The Springfield Experiment

Concerned that local elections have taken a turn toward divisiveness, civic heavyweights on both sides of the aisle are joining forces to try rein in the extremism they’ve seen in recent elections.  The new group, United Springfield, is deliberately bipartisan; they be endorsing and backing candidates in nonpartisan races who are “uniters,” not dividers.  See their website here.

Press release: United Springfield is designed to support individuals running for nonpartisan office who will unite our Springfield children, citizens, and community… To continue building a stronger Springfield for tomorrow, United Springfield will work to protect civil discourse, community partnerships, and the welcoming culture of innovation. The group officially launches today and is seeking members to join the effort from all walks of life who recognize the need to preserve a united, nonpartisan local government. Longtime community leaders Jim Anderson and Terri McQueary will co-chair the group.

Why It Matters

This is a rebellion against the current vogue in politics to tap into voter anger by being a fighter and painting one’s opponents in hyperbolic and apocalyptic terms.

STL Catholic Ready for Pro-Choice IP

Although the various efforts to put a pro-choice initiative petition before voters in 2024 are all tangled up in court right now, that’s not stopping the pro-life groups from starting their organizing.

St. Louis Review reports that “anticipating a vote in 2024, the four Catholic dioceses of Missouri have formed a coalition with other pro-life groups and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national advocacy group, to encourage people to vote ‘no’ on the issue.”

·       [Susan B. Anthony’s Midwest regional director Susan] Liebel told conference attendees that even without a certified ballot summary, they can start now by telling others about what’s coming around the corner and to tell them they should “decline to sign” the ballot petition. Speaking about the issue within our parish communities is a good place to start, she added.

·       “We don’t know what the question is going to be, so it’s a little too soon for that,” she said. “But we know it’s going to be ‘no,’ however it’s written.”

Gooch Joins SCOMO

Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that he has selected the Honorable Ginger Gooch, 47, to be a Judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Breckenridge…

·       Judge Gooch was appointed to serve on the Southern District Court of Appeals by Governor Parson in 2022. Before serving on the appellate bench, she served as a partner with Husch Blackwell LLP in Springfield for nearly 15 years. After graduating at the top of her law class, Judge Gooch served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Ann Covington, the first female judge to serve on the Supreme Court of Missouri, from 2000-2001.

·       Judge Gooch earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy, law, and rhetoric from Stephens College.

·       Judge Gooch's appointment cements a female majority on Missouri's highest court for the first time in state history….

Quade Adds Labor Endorsements

Minority Leader Crystal Quade added a couple labor endorsement to her list as she builds an organized labor firewall around her bid to be the Democrats’ gubernatorial nominee.

The Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council and the Sedalia Building & Construction Trades Council have endorsed House Minority Leader Crystal Quade’s campaign to become Missouri’s next governor…

·       Previous endorsements: Missouri AFL-CIO, SEIU State Council and Healthcare, Missouri IBEW State Conference, UFCW Local 655, Teamsters Local 245.

META Lawsuit

Catching up on this from last week… Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joined a coalition of 33 states in filing suit against Meta alleging that the social-media technology giant designed and deployed harmful features for Facebook and Instagram to addict young users to its platforms and enhance its bottom line…

·       Meta’s Jeff City lobbyists are: Amy Blunt, Andy Blunt, Maddie McMillan Green, Chris Moody, and Ginger Steinmetz.

Lobbyists Registrations

James Harris deleted Opaa! Food Management, Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $15,000 from HBS Mo State PAC.

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $10,000 from Penn Entertainment (Wyomissing, PA).

HOMEFRONT PAC (pro-Webber) - $10,000 from Edelman and Thompson, LLC.

HOMEFRONT PAC - $7,500 from Rightpath PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Ken McClure, and Paul Quinn.