MOScout Daily Update: NBC on MO's Pro-Choice Dilemma - Early Senate 15 Poll - Troopers Back Kehoe - Shields Honored and more...

NBC Looks At MO Abortion Battlefield

NBC Nightly News’ Dasha Burns interviewed Jamie Corley of the Missouri Women and Family Research Fund about efforts to move forward a ballot measure that would give women access to abortion up to 12 weeks and add exceptions for fatal fetal abnormalities, rape and incest.  See the report here.

The report highlights the dilemma facing the pro-choice movement in Missouri…

·       Corley’s proposal would clearly broaden the range of support: NBC also interviewed campaign supporter, Ali Rand, a Catholic mom of five who supports abortion rights up to 12 weeks after experiencing complications during her last pregnancy.  

·       Yet, it alienates the pro-choice base: When NBC asked if 12 weeks is better than nothing, Planned Parenthood’s Colleen McNicholas said, “I’m just going to say no, it is not.”

Senate 15 Poll

Early polling in Senate 15 where Sen. Andrew Koenig is termed.  There’s a hot three-way Republican primary underway (and Dems have a serious candidate to meet the winner next November).  From the pro-David Gregory PAC, Show Me Growth comes this Remington Research poll which shows him with a nice lead – but, as expected, huge undecideds.

2024 GOP PRIMARY ELECTION

Survey conducted November 16 through November 20, 2023. 382 likely 2024 Republican Primary Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2024 Republican Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-5% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding.

Possible candidates in the 2024 Republican Primary Election for State Senate are David Gregory, Mark Harder, and Jim Bowlin. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

David Gregory: 15%

Mark Harder: 9%

Jim Bowlin: 5%

Undecided: 70%

Troopers Back Kehoe

The Missouri State Troopers Association (MOSTA) officially announced its endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe for Missouri Governor. Since its inception in 1981, MOSTA has only provided seven political endorsements, three for candidates and four for ballot initiatives. This will be the first gubernatorial endorsement in a primary election, for a non-incumbent, in the association’s 42-year history.

·       “The Missouri State Troopers Association and its members trust and believe in Mike Kehoe to carry out his mission as a leader and policymaker to make Missouri a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Shields Honored

Former Senate Pro Tem Charlie Shields was names Kansas Citian of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Come and Get the Stick?

For Jeff Roe watchers… NBC News reports on hot tempers among Team DeSantis.  See it here.

Jeff Roe, the top consultant for the super PAC, got into a heated argument with longtime DeSantis confidant Scott Wagner while a small group of nine board members and senior staff were discussing budgeting.

“You have a stick up your a--, Scott,” Roe fumed at Wagner, who is a member of the Never Back Down board.

“Why don’t you come over here and get it?” Wagner responded, rising from his chair. He was quickly restrained by two fellow board members.

eMailbag: on Deaton and MOSERS

·       I have no dog in the fight and don’t really care, but whoever was making the case about Dirk Deaton and the No MOSERs vote hasn’t talked to an actual Republican primary voter in a while. If it takes you 42 words to describe the attack it’s a loser….

·       Vivek Malek’s oppo book is so thick that the Cody Smith campaign doesn’t have to manufacture problems to make problems even worse for the incumbent treasurer.

·       Did Senators Rusty Black and John Rizzo vote against divestment because they are supporting their Senate colleague Andrew Koenig? What about other trustees that voted against the proposal? Trustees have a statutory duty to act as a fiduciary for MOSERS to the benefit of taxpayers and pension recipients. The board’s investment advisor and the Chief Investment Officer suggested against divesture citing millions of dollars in hard costs associated with the move, as well as decreasing portfolio diversification, and short/long term costs to the system.  Someone is trying to politicize something that’s not there…

Lobbyists Registrations

Brandon Peck added Owens Corning.

Andy Blunt added BDT Capital Partners, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Marc Ellinger, and Therese Sander.

Thanksgiving: Brian Bunten, Sam Wiles, and Cynthia Davis.

Friday: Sen. Bill Eigel, and Dennis Wood.

Saturday: Joe Lakin, Willis Jones, and Bill Deeken.

Sunday: JaCinda Martin-Sutherland, Jamie Corley, and Jane Dueker.

MOScout Schedule

Have a happy and restful Thanksgiving.  I’ll see y’all on Monday morning.