MOScout Daily Update: Cody To Jump In Today - More Dem Names for 2024 - Big Kehoe #s - Malek PAC Hits $1.M COH - Dinkins Eyes Senate 27 and more...
More 2024 Talk
Tipster: Look for House Budget Chair Cody Smith to make an announcement about his statewide intentions (Treasurer!) today on Politically Speaking with the mighty Jason Rosenbaum.
· Smith will likely position himself as a tax-cutter, and someone who’s not afraid to tangle with librarians?
More Democrats potentially in the mix for 2024… “I am also hearing Rep. Deb Lavender for statewide office. Either SOS or Treasurer. I am also hearing maybe Rep. Donna Barringer for Treasurer… I hope they all figure it out. It is pointless to have primaries when there are a couple state Senate and state house seats Dems can pick up. Why exhaust the donor base?”
· The go-time on this is approaching. If you wait until next quarter you run into the holidays and then session, and it’s hard, then, to build momentum.
Kehoe Files 2Q, Reports $4M COH
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and his allied PAC both filed their July campaign finance reports ahead of next week’s July 17 deadline. They showed strong fundraising, though we’ll get a more accurate understanding when front-runner Jay Ashcroft files his reports.
· Kehoe’s candidate committee raised $582,093; spent $244,183; and has a little over $1 million ($1.16M) cash on-hand. Its largest expenditure was $56K spent with McCarthy Hennings Whalen Inc. for media production.
· Kehoe’s PAC, American Dream, raised $641,932; spent $221,067; and has nearly $3million ($2.95M) cash on-hand. Its largest expenditure was $87K spent with American Viewpoint for polling.
Team Kehoe crows: Kehoe and his PAC “raised $1 million since career politician Jay Ashcroft announced his campaign for governor on April 6, 2023.”
Malek PAC Raised $640K
Also filing early is the pro-Vivek Malek PAC, American Promise PAC. It reported raising $640,425 with basically no expenses. It now has $1.3M cash on-hand.
· One observer: “Your recent poll shows 68% undecided in this (evolving) primary. Stipulating that most Missourians have no idea who is State Treasurer, Malek is piling up money to get acquainted through advertising.”
Thielemier Exits Troops
The long-time lobbyist for the State Troopers Association, Brad Thielemier, is departing. He writes that he’s “decided to leave the Troopers Association to go out on my own. It’s been a great ride with them for 21 years but I’m ready for new opportunities and to get involved in different areas other than law enforcement…”
Dinkins Eyes Senate 27
Rep. Chris Dinkins announced that she’s forming an exploratory committee for the Holly Thompson Rehder senate seat (Senate 27). See her website here.
Political watchers are thinking this race could quickly devolve into a free-for-all. Reps. Jamie Burger, Barry Hovis, John Voss are potential contenders. And Dinkins’ exploratory announcement adds a little more pressure for others to start their engines too.
Dinkins brings some advantages…
· She currently represents 4 of the 7 counties in Rehder’s district.
· She is one of the few pro-ed reform representatives down that way which gives her a strategic advantage, both in potential fundraising and in differentiating herself in a crowded field.
· The 2020 match-up between Rehder and Kathy Swan showed this traditional “Cape Seat” can be won from someone outside of Cape – if they can secure the resources.
But… one reader thinks the former Conservative Caucus tribe will be looking for someone else to back… “She’s 79% with American Conservative Union… There will be a better conservative choice.” Of course, we’ll see…
Osete Preps Judicial Run
Jesus Osete, former general counsel to Jay Ashcroft and deputy solicitor general in the AG’s office under Eric Schmitt, appears to be preparing to run for a judicial seat.
Yesterday afternoon he formed a campaign committee to run for circuit judge.
Lobbyists Registrations
David Barklage added Apple Investors Group LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
AGC of MO PAC - $9,600 from Twehous Excavating Co., Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Richard Brown and Scott Cupps, Jeff Howell, Gary Marshall, Tim Meadows, and Cory McMahon.