MOScout Daily Update: Bailey to DC - Webber Lands Endorsements - Gragg for Asst Floor - Shumway for Statewide and more...
1 Big Thing: Bailey Works DC Circuit
Attorney General Andrew Bailey will be hitting the DC fundraising circuit this month. His September 18 event features special guests… the new Ways and Means Chairman Congressman Jason Smith, Congresswoman Ann Wagner, and Congressman Mark Alford.
It’s a big statement as both Smith and Wagner have been prolific fundraisers during their time in Congress, and all three have important roles on Congressional committees critical to Missouri's economy and most important industries (Ways and Means, Financial services, Agriculture, and Armed Services).
Consensus Candidate Webber?
Stephen Webber, running in Senate 19, scooped up more endorsements last night…
· The entire Boone County Dem House delegation (Reps. Doug Mann, Adrian Plank, David Tyson Smith, and Kathy Steinhoff) endorsed Webber.
· And the Columbia Firefighters Local also announced endorsed him.
What It Means
· Webber seems to be uniting his party in a way that’s not usual these days. We’re living in a hyper-polarized world in which an open Senate seat would immediately attract a couple candidates, each occupying a different “lane” within their party’s ideological spectrum.
· Webber has a strong organized labor base, but has – so far – also kept a far-left progressive from entering against him.
Gragg Announces for Asst Floor
Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg, in a note to his fellow Republican House members, announced that he will run for Assistant Floor Leader. Gragg is a freshman; see his bio here.
From his letter…
The legislative process should not be as difficult as it is. It has become a difficult task and it seems to get more difficult every session. I will work to minimize those road blocks and make more sense out of the confusion. By lifting these excessive and unnecessary blocks, we will increase our ability to get clear and committee vetted legislation to the House floor. You deserve that, your voters deserve that and our whole state deserves that. Additionally, with your Majority Floor Leader, I will work to make sure what we do on our side of the capitol doesn't die due to communication issues. Without open and healthy lines of communication we are useless. I refuse to accept that and hope and pray you do also.
Why It Matters
In addition to “getting you in the room” for leadership discussions, the Assistant Floor Leader is the start to being considered for the more powerful Floor Leader position down the road – just as the current Assistant Floor Leader, Jaime Burger, is now running for Floor Leader.
Dem Issues Vs Dem Brand
Politico has a piece in which Missouri makes a cameo under the heading of “Democratic Policies are More Popular Than Democrats Themselves.” Read it here.
For starters, ballot issues are not partisan elections, and keep in mind Democratic issue positions can be more popular than Democratic candidates…
In 2018, we saw a similar phenomenon when Missouri voters approved a minimum wage ballot issue by 25 points in the same election that they backed now-Republican Sen. Josh Hawley over then-Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill by 6 points… Be careful about extrapolating trends from an off-year ballot issue vote in Ohio to next year’s general election.
Why It Matters
Missouri Democrats are hopeful that a backlash to Dobbs decision will fuel outrage (particularly among educated women) powering electoral gains (particularly in suburban districts).
This may happen.
But, especially if Republicans continue to win messaging on issues involving education, I think it’s likely we’ll see a lot of Missourians “split” their vote – supporting a “Democratic” IP, while still voting for Republican candidates.
· And this may depend greatly on what the reproductive health IP ultimately looks like. We’ll see…
Help Wanted
Washington University seeks Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy and Engagement - Office of Government and Community Relations. “Advises the Vice Chancellor of Government and Community Relations, the Government and Community Relations team, and stakeholders on legislative advocacy and engagement strategies, tactics, and issues that may affect the University; Organizes political support and advocacy for the programs of the University, with primary emphasis on issues related to key constituencies at the federal and Missouri state levels…” See the ad here.
New Committees
Friends of Shumway was formed. It’s a candidate committee for Susan Shumway. She’s running for statewide office as a Democrat. See the paperwork here. In 2022, Shumway ran for state representative in House 108, losing 64% - 36% to Republican Rep. Justin Hicks. See her old campaign website here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Richard McIntosh and David McCracken deleted Delta Extraction, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Cultivating Freedom PAC (pro-Richey) - $10,000 from Craig Porter.
MoCannTrade PAC - $12,000 from Diane Bolinger.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sarah Wood Martin, and Sam Murphey.