MOScout Daily Update: Burger Announcing for Senate 27 - Byrnes Looking at 3-CD - Christofanelli Winning Money Race and more...

Quick Friday update…

Breaking: Burger To Announce for Senate 27

As rumored, Rep. Jamie Burger will announce today that he’s running for Senate 27 where Sen. Holly Rehder is abdicating to run for lieutenant governor.

In his announcement he will not only talk about Scott County where he served as commissioner before becoming a state representative, but also of his ties to the Cape Girardeau business community.

“I’ve been part of the Cape Girardeau regional business community for over 30 years as a manager for a Cape Girardeau based business (Buzzi Unicem, USA). I understand the challenges facing the economy in the Cape Girardeau area and I am best to represent those interests in Jefferson City.”

·       Burger faces Rep. Chris Dinkins in this Republican primary, but it’s very possible more candidates will show up before filing closes in March.

Byrnes Considering 3-CD

Rep. Tricia Byrnes is considering jumping into the hot 3-CD race.

I can confirm that she’s reached out to union folks to gauge their interest in finding a candidate to back in the Republican primary.

·       How labor-friendly is Byrnes to give them an incentive to get involved?  In the words of one observer: “She’s waaay more than Onder!”

Christofanelli Winning Money Race in Senate 23

In the race to succeed Sen. Bill Eigel in Senate 23, the January filings favor Rep. Phil Christofanelli.  He will report raising $46,000 in his candidate committee, about double Rep. Adam Schnelting’s raise of $23,273. 

That will put Christofanelli’s cash-on hand, again, at more than double Schnelting’s, $247K to $106K

·       Meanwhile Christofanelli likely dominated the PAC $$$ race at as well.  His Gladius PAC raised over $100K in the last quarter.

Money Watch

The two giant sports betting entities, DraftKing and FanDuel, each anted in $250,000 to the new campaign committee, Wining for Missouri Education, to pass an initiative petition.

·       With four months until signatures are due to be submitted to the secretary of state’s office, it’s a really really late start.

More on Eigel-Scharf Team Up

One MOScouter notes that Will Scharf and Sen. Bill Eigel joining forces to campaign is “interesting, considering Eigel has been the main killer of tort reform year after year and has accepted more trial attorney money (over $330K) in the past year than anyone else running for statewide office. Scharf, meanwhile, regularly singles out trial lawyers to attack.”

Lobbyist Registrations

Jacqueline Bardgett, Chris Roepe, and Mark Habbas added Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, and Hannibal Regional Healthcare System; and deleted Insurance Auto Auctions.

John Bardgett, Chris Roepe and Mark Habbas added City of Independence.

John Bardgett deleted Insurance Auto Auctions.

Ron Berry added Great American Outdoors Group, and H-J Enterprises, Inc.

Natalie Higgins added Deere & Company.

David Winton, Jessica Petrie, and Chase Campbell added Servos, LLC.

$5K+ Contributions

Winning for Missouri Education - $250,000 from DraftKings, Inc (Boston, MA).

Winning for Missouri Education - $250,000 from FanDuel, Inc (New York, NY).

Catalyst PAC - $50,000 from Evergy Metro, Inc.

Citizens for Erik Holland - $15,000 from Mainline Services LLC

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Nate Tate, Scott Largent, and Jim Ross.

Saturday: Jeffrey Boyd and Garrett Poorman.

Sunday: Sen. Mike Cierpiot, Daniel Hall, and Margaret Donnelly.

Monday (MLK Day): Brendan Cossette, Esther Haywood, and Virvus Jones.

MOScout Schedule

I’m off for the long weekend.  (Legislature off Monday too).  See you Tuesday!