MOScout Daily Update: Bailey for US AG? - Beal to Senate - Duncan in Senate 14 - Lucas Criticizes Kunce and more…

Rumorville: Bailey for US AG?

Henry Rodgers tweets that Andrew Bailey and Matt Whitaker are finalists to be Donald Trump’s Attorney General.  One politico thinks it’ll be Bailey because he has less baggage than Whitaker and because “I’ve had more DC people today ask me ‘who is Andrew Bailey’ than ever before.”  We’ll see….

What It Would Means

It would give soon-to-be Governor Mike Kehoe a fat statewide appointment to make right off the bat. And it’s a pick with consequences.  Here’s a quick starter list of choices…

·       Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer – Obviously his departure would shake-up the Senate leadership.

·       Former Sen. Kurt Schaefer – He ran for the position back in 2016.  Plus, Schaefer’s close with the Sinqeufields who it happens gave Kehoe’s PAC millions.

·       Or Kehoe could make history and appoint the first female Attorney General.  Perhaps give a promotion to Deputy Attorney General Kelly King?

Beal to Senate

Bryce Beal will be the Senate Majority Caucus’ new general counsel.  Beal ran unsuccessfully for House 44, losing in the Republican primary to Rep.-elect John Martin.  Before that Beal worked for Andrew Bailey at the AG’ office.

Whiplash in Senate 14

Shante Duncan tells me that she is running for Senate 14.  So, I’ve added her back to my spreadsheet.  Duncan is no political neophyte.  She was a Regional Director of Missouri State Democratic Party.  Through her SMD Consulting, she did work this year for House Democratic Campaign Committee, Sen. Angela Mosley, Rep. Delbert Talyor, and Kyle Kerns (who ran against Jim Murphy in House 94), and others.

Lucas Criticizes Kunce Campaign

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in an interview with Missourinet, said the Democratic Party has a branding problem.  And pointed criticism at Lucas Kunce.  Read it here.

“Let me tell you what’s not authentic, Lucas Kunce’s campaign, where basically he ended up getting the same poll numbers that generic Democrat, we could have found Bob Miller off the street, and he would have done as well as Lucas Kunce and saved everybody $15 million to $20 million,” Lucas said. “The issue is you’ve got to be authentic.”

·       I actually thought the Kunce campaign was quite different from what we’ve been seeing in recent Democratic statewide campaigns.  He leaned into his defense cred, and highlighted the economic populism.

·       Kunce led all the statewide Dems.  He was the only one who broke 40%. 

·       But Lucas is correct, he barely moved the needle.  Kunce did no better than Trudy Busch Valentine did in 2022 (she won 42.2% of the vote).

No Stacking on Pot Tax

Post-Dispatch reports on an appeals court ruling that counties “cannot add their own tax on the sale of marijuana on top of local municipal sales taxes.”  This had promised to be a major boo for local revenues.  Read the opinion here.

·       MoCannTrade (The Missouri Cannabis Trade Association) applauded the decision.  Andrew Mullins, MoCannTrade Executive Director: “Today’s ruling helps put $3 million back into the pockets of Missouri customers each month and will allow the industry to continue to contribute hundreds of millions each year in sales tax revenue to the state and our local communities.” According to news reports, even without the unconstitutional tax stacking, Missouri cannabis sales are generating roughly $230 million annually in sales tax revenue for state and local government.

Charting Consumer Sentiment

Daily Shot graph based on Morning Consult polls.  “Tell me your party, I’ll tell you how you’re feeling about the economy…”

eMailbag on Sparks Challenge

The Eigel virus has spread to the House.

Brinkmann Passes

Kim Brinkmann, who together with husband Bob Brinkmann hosted fundraisers for Missouri Republican politicians, passed away on Tuesday November 5.

See the obituary here.

“She will be remembered for a smile that could light up any barn…”

Services: Monday, November 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., a Celebration of Life will begin in the Osage Barn for all who would like to share stories, memories, and honor Kim's life… In lieu flowers, please make memorial donations to JAG-Missouri, Attn: First Lady Teresa Parson, P.O. Box 383, Fair Grove, MO 65648.

Lobbyist Registrations

Jorgen Schlemeier, Jeff Brooks, Kathyrn Gamble, David Jackson, Sarah Schlemeier, and Nikki Strong added VSP Vision Inc. c/o MultiState Associates LLC.

Kaycee Nail deleted Missouri Land Title Association (MLTA).

Dustin John Backes deleted Midwest Natural Fiber.

$5K+ Contributions                                                  

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $7,500 from Planned Parenthood Action Fund (Santa Barbara, CA).

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Citizens to Elect David Casteel.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $8,215 from Casteel PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep-elect Ray Reed (I goofed listing him yesterday), Jessica Seitz, James Owens, Melissa Panettiere, Steve Hoven, and J.C. Kuessner.

Thursday: Lyda Krewson.

Friday: Kelli Dunaway (the big 5-0).

Saturday: Sen. Justin Brown, Reps. Marlon Anderson and Cheri Toalson Reisch, Penney Wood Rector, Jeff Grisamore, and Mike Person.

MOScout Vacation Schedule

And I’m outta here.  Be back Monday morning (bright and early, God willing).