MOScout Daily Update: GOP Gubby Candidate KKKer? - Trump Endorsement Gap - Kehoe Ad on Ashcroft Vet Remarks - AFP for Richey and more…
GOP Gubby Candidate Touts White Supremacy
Former Rep. Shamed Dogan, on Twitter, says that the Republican gubernatorial candidate Darrell Leon McClanahan III “is a cross-burning KKK member who ran for US Senate 2 years ago and freely admits his KKK membership & white supremacist beliefs.”
· See the Anti-Defamation League’s research on McClanahan here.
· McClanahan is listed first on the ballot.
Legislators File IVF Protection Legislation
Ahead of tomorrow’s deadline to file bills for this session, legislators in both chambers filed legislation to protect in vitro fertilization.
In the House, Republican Rep. Bill Allen filed HB 2845.
Nothing in the laws of this state shall be construed to prohibit any activity associated with in vitro fertilization procedures. The laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge the right to perform, and the right to receive, in vitro fertilization procedures and services in this state.
· Allen’s selection to carry this high-profile piece of legislation is note-worthy. He’s well liked in the caucus and rumored to be in the mix of future House leaders. But also, he’s in tough swing district, and this shows he’s not “part of the crazy.”
In the Senate, Democratic Sen., Tracy McCreery filed SB 1486 which says that definition of unborn child “shall not apply to human embryos created through in vitro fertilization prior to successful implantation in the uterus.”
MOIndy: Defamation Suit Against Senators?
Missouri Independent reports that a Chiefs fan who was wrongly labeled as the parade shooter is considering suing state senators that repeated the false information on social media. Read the story here.
· [Denton] Loudermill was grabbed by police and handcuffed. Police told him he was detained because he was taking too long to clear the area of the shooting, Loudermill said. He was released soon afterwards and has not been charged with any offense. While he was detained, he was photographed seated on a curb. An account on X, formally known as Twitter, with the name Deep Truth Intel used the photo and labeled Loudermill an “illegal immigrant” under arrest as the shooter.
· From there, the misinformation spread quickly. It showed up in posts from the Missouri Freedom Caucus… Three of those senators also spread the incorrect information on social media…
· At a Freedom Caucus news conference last week, state Sen. Rick Brattin of Harrisonville said he and the others who shared the false information had nothing to apologize for.
· The total refusal to apologize, or acknowledge any wrongdoing, infuriated Loudermill and the attorney who has been working with him to clear his name. Both agree a defamation lawsuit may be the only recourse, and those conversations are already taking place.
Trump Endorsement Gap?
Polling indicates that former President Donald Trump remains very popular with Missouri’s Republican primary voters. So, while there are LOTS of reasons why a conservative might not endorse the man who’s admitted to cheating on three wives, and been found guilty cheating on his business practices, and generally embraces anti-free market policies like restricting the flow of goods and labor, it’s still surprising to me – from a purely political standpoint – that some Republicans running in primaries haven’t endorsed him yet.
See the endorsement list blasted out by Team Trump yesterday here.
Races where there’s a “Trump Endorsement Gap.”
3-CD
YES – Mary Elizabeth Coleman
NO – Justin Hicks
LG
YES – Dean Plocher, Holly Rehder
NO – Lincoln Hough
SOS
YES – Denny Hoskins, Adam Schwadron
NO – Caleb Rowden
TREAS
YES – Vivek Malek, Cody Smith
NO – Andrew Koenig
Senate 31
YES – Rick Brattin, Mike Haffner
NO – Dan Houx
Another Day, Another Kehoe PAC Ad
The latest pro-Mike Kehoe ad from American Dream PAC hits Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for his comments against giving military veterans special treatment.
That stance was panned inside the building as lacking the necessary political touch, but it’s unclear how many outside the bubble took note of it. This could be Team Kehoe’s attempt to give the remarks some legs.
They served. They sacrificed. Now, our veterans deserve our support. But Merchant Marine Academy dropout Jay Ashcroft thinks Missouri veterans shouldn’t have the benefits they’ve earned…
AFP for Richey
Rep. Doug Richey, in a fierce two-primary with Rep. Kurtis Gregory in Senate 21, pulls down the Americans for Prosperity endorsement.
· Why it Matters: AFP is one of those organizations which backs up their endorsement with boots on the ground. They’ll send staff into districts of their candidate to help with door knocking and field work.
Roberts Bill Perfected While He’s Away
Sen. Steven Roberts is on military duty. He’s a Captain with the Missouri Air National Guard in the JAG Corps. In his absence he asked Sen. Doug Beck to handle his bill creating the Missouri Geospatial Advisory Council, which the Senate perfected yesterday.
New Candidate Filings
Ken Waller filed to run for re-election in House 114.
Lobbyist Registrations
Debbie Cochran added Liberty Link Missouri.
Samantha Vick added Heartland Impact.
$5K+ Contributions
Crystal PAC (pro-Quade) - $10,000 from Strong Law Trial Attorneys.
House Democratic Campaign Committee - $17,500 from Mary Neal.
Birthdays
No one in my database has a Leap Day birthday.
Source: ThoughtCo.