MOScout Daily Update: Kinder, Gentler Freedom Caucus? - Powers Retiring - Corley on “Cleaner” A3 - MoDOT Seeks Next Topper and more…
A Kinder, Gentler Freedom Caucus?
After the Freedom Caucus won several key Republican senate primaries earlier this month, the familiar unease has returned. There’s fear that we’re going to see another fruitless legislative session due to Republican in-fighting in the Senate. That could definitely happen. But it’s more likely we’ll see a “kinder, gentler” Freedom Caucus this session.
That’s due to two factors…
· Personnel. The exit of Bill Eigel and Denny Hoskins removes two of the most volatile senators from the mix. Additionally, with Caleb Rowden departing as well, that removes a trigger for FC ire. In their place we’ll see Brad Hudson and Adam Schnelting, maybe more ideologically conservative, but temperamentally calmer personalities.
· Timing. 2025 isn’t an election year. There isn’t the need draw contrasts with the establishment Republicans (yet).
But… that doesn’t mean there won’t be any fights.
· I could see the Freedom Caucus asserting itself when the issue of subsidies to retain the Chiefs comes up. Mike Kehoe, assuming he wins in November, is already on the record saying he’d work to make sure that the Chiefs don’t elope to Kansas. And we shouldn’t be surprised if the St. Louis Cardinals, now belly-aching about their no-longer-shiny-new, 18-year old stadium, try to piggyback on any package of incentives.
· I’d also expect that the Freedom Caucus smacks down any efforts at tort reform. There was a lot of trial attorney money behind their candidates. And Sen. Nick Schroer – who may emerge as one of the informal leaders of the post-Eigel FC – works at a personal injury firm.
Meanwhile…
2026 Is Coming
This is the session to get things done, folks. Because when 2026 rolls around, we’ll be looking at a battle royale in Senate primaries. And there will be fireworks in the Senate leading up to those races.
Seven non-Freedom Caucus senators will be term limited out. Mike Bernskoetter, Justin Brown, Mike Cierpiot, Sandy Crawford, Lincoln Hough, Tony Luetkemeyer and Cindy O’Laughlin will all be exiting.
If the Freedom Caucus has a big 2026 in those races, the Senate in January of 2027 could be a three-way tug-of-war, with near equal parts “Regular” Republicans, Freedom Caucus, and Democrats.
· We could be looking at some crazy 12-11-11 split.
AB InBev Seeks Director of State Governor Affairs
The great Ted Powers is retiring at the end of 2024. Do you have what it takes to fill his shoes? Probably not. But maybe you’ll grow into it.
The Director of State Government Affairs will be based in St. Louis, Missouri and report directly to the VP of State Government Affairs. The Director will be responsible for promoting the company’s legislative agenda in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. Day-to-day activities include managing contract lobbyists, direct lobbying, providing legislative testimony, meeting with key stakeholders in the region and providing political and policy analysis to internal executives. This job requires significant local government work in St. Louis. The candidate must have political campaign experience.
MODOT Transition Coming
Post Dispatch reports that “state highway officials are poised to launch a national search for a new director of the Missouri Department of Transportation.”
Behind the headlines… The current head of MoDOT, Patrick McKenna, announced the day after the primary election that he would be stepping down. Most political observers assumed that it was related to Mike Kehoe winning the election. Kehoe, a former Highway commissioner, has a keen interest in transportation policy, and the assumption is that he’ll be exerting a lot of influence over that department.
Corley on “Cleaner” Pro-Life IP
Former Republican Secretary of State candidate Jamie Corley yesterday offered her take on the possibility that if Amendment 3 (reproductive rights) passes in November, we’ll see a new “Cleaner” version from pro-life groups before voters in 2026. Read it here.
Pro-life groups are using this exact strategy in Nebraska as we speak. This is why putting forward such a progressive abortion amendment via @Missourians4CF has been a fool’s errand from the start. But I don’t think the pro-life orgs will use #MoLeg. I think they’ll introduce IP language in January 2025 with Denny Hoskins as SOS. It will have a chilling effect on care — why would major Left donors and orgs invest in getting clinics up and running if abortion will be outlawed again in two years?
DNC Playlist
During the Democratic National Convention’s rollcall vote last night, many states featured music from musicians of their home state. Missouri featured Willard, Missouri’s Chappell Roan, and her song, Good Luck, Babe!
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $125,000 from The Fairness Project (Washington, DC).
Old Drum Conservative PAC (pro-Hoskins) - $20,000 from Missouri Leadership Fund.
Protect Missouri Workers PAC - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $10,000 from Signa Hermann (Palm Beach, FL).
MoCannTrade PAC - $12,500 from BeLeaf Medical LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sammy Panettiere, Katie Gamble, Shane Schoeller, and David Hageman.
Condolences
Condolences to Robert Arbuthnot on the sudden passing of his wife, Katy.