MOScout Weekender: Latest Lawsuits - Who Won the Week - Hallway on Possible Dem Wave and more…

Latest Lawsuits

It feels like this cycle is a bit heavier on the lawsuits.  Two new ones filed Friday…

Caitlyn Adams sued Secretary of State Denny Hoskins over his ballot language for initiative petition 2026-134.  It would create a five-year freeze on the legislature making any changes to laws passed by initiative petition. 
See the suit here.

The Secretary’s summary misleads voters by stating that the proposed amendment would “increase the influence over state law by persons not required to be Missouri citizens or elected officials.”  The Secretary’s quoted language is false, misleading, and prejudicial.

And The Jefferson City Lodging Association has sued over the city’s lodging tax – which is a hot issue right now, about to go back before the voters.

See the suit here.

A justiciable Controversy exists between Plaintiff and Defendants concerning the amount of the “lodging tax” that can be collected and the fact that approximately $13,464,000.00 of the “lodging tax” collected is being unlawfully appropriated to a “conference center fund” instead of being utilized to fund the JCCVB [Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau] as specified in JC City Code…

Remington/MOScout Poll

No poll this week

MOScout’s Hallway Index:

I asked lobbyists, “What are the chances of a "Dem wave" in the 2026 midterms?” 22 replies…

RESULTS

1. Very likely… 9.1%

2. Somewhat likely… 31.8%

3. Somewhat unlikely… 40.9%

4. Very unlikely… 18.2%

Sample of Comments

·       I put "very likely," but want to add - not in Missouri. HRCC and MSCC are too good compared to their Democrat counterparts. The leaders of the Democrat caucuses lead seem to lead for their own self-interests, which often causes in-fighting. However, there's very few opportunities for Democrat state legislators as compared to their Republican counterparts, so that might be why it is so important to act in self-preservation.

·       I don’t see the national Dems setting the pace for state and local dems to ride their coattails. The national repubs are trying to hand them all the ammo they need but Dems have too narrow a focus. Is health care a big issue - yes, but if you are not in the exchange the Dems msg doesn’t affect you.

·       Nationally, yes. In Missouri, slightly. They will pick up some St. Louis county and Jackson county seats in the house, but probably none in the Senate. The reality is, waves don't typically come in midterm elections for legislative seats.

·       If we are talking Missouri, Fogle will win but that’s it.

·       Democrats have more reliable voters in midterms. However, they have no message, no money and no leader. Therefore they will have no wave.

·       Not sure what a wave even means in Missouri for Dems. Perhaps 5-7 seats? Just when you think the party apparatus and organization has hit rock-bottom, a collective “hold my beer” call goes out.

·       Hard to determine - depends on the length and the fallout(if any) of the shutdown.

·       Trump has marched the Republicans off a cliff, and they aren’t even trying to grab a rope.

·       Nationally, pretty good. But I’m not sure the national wave makes enough ripples in MO to make a difference here.

·       Dems just CANT bring themselves to play the middle for some reason. If they could…they may have a shot. But even if they started now…it’s likely already too late.

·       Historically all signs point to it. Midterms of 2nd terms are usually brutal. Trump is overreaching on numerous fronts, from ICE to tariffs to DOJ enemy-hunts to ballrooms. All Democrats have to do is hide their far-lefties and just not screw things up. In other words, probably 50-50 at best.

·       No wave during the Biden midterm, unlikely during Trump. Very few swing voters left anymore.

Who Won the Week?

Mike Moon – Cited in Judge Brian Stumpe’s decision finding a Hammerschmidt violation in HB 2026. “The Court is again inclined to agree with Senator Moon.”

Wesley Bell – Cori Bush’s campaign reported negative cash on-hand in their first financial report.  Not an auspicious start.

Angela Nelson – Earlier this month, the Department of Insurance warned insurance companies against canceling policies of homeowner still repairing their storm-damaged homes. This week, KMOV reported on grateful Missourians who saw their insurance companies reverse course because of it.

Realtors – You can’t rattle the saber and then do nothing.  Realtors started this week following through on their threats to fight the proposed changes to the initiative petition process.

Find a downloadable version here.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Optometric Association PAC - $30,000 from Missouri Optometric Association.

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,650 from Sam Devinki.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Redditt Hudson.

Sunday: Freddy Barnes, Jennifer Bukowsky, and Lauren Hieger.