MOScout Daily Update: HRCC Summer Checks - MCN’s Revenge Campaign - Bailey-Fitz - PillowGuy Hearts Hoskins and more…
HRCC: Here Republicans Collect Contributions
The House Republican Campaign Committee has kicked off its Summer Caucus. One insider says to “expect fundraising numbers to mirror last year – which is incredible for an off-year. Credit goes to HRCC’s new full time director Hannah Beers Sutton.”
· The first large check rolling in appears in the large contributions (below) today: $50K from the pro-police PAC, Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government (MOLEGG PAC).
MCN’s Revenge Campaign?
Post-Dispatch reports that former representative Maria Chappelle-Nadal is running for St. Louis County Council. She’ll be running again her former employer, incumbent Councilwoman Rita Heard Days.
· Chappelle-Nadal began working alongside Days in the Legislature and later described Days as a mentor. [Later] Days had joined the County Council. Chappelle-Nadal was looking for work, and Days hired Chappelle-Nadal as a legislative aide in November 2020.
· But the relationship soured, and Days fired Chappelle-Nadal in 2022. Chappelle-Nadal claimed she was wrongfully terminated and discriminated against... Chappelle-Nadal settled out of court for $46,200 plus $30,800 in legal fees…
· She claims Days fired her for expressing her political views and that St. Louis County didn’t properly accommodate her mental health disability… Days said Chappelle-Nadal was fired for not doing her job.
Hoskins Gets PillowGuy Praise
We may not be hand counting ballots here yet, but Secretary of State Denny Hoskins gets some red meat for the base in the form of praise from 2020 election-denier Mike Lindell…
eMailbag: Bailey Copy Cat?
Does Bailey ever have an original thought or does he just sit around watching Fitz so he can ride his coattails to a Temu version of what the Auditor does?
· March 1, 2023, Fitz issues subpoena to Gardner; three weeks letter Bailey decides to file a quo, takes credit for her resignation when reality is she resigned May 16 because the Auditor had advised he would file suit against her on May 16 to enforce his subpoena;
· Auditor releases report on Jackson County Assessment December 18, 2023, the next day Bailey files his lawsuit on the assessment (relying solely on the info he obtained from the Auditor's report-bang up job on getting no relief for taxpayers in that case btw);
· Fitz moves to remove proxy voting from MOSERS in 2022, releases an audit on proxy voting in 2024, July 6, 2025, Fitz publishes an op-ed in the Washington Times on proxy voting; two days later Bailey announces he is taking action on proxy voting.
Bailey even went so far as to grow a beard. Hey I heard Fitz ripped his shirt off at Boys State, probably only a matter of time before we get that visual from the Bailey squad...
The Context
Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick are seen as the top two gubernatorial candidates to succeed Governor Mike Kehoe… in 2032.
What’s the MEC Hold-Up?
Six months into the Kehoe Administration and we can’t get a functioning Ethics Commission to deal with complaints. Maybe Boards and Commissions director Keri Stuart needs an assistant? Southeast Missourian quotes her as being overwhelmed (and saying “come and get it” for board): “My plate is very full and I’m looking for help. I’m looking for civic-minded people that want to step up and serve in a capacity that they feel passionate about. I almost guarantee a board for anybody that wants to be on one,” Stuart said.
Wistrand for Auditor
Gerald Wistrand formed a committee (Wistrand for State Auditor) to run for Auditor as a Republican. See the filing here. I’m not familiar with Wistrand. From my quick online search…
· He has audit experience with Jack Henry.
· He’s listed as the treasurer of the Constitution Party.
· He testified in favor of anti-vax HB 336 (2023).
Lobbyist Registrations
Courtney Curtis deleted Strategic Progress, A.I.R. Society, DBAKE Foundation, Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce, ATAV, and MIM Trucking Academy.
Lindsey Walter added Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $50,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government (MOLEGG PAC).
Citizens For Frank White Jr - $10,000 from Frank White Jr.
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $35,096 from Midwest State Cap Exchange (Ottawa, IL).
Paladin PAC - $20,000 from J&J Ventures Missouri LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Russ Carnahan, Cole McNary, and Eli Yokley.
MOScout Schedule
No weekend edition coming up. Even though it feels like there’s no shortage of news during these summer days, I don’t really have anything I’m itching to poll, and I think y’all can live without “Who Won the Week” this week.