MOScout Daily Update: Redistricting Talk - Shore’s Self-Funders - Nicola Complaint Dismissed - Meet Bennett Sutton and more…
Quick Friday update…
Is Redistricting Plot Real?
Missouri Independent asked Missouri lawmakers about the possibility of a “quickie” redistricting to remake Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s district into a Republican district to help retain control of Congress. Read it here.
From the article…
· Asked by text about a report from Punchbowl News on a new redistricting effort, state Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin responded with a horror emoji.
· Splitting those votes into adjacent districts, while bringing in enough Republican votes to carry the district, isn’t as certain as it may seem to aid the GOP, said state Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee’s Summit. “There’s a lot of Democrats in Jackson County,” Cierpiot said, “and if it’s a map that they promote that, once again, puts two or three of our Republican seats in play in a bad year, I would have trouble supporting that.”
· “We do redistricting every 10 years,” House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowling Green said. “We’ve already done that. To do it again would be out of character with the way Missouri operates.”
· State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, enthusiastically backs the idea. “We should have written a 7-1 map” in 2022, she said. “Our failure to do so almost cost the GOP the majority in Congress. I’m up for it.”
· It is encouraging, [Senate Minority Leader Doug] Beck said, that most Republican comments are opposed to the idea of redistricting again. But pressure could change that… “I’ve watched these people say things before and then change their mind.”
From what I can tell there’s no serious discussion about this, and the mere idea gives some Republican lawmakers headaches. It would massively complicate their plans for next session.
But… as Beck points out. Things could change if there’s serious pressure from the White House and their Congressional delegation.
Sutton Baby
Congratulations to Hannah Beers Sutton and Wes Sutton….
“Bennett Gilmore Sutton... 8 pounds 7 ounces and absolutely perfect.”
Shore’s Self-Funders
Republican consultant Sophie Shore’s stable of candidates this cycle is largely made up of self-funders who have started their campaigns with hefty investments. And it won’t surprise me if we see them add to their contributions as the races unfold…
· Dusty Blue (Senate 18, Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin termed) - $100,000
· Lori Rook (Senate 20, challenging Sen. Curtis Trent) - $100,000
· Jim Avery (Senate 22, Sen. Mary Elizabath Coleman not running) - $200,000
· Sam Alexander (Senate 28, Sen. Sandy Crawford termed) - $120,000
The one exception is Rep. Bill Hardwick , running in Sen. Senate 16 where Sen. Justin Brown is termed. Still Hardwick has maintained consistent fundraising, and he leads that field of candidates right now. His candidate committee has $168K ($100K more than his nearest competitor), and his PAC has $50K (also the highest COH in his race).
Why It Matters
Shore’s clients will all likely be running with hard right-side messages, and will be prime candidates to join the Senate’s Freedom Caucus if they win. Will their “establishment” Republican rivals be able to meet their fundraising firepower?
Nicola Complaint Dismissed
The Missouri Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Sen. Joe Nicola. Read the ruling here.
The complaint alleged New Covenant Ministries accepted contributions from parishioners totaling more than $500… and Joseph Nicola is the president of New Covenant Ministries… The complaint alleged New Covenant Ministries gave the contributions it accepted from its parishioners to Truth and Light PAC, a PAC organized for the purpose of supporting Joseph Nicola’s candidacy for senate. Truth and Light PAC then reported contributions received from New Covenant Ministries…
The investigation found that New Covenant Ministries did not accept contributions. Rather, it accepted donations, which became the church’s personal funds, and the church’s financial board then decided how that money would be spent. Mr. Nicola recused himself from the decision to make the contribution to Truth and Light PAC. Additionally, there was no proof that the donations were earmarked to support Mr. Nicola…
Lobbyist Registrations
Nexus Group deleted Kansas City Sports Commission, and St. Louis Sports Commission.
$5K+ Contributions
John Bowman for Missouri - $20,000 from John Bowman.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays Rep. David Tyson Smith, Charlie Shields, Jay Atkins, and Megan-Ellyia Green.