MOScout Daily Update: MO AFL-CIO Endorsements - Divide Among Districts - Beck for Zimmerman - ‘Tampon Trent’ - Mitten’s Defense Agenda and more…

DESE: Lower-Performing Districts Get Less-Prepared Teachers

At the June State Board of Education meeting, one presentation showed that for districts with APR scores below 80, the percentage of first-year teachers who were comprehensively prepared by a Missouri educator preparation provider is more than 15 percentage points lower than in higher-scoring districts.

What It Means

The districts already struggling academically are also more likely to be staffed with underprepared first-year teachers, potentially compounding the inequality.

Personal Attacks Come to Senate 20

I guess there’s nothing new about harsh social media attacks.  But this one from Stacy Shore, a leader of the Shield Maidens of Missouri, a Christian-conservative, anti-establishment political organization, is a sign that things may be headed off the rails in Senate 20.

MO AFL-CIO Endorsements

The Missouri AFL-CIO issued its primary endorsement.  Find them here.  They are careful to note that “being endorsed in the primary does NOT guarantee a general election endorsement.”

Of note…

CD 6 – Nathan Willett

SD 10 – Mike Deering

SD 18 – Dusty Blue

Beck for Zimmerman

Sen. Brian Williams’ colleague, Minority Leader Doug Beck, has endorsed his rival in the St. Louis County race.

The diss presumably stems from Williams’ involvement in the mini-coup staged against Beck’s caucus leadership last year.

And

See Brian Williams B-roll here.  This is raw footage that the campaign puts up of the candidate for PACs to grab and use without coordination.

Senate 4: Rosenbaum Interviews Mitten

The mighty Jason Rosenbaum had Gina Mitten on his “Political Speaking” podcast.  Listen to the interview here.

A few takeaways…

·       Mitten sees abortion as the race’s defining issue.  “The Fourth District in 2024, nearly 80% of this district voted in favor of Amendment 3 to restore reproductive rights, or abortion rights, and 70% voted for the Democratic candidate for governor. So, it’s arguably a more pro-choice district than it is a Democratic district.”

·       Her Jeff City agenda is to play defense.  “I’m a Democrat in a superminority. Are the minority party able to get more things done in the Senate? Yes, they are. But as a Democrat in the state of Missouri, I think that when folks start talking about their priorities, it’s not being very realistic… It’s a defensive game. I know that it’s not what folks want to hear. It’s probably not what you guys want to hear, but that’s just the fact of the matter.”

AFP Backs Russell

In House 160 (Ben Baker’s old seat), Americans for Prosperity is backing Jonathan Russell.  According to non-committee expenditure reports, they spent over $7,000 on canvassing, door hangers and digital ads.

·       Russell is in a 3-way Republican primary.  He is MOScout’s current favorite to win.  See his website here.

Schmitt ‘Not Waiting for Election Year’

From yesterday’s Politico:  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) isn’t up for reelection this year, but the Fight for America PAC supporting him nonetheless pulled in $2 million and ended Q2 with $4.7 million in the bank, Eli scoops. Schmitt “isn’t waiting for an election year to get serious about his reelection in 2028,” said Nick Maddux, senior adviser to the PAC.

Lobbyist Registrations

Rob Vescovo added Connect.

Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Michael Henderson deleted Alliance for Health Information Operations and Standards (AHIOS) c/o MultiState Associates, LLC.

Dan Houx deleted Missouri State High School Activities Association.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Fair Governance (anti-A4) - $1,000,001 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Missouri Enterprise Fund (pro-Hardwick) - $15,000 from MCR PAC.

417 PAC (pro-Trent) - $10,000 from Missouri Prospers PAC.

417 PAC - $10,000 from MO Majority PAC LLC.

417 PAC - $10,000 from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC.

417 PAC - $8,000 from Shelter Mutual Insurance Company.

Common Sense STL PAC - $110,000 from Common Sense St. Louis.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Missouri American Water Company Employees PAC.

theLOUpac - $15,000 from Anheuser Busch.

theLOUpac - $10,000 from Anheuser Busch.

Conservative Justice for Missouri PAC - $20,000 from Centene Corporation.

Prop Kids Committee - $24,652 from Southeast Missouri Realtors.

Mike McCaffree for State Senate - $28,000 from Mike McCaffree.

American Federation of Teachers Local 420 AFT St. Louis COPE - $14,000 from AFT St. Louis, Local 420 COPE.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Russ Carnahan, Cole McNary, and Eli Yokley.