MOScout Daily Update: Butz, Veit Add Personal $$$ At Close - A5 Ad: Opponents are Socialist! - Bowman Gets Help - Webber’s 3D Chess and more…
Late Personal Checks
Yesterday Steve Butz (running in Senate 4) and Rudy Veit (running in Senate 6) each put another $75,000 of personal money into their campaigns.
· It’s a sign that the races are close and candidates don’t want to look back and wonder if they didn’t do everything they could to pull it out.
A5 Ad: Opponents Are Socialists
The latest ad from Missouri Promise casts opponents as socialists, invokes Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Zohran Mamdani, and ends with the ultimatum: By August 4, you have to choose. Are you with the socialists or do you want to eliminate income taxes and cut property taxes?
· It’s a bit over-the-top, and my guess is that it’s a desperate last effort to win back defecting Republican voters.
Eigel Ready to Blame Kehoe if A4, A5 Lose
Speaking on St. Charles Patriot Radio, Bill Eigel remarked: The narrative for Amendment 4 and Amendment 5 are set by the same person, it’s the highest elected office in the state. Governor Mike Kehoe’s record is on the ballot. His credibility as a leader for the state of Missouri is on the ballot on August 4th with Amendment 4 and Amendment 5. And if both of those initiatives get blown out at the ballot, which I’m very nervous based on the feedback I’m getting, the one person that’s gonna have to answer that is Governor Mike Kehoe.
Senate 14: Bowman Gets Big Help
According to a MEC filing yesterday, Missouri Senior PAC made a $150,000 expenditure to Patrick Media for media and advertising in support of John Bowman in Senate 14. The same report shows a $180,000 contribution from J & J Ventures.
What It Means
Senate 14 is a 4-way Democratic primary that’s been characterized by modest budgets. In that context, this expenditure is huge and could have a very big impact.
Senate 4: Butz PAC
Gina Mitten lying about Steve Butz’ record because she can't defend the 900 votes she missed while in the state house. The facts are this. Steve Butz voted against Missouri's no exceptions abortion ban, fought to protect Planned Parenthood from MAGA extremists, and helped pass the largest investment in public education in decades, including one of the highest teacher pay increases in a generation. So, while Gina Mitten was missing votes, Steve Butz was fighting for us.
Meanwhile
In an indication that this race is getting increasingly bitter, one reader tips that they’ve heard from electeds who have endorsed Butz saying that Mitten has threatened to help their primary opponents in two years…
Follow-up on Senate 18
One MOScouter says that despite my observation that Dusty Blue was being outspent in Senate 18 by the pro-Ed Lewis forces, the fact is that Blue has received substantial help and is no longer being outspent.
· Take Back Missouri PAC placed $138K on broadcast in Columbia, Ottumwa, and Quincy through 8/4, bringing its total spending to $200K. That PAC has been funded by J & J Ventures, Sen.-elect Jim Avery’s PAC and Made in Missouri PAC.
· Additionally Blue placed $2K on rural radio and $1K on Fox News, and Newsmax.
Follow-up: Webber for Burks
One lobbyist explains that Sen. Stephen Webber is playing 3D-Chess: Brattin will be a much worse general election candidate against Cleaver than Burks.
House 99: Mackey Backs Mai-Lombardo
Termed Rep. Ian Mackey is backing Nathan Mai-Lombardo as this successor.
Mackey: “Nathan has a strong track record of standing up for marginalized and underserved communities, and he’ll continue that work in the State Capitol. He’s committed to representing his constituents with independence, clear goals, and honest communication, making him the right choice for State Representative.”
Mai-Lombardo was also the only recipient of funds from Stacy Newman’s Missouri Alliance Network on its 8-Day report.
· Still, I think the favorite in this 4-way Democratic primary remains Tori Schafer who’s well known among progressives as the Director of Policy and Campaigns of the ACLU of Missouri.
eMailbag on Late Money
I wouldn’t underestimate how late most voters start paying attention and making up their minds.
Help Wanted
Missouri Department of Transportation seeks Governmental Relations Specialist.The governmental relations specialist performs routine entry-level liaison activities between the department and public officials through the exchange of information regarding proposed legislation affecting the department. Responsibilities are performed under moderate supervision.
Lobbyist Registrations
Alex Margolies and Magdalena Rosengarten deleted Fortress Capital Formation LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Rudy Veit For State Senate - $75,000 from Rudy Veit.
Central Missouri Leadership PAC (pro-Veit) - $10,000 from MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC.
Central Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from PENN Entertainment, Inc (Wyomissing, PA).
Central Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers' PAC.
Central Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Gaming PAC.
The Committee To Elect Steve Butz - $75,000 from Steve Butz.
Butz STL PAC - $30,000 from J & J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
Butz STL PAC - $6,400 from J & J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
Missouri Senior PAC - $180,000 from J & J Ventures Gaming of Missouri, LLC.
Missourians for Fair Governance - $100,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.
Protect Freedom and Democracy - $50,000 from No Everything Tax.
Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $9,000 from Missouri Growth PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $20,000 from Jim Walton (Bentonville, AR).
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,000 from Mo Medical - PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Cigna Holding Company (Washington, DC).
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $25,000 from Drury Development Corporation.
MPS PAC - $10,000 from MPS PAC.
Missouri Leadership Forum - $15,000 from Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc.
Electrical Workers Voluntary Political Education & Legislative Funds - Missouri - $22,282 from IBEW Local One.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jennifer Carter Dochler and Bruce Darrough.