MOScout Daily Update: Burger for Floor - No GOP Push in Senate 24, But McCreery Keeps Pushing - DLCC’s House Target Races and more…
Burger for Floor
Sen. Jamie Burger has thrown his hat in the ring for Senate Floor Leader. In a letter to colleagues, he touts his ability to build relationships. If elected, he says he would work to move priority legislation earlier in session.
From his letter…
· Over my first two years in the Senate, I have made it a priority to build strong relationships with my fellow senators. I have also spent a considerable amount of time on the dais and on the Senate floor, giving me valuable experience with the day to day work of the Senate and the legislative process. I have already reached out to our potential incoming senators to begin building those relationships as well. I believe those relationships and that experience have prepared me well to serve our caucus as Majority Floor Leader.
· If given the opportunity to serve as Majority Floor Leader, one of my priorities will be to start moving legislation earlier in the session. I believe we should identify the legislative priorities of our caucus, as well as the priorities of individual senators, and begin moving those bills early. My goal would be to work closely with each of you to give important legislation every opportunity to make it across the finish line rather than waiting until the final weeks of session.
Burger joins Sen. Nick Schroer as the second declared candidate for the powerful position. And there is talk that both Sens. Mike Henderson and Brad Hudson will enter as well. There are, presumably, a lot of phone calls happening as folks gauge their support.
The election will occur the day after the November elections. Newly elected senators will vote in the election.
What It Means
Things are still fluid, but this looks like a race that will be determined on the third or fourth ballot. Senators will be looking to secure enough support to get past those first rounds with commitments to close the deal later.
MSCC Fundy
I found the Veto Session fundraiser for Missouri Senate Campaign Committee (the Senate Republicans’ campaign committee) interesting. It’s hosted by Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin and Floor Leader Tony Luetkemeyer in support of Reps. Melanie Stinnett, Jon Patterson and Mike Jones.
It’s interesting that there’s no mention or apparent effort to support the Republican candidate in Senate 24, where Sen. Tracy McCreery is running for re-election. In previous cycles Republicans have made a run at that seat. Additionally, I think most observers have Jones walking into this seat; it’s a 10+ point GOP district. But his inclusion here hints that maybe it’s not totally nailed down.
And
Quin Roney, Legislative Assistant for the Speaker, is likely to move to the Senate side next year as chief of staff for Mike Jones.
Meanwhile
Sen. Tracy McCreery, in a fundraising appeal, says “There are still nearly three months until Election Day, and none of us know what could happen between now and November… we cannot get comfortable. We have to knock doors, talk to voters, organize our communities, and make sure Democrats turn out.”
Senate 30 Fight
One Republican frets that Dems have been more focused on Senate 30 than Republicans…
· We the People PAC has begun door to door efforts in Springfield and the Senate Democratic Committee had their first piece of mail drop yesterday. The Democrats seem more organized than they have ever been and are taking advantage of the fact that most Republicans have been focused on the primaries up until just recently.
· Hundreds of thousands were spent in GOP Senate Primaries by Republican Senators and leadership hopefuls while the Democrats have been preparing to go to battle to flip the Springfield seat.
DLCC Target List
The DLCC, “the official Democratic Party committee charged with identifying the best opportunities to build Democratic power in state legislatures” released its “Target Races” in Missouri.
HD-12 — Tracey Steele
HD-16 — Dan Kinate
HD-17 — Susan Hoisington
HD-30 — Kevin Grover
HD-94 — Cathy Summers
HD-96 — Matt Vitale
HD-100 — Mary Ann Perkins
HD-105 — Cat Clayton
HD-106 — Jewel Kelly
HD-110 — Claire Heinrich
HD-133 — Katelyn Zach
HD-136 — Stephanie Hein
Hein is the only incumbent Democrat on their list. She’s a top target for Republicans. All the others are potential flips.
The MOScout Power Ranking of House seats most likely to flip (which I’m going to update soon!!) has two seats that aren’t on their target list…
· House 56 – where Michael Davis just lost.
· House 101 – where Ben Keathley is running for re-election.
And three seats on their list that weren’t on mine…
· House 16 – Chris Brown running for re-election.
· House 106 – Travis Wilson running for re-election.
· House 110 – vacant from Justin Sparks’ resignation.
Tony PAC’s New Name
Tony PAC, which has supported Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer for years, filed an amendment to change its name to Missouri Justice PAC. And (see below), it then sent its money to Luetkemeyer’s candidate committee. As a local government candidate now, Luetkemeyer is no longer restricted by campaign contribution limits.
Lobbyist Registrations
Jeff Roorda added Jefferson County Veterans Tribute.
Clarkston Nelson deleted Knox Company and Agape Care Group.
$5K+ Contributions
Legio XIII PAC - $25,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
Luetkemeyer For Missouri - $880,000 from Missouri Justice PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Trent Watson, Stacey Newman, Chuck Gross, and Rose Windmiller.