McDowell’s Residency Controversy

The Post Dispatch’s Kurt Erickson gets MOGOPers on the record saying that they support Saundra McDowell’s candidacy for auditor. 

That seems to be the new holding pattern among Republicans.  They are still mentioning possible replacements.   But there doesn’t appear to be any orchestrated coup coming now.  No, back-room sit-down with an offer McDowell can’t refuse.

That means we’ll wait for a lawsuit, and watch it work through the courts.

Curls for Minority Leader?

Kiki Curls has been privately encouraged to seek the Minority Leader position.  This comes on the heels of Karla May’s surprise win in Senate 4 which brings the African American representation to a record high in the Senate.  There will be at least four African Americans in the Democratic Caucus.  If Martin Rucker II succeeds in Senate 34, there could be five.

My source says Curls was lukewarm to the idea, not wanting to cause a rift in her relationship with the current Senate minority leader, Gina Walsh.

GOP Frets About Auditor’s Race

Republican politicos and operatives are warily eyeing the auditor’s race and considering if their nominee, Saundra McDowell, is too flawed to challenge the Democratic incumbent Nicole Galloway.   A half-dozen Republicans confirm to me that there’s talk afoot to seek her ouster.

The race has taken on extra urgency among Republicans because they fear the passage of CLEAN Missouri initiative will strengthen the role of the auditor as it relates to redistricting.

GOP Nominates Lunatic Fringe in House 15

Yesterday I was forwarded a research document about Steve West, the Republican nominee in House 15, that alleges that he “maintains several alter egos, most prominently ‘Jack Justice’, and operates an extremist website (www.sellingtruth.net).”