Krewson Won’t Run Again

Mayor Lyda Krewson announced that she won’t seek another term.The last four years were not easy times to govern.She faced a series of crises.There was unrest surrounding police misconduct, a pandemic, and an economic collapse.Yet Krewson never seemed overwhelmed.

Parson Battles Lecture Fatigue

Scott Chartonon Twitter notes that Joplin’s death count from COVID is now about the same as it was from the Joplin tornado.While I usually avoid the death comparison between dissimilar events (9-11 vs auto fatalities etc), I do think the invocation of Joplin is relevant because COVID will be the defining event of Parson’s administration.

COVID Outbreak Delays Special Session

The Senate was scheduled to go into session this morning. Instead they’ll wait. Floor Leader Caleb Rowden tweeted: “Due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff, the Missouri Senate will postpone action related to the special session until after the Thanksgiving holiday. This decision was not made lightly and, although disruptive, is in the best interest of protecting members, staff, and the public.”

Kendrick to Razer

Press release: Senator-elect Greg Razer (D-Kansas City) announces that Kip Kendrick will be joining his office to serve as his Chief of Staff… Razer and Kendrick have served together in the Missouri House of Representatives for the past four years. They served together on the Budget Committee for three of the four years. Kendrick, who currently represents District 45 (Columbia) in the Missouri House, will not be sworn in to his final term and will instead assume the role as Chief of Staff in January 2021…

1. Spending on the election.

2. Missouri electoral votes about right.

3. Imagine if America had more than two major political parties.

4. GOP dominance of state legislature.

5. COVID restrictions across America.

6. Missouri is in the red zone for taxing districts.

7. Marijuana across America.

8. MO is a good state for veterans.

9. The K-shaped recovery.

10. Trump shut down immigration.

11. Perception of the economy is becoming a partisan thing.

12. Common car colors.

Long Will Run Again in 2022

This week, I’ve mentioned a few possible successors to Congressman Billy Long who pledged to only serve six terms during his first campaign for office. In response one insider close to the campaign says definitely: Billy Long is running again.

COVID Liability

Governor Mike Parson formally expanded the special session to include COVID liability protection for health care providers, manufacturers and businesses. See the proclamation here.

Driving the Day: Gov Presser

9AM: “Governor Mike Parson will hold a briefing to provide updates on COVID-19, vaccine developments, K-12 school guidance, and special session.”

2022 Name Games

Turning to 2022, I asked around about potential auditor candidates. Here are folks whose name I heard from multiple sources…

Post-Dispatch reports that the freshmen bus tour will have two buses: one requiring face masks and the other optional. One lobbyist jokes: you mean a Democratic bus and a Republican bus?

Time for Action on COVID Control?

According to the state’s data dashboard, COVID is increasing all across Missouri.

• 1,965 hospitalizations reported on Sunday. That’s about triple the 600 level of the summer.

• · “As of Friday, hospitals in the St. Louis region were at 90% capacity and in some intensive care units, already over capacity, [according to Dr. Alex Garza with the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force.]”

More Leadership Results

Sens. Dave Schatz and Caleb Roden were re-elected as Pro Tem and Floor Leader, and Dems re-elected Sen. JJ Rizzo as Minority Leader. Sen. Bill White was elected Assistant Floor Leader and Sen. Brian Williams Assistant Minority Leader.

Ploch Twist

Despite “lots of hallway doubters,” Rep. Dean Plocher won the Republican House floor leader race.

New Legislators Guide

The Big Picture

Last night cemented Missouri’s status as a solid red state.

· Donald Trump trounced Joe Biden in Missouri. Trump’s 15-point margin 56.8% to 41.2% was closer to his 2016 18-point win than the single digit range polls showed through the campaign.

· Mike Parson beat Nicole Galloway by 17-points (57.1% to 40.5%), largely echoing the top of the ticket.

· Down-ballot races were all GOP romps as well. Republicans won with with 20% margins, the highest being Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s 60.5% win over his Democratic challenger’s 36.2%.

MO Turn Out

Even before the polls opened this morning, over 825,000 Missourians had already cast their ballot.

If the estimated turnout of 75% is correct, Missourians will cast 3.2 million votes for president, about 400,000 more than in 2016.

· Morning Consult has Trump winning Missouri by 9, 52%-43%. See it here.

1. US debt

2. GDP bounces back

3. COVID in Rural MO

4. Seniors the key to battleground states?

5. MidMO electoral hot spot

6. But full of cross-currents

7. Missouri’s energy mix now

8. But not forever

9. Over budget projects

Q1: The candidates in the 2020 General Election for President of the United States are the Republican Donald Trump, the Democrat Joe Biden, the Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgernsen, and the Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Donald Trump: 50% (51%)

Joe Biden: 45% (45%)

Jo Jorgensen: 2% (1%)

Howie Hawkins: 1% (1%)

Undecided: 2% (2%)

Another Day of Bad COVID Numbers

Governor Mike Parson gave a COVID briefing yesterday which skirted the bad news of the day: the state data dashboard crashed again, and when the numbers did appear, it showed a jump in cases and deaths.