This will be the first Missouri statewide downballot primaries held since the Ferguson unrest, which started a few days after the 2014 primary with the police shooting of Mike Brown by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson that led to protests and riots. The primaries will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd.
I live right across the river on the Illinois side near St. Louis and have family members and relatives who live in the Show-Me State; therefore, the Missouri elections do have importance for me.
Remember to go vote on Tuesday. Polls open at 6AM CDT and close at 7PM CDT. You are allowed to vote after 7PM, as long as you are in the line waiting to vote prior to the 7PM cutoff.
Presidential Elections (Primary held March 15th):
Dems: Hillary Clinton won narrowly over Bernie Sanders. GOP: Donald Trump narrowly defeated Ted Cruz. Libertarian: Uncommitted won, but only counting actual candidates, Missourian Austin Peterson won it. NOTE: Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson was NOT on the ballot at primary time in Missouri.
Federal Races:
US Senate: Secretary of State Jason Kander, Cori Bush, Wana Dubie, and Robert Mack are running for the Democrats. Incumbent Roy Blunt, Bernie Mowinski, and Kristi Nichols are running for the Republicans. Jonathan Dine and Herschel Young are running for the Libertarians. Fred Ryman is running for the Constitution Party.
My endorsements: Kander for the Dems, no endorsement for the GOP.
MO-01: Incumbent Lacy Clay and State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal are running for the Dems. Paul Berry III and Steven G. Bailey are running for the Republicans.
My endorsements: Chappelle-Nadal for the Dems, no endorsement for the GOP. Dem primary winner is basically guaranteed to win in November.
MO-03: Kevin Miller is running for the Dems. Incumbent Blaine Luetkemeyer and Cynthia Davis are running for the Republicans.
My endorsements: Miller for the Dems, Luetkemeyer for the Repubs (as a way to stop Davis).
MO-05: Incumbent Emanuel Cleaver and Roberta Gough are running for the Dems. Austin Rucker, Berton Knox, Michael Burris, and perennial challenger Jacob Turk are running for the Republicans.
My endorsements: Cleaver for the Dems, no endorsement for the Republicans.
Statewide Races:
Governor: Open due to Jay Nixon (D) being termed out. Attorney General Chris Koster, Eric Morrison, Leonard Steinman, and Charles Wheeler are running for the Democrats. Current Lt. Gov Peter Kinder, Kathleen Hanaway, 2012 MO-Sen loser John Brunner, and ex-Democrat/Navy SEAL Eric Greitens are running for the Republicans. Cisse Spragins is running for the Libertarians.
My endorsements: Koster for the Dems, no endorsement (but Kinder must NOT be nominated) for the Republicans.
Lt. Governor: Open due to Kinder (R) running for Governor. Winston Apple, Russ Carnahan, and Tommie Pierson are running for the Democrats. A.C. Dienoff, Mike Parson, and Bev Randles are running for the Republicans. Steve Hedrick is running for the Libertarians.
My endorsements: Carnahan for the Dems, no endorsement for the Republicans.
Attorney General: Open due to Koster (D) running for Governor. Teresa Hensley and Jake Zimmerman are running for the Democrats. Josh Hawley and Kurt Schaefer are running for the Republicans.
My endorsements: Zimmerman for the Dems, no endorsement for the Republicans.
Secretary Of State: Open due to Jason Kander (D) running for Senate. MD Rabbi Alam, former KMOV anchor/reporter Robin Smith, and Bill Clinton Young (no relation to President and soon-to-be First Gentleman Bill Clinton) are running for the Democrats. Jay Ashcroft, Roi Chinn, and Will Kraus are running for the Republicans. Chris Morrill is running for the Libertarians.
My endorsements: Smith for the Dems, no endorsement for the Republicans.
Treasurer: Open due to Clint Zweifel (D) is termed out. Judy Baker and Pat Contreras and running for the Democrats. Eric Schmitt is running for the Republicans. Sean O’Toole is running for the Libertarians.
My endorsement: Contreras for the Dems.
Missouri House:
MO-HD73: Incumbent Courtney Curtis, Daniel Wibracht, Eileen McGeoghegan, and Lee Smith are running for the Democrats. No Republicans are running.
My Endorsement: Smith for the Dems.
MO-HD77: Jesse Todd, Steve Roberts, John Collins-Muhammad, and Brian Elsesser are running for the Democrats. No Republicans are running. My Endorsement: Todd for the Dems.
MO-HD78: Incumbent Penny Hubbard and Bruce Franks are running for the Democrats. No Republicans are running.
My Endorsement: Franks for the Dems.
MO-HD80: This seat is open due to Mike Colona (D) being termed out. Ben Murray and Peter Merideth are running for the Democrats. No Republican is running.
My Endorsement: Murray for the Dems.
MO-HD81: This seat is open due to Jacob Hummel (D) being termed out. Fred Wessels, Steve Butz, and Adam Kustra are running for the Democrats. No Republicans are running.
My Endorsement: Kustra for the Dems.
MO-HD99: This seat is open due to Andrew Koenig (R)’s run for MO-SD15. Bill Pinkston is running for the Democrats. Richard LaViolette, Philip Oehlerking, Jean Evans, and Nicholas Gerth are running for the Republicans.
My Endorsements: Pinkston for the Dems, Evans for the GOP.
MO-HD100: This seat is open due to Sue Allen (R) being termed out. No Democrat is running. Mike Allen and Derek Grier are running for the Republicans.
My Endorsement: no endorsement.
MO-HD101: This seat is open due to Don Gosen (R)’s resignation. Dennis Lavallee is running for the Democrats. Joy Krieger, Bruce DeGroot, Anne Gassel, and Noreen McCann are running for the Republicans. My Endorsements: Lavallee for the Dems, Gassel for the GOP.
MO-HD119: This seat is open due to Dave Hinson (D) not running for re-election. No Democrat is running. Greg Pugh, Nate Tate and Ron Blum are running for the Republicans.
My Endorsement: Blum for the GOP.
Missouri Senate:
MO-SD11: This seat is open due to Paul LeVota (D)’s resignation. John Rizzo, Jess Podhola, Anthony Banks, and Mary DiCarlo are running for the Democrats. Brent Lasater is running for the Republicans. My endorsement: Podhola for the Dems.
MO-SD15: This seat is open due to Eric Schmitt (R)’s run for Treasurer. Mark Boyko and Stephen Eagleton are running for the Democrats. House Rep. Andrew Koenig and 2014 St. Louis County Executive nominee Rick Stream are running for the Republicans.
My endorsements: Boyko for the Dems, Koenig for the GOP.
MO-SD23: This seat is open due to Tom Dempsey (R)’s resignation. Richard Orr and Greg Upchurch are running for the Democrats. Bill Eigel, Anne Zerr, and Mike Carter are running for the Republicans. Bill Slantz is running for the Libertarians.
My endorsements: Upchurch for the Dems, Zerr for the GOP.
Ballot Proposals:
none for the August 2nd primary.
St. Louis City Circuit Attorney:
This seat is open due to Jennifer Joyce (D)’s decision not to run for re-election. Mary Pat Carl, Kimberly Gardner, Patrick Hamacher, and Steve Harmon are running.
My endorsement: Hamacher is the best choice, followed closely by Gardner.
St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee:
5th Ward: Rasheen Aldridge, Megan Betts, Penny Hubbard, and Rodney Hubbard.
My endorsements: Rasheen Aldridge, Megan Betts
6th Ward: Michael Butler, Alison Dreith, Mary Entrup, and Matthew Carroll-Schmidt.
My Endorsements: Alison Dreith, Matthew Carroll-Schmidt
11th Ward: Jake Hummel, Adam Kustra, and Kathy Gamache.
My endorsements: Jake Hummel, Kathy Gamache.