Missouri Democrats will head into the next legislative session as a superminority again. The next Democratic leader of the Missouri House, Rep. Ashley Aune, told Missourinet that being a member of a superminority is not new to her.
“Missouri Democrats understand that our challenges are great right now,” said Aune. “We know that that we are facing an uphill battle, but we are resolved to do this work. None of us got elected as Democrats in this state because we thought it would be easy.”
Democrats are coming off a rough election on the national level, but Aune said Missouri Democrats fared better than many other states.
Aune said her caucus will work with Republicans.
“Even as contentious and frustrating as things can get in Jefferson City, leaning on those relationships across the aisle is really what keeps things going, and we owe it to our constituents to do that work,” she said.
Aune expects Republicans to prioritize public safety, childcare tax credits, and scaling back abortion rights.
Despite a majority of Missouri voters favoring many abortion rights, Republicans are primed for a fight. Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, said that Amendment 3 is an “extremely far left radical abortion measure.”
When Aune was asked whether Democrats and Republicans can find middle ground, she said Missourians already have.
“I can’t imagine what the fight will look like, and I’m sure they will try to chip away at it, but my hope is that they are still so fractured as a caucus and as a party that they’re unable to get it done because Missourians have spoken,” said Aune.
Several outspoken ultra conservative lawmakers are leaving office this year, but whether that means the Missouri Legislature will have a banner year in 2025 remains to be seen. Aune does not have high expectations.
“My prediction is it will not be a very productive year in Jefferson City, which is disappointing because we are coming off the least productive legislative year in Missouri history, as far as I can tell. And it’s purely because of the Republican Party dysfunction and their inability to govern,” said Aune.
Republican Jonathan Patterson of Lee’s Summit, who is running for House speaker, is being challenged by ultra conservative Justin Sparks of Wildwood.
The 2025 legislative session begins in January.
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