Elections Archives - Missourinet

Blunt says final election results unlikely to change enough to make a difference

November 8, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

National media reports Democrat Joe Biden has captured more than the required 270 electoral votes to become the next president, but President Donald Trump is not going down without a fight. Trump, a Republican, Trump has claimed widespread election fraud, a “mail-in ballot hoax”, and his campaign is suing. On Saturday, Trump also said on Twitter that he won the election “by a lot”.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri

During Sunday’s ABC television news program “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said the election should be finished the way it deserves to be finished. Then, he went a step further than many of his Republican colleagues have gone.

“Almost every state, within seven to ten days of the election, goes through that entire canvas. There are always some changes,” he said. “It seems unlikely that any changes could be big enough to make a difference, but this is a close election. We need to acknowledge that.”

Blunt, a Republican and former Missouri Secretary of State, said both Biden and Trump will benefit from the vote counting process getting entirely finished.

“It’s going to be much easier to work toward the kind of transition we want, look at the inauguration which I’m going to have the honor of chairing again this time, and bringing the country together if everybody feels like we went through a process and everybody was heard – every legal vote was counted, every illegal vote was challenged and not counted,” said Blunt.

He went on to say Trump’s lawyers should present their case and let the facts speak for themselves.

Despite COVID-19 continuing to take a toll on the country, Blunt said a “normal” inauguration is planned. He said scaling back the ceremony is easier than scaling it up.

“I think we’re going to project to the world that democracy works, that this country where, with the president’s efforts and other efforts, incredible energy in this election produced a result and that this is a great time for us to show how a true democracy works. And hopefully we’ll – I’m confident we’re going to see that,” said Blunt. “I expect to see both Vice President Biden and President Trump on the stage on Inaugural Day and that will be a powerful message no matter which one of them is sworn in that day.”

The six-person Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is made up of three senators and three house members. The theme for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies is “Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union”.

Missouri’s Blunt says all legal votes should be counted

November 6, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

President Donald Trump’s campaign is filing lawsuits to challenge the vote counting process in Tuesday’s general election. Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says candidates have the right to use all of the tools available to them to ensure the votes are accurately counted.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri

“But every ballot cast, in accordance with state law, needs to be counted. The election is not over until it is counted,” Blunt tells KMBC-TV in Kansas City. “America believes in democracy, and we know how to vote, and we know how to count the ballots.”

He praises Trump’s campaign for energizing so many voters; that turnout records are being set in many places. He says those votes, on both sides, will be counted.

Blunt, a top Republican in his chamber, says the process should be completely transparent so the American people are confident in the results.

On Twitter, the president said “Stop the count” and “Stop the fraud.” It was flagged by Twitter for possibly being misleading.

A Capitol Hill press pool reporter quoted Blunt pushing back.

“You can’t stop the count in one state and decide you want the count to continue in another state. That might be how you’d like to see the system work but that’s not how the system works,” said Blunt.

Blunt served as Missouri Secretary of State from 1985-1993.

Bob Priddy: Missouri -elects- a sitting governor for only the second time in history

November 5, 2020 By Missourinet Contributor

Bob Priddy for Missourinet

Missouri voters did something Tuesday that was done only once before in the state’s 200-year history. Historian Bob Priddy explains that Governor Mike Parson was not running for reelection. He was Lieutenant Governor when Eric Greitens resigned, moving him into the big office. This was the first time Missourians were faced with a sitting governor running for election since Lilburn Boggs, who as lieutenant governor replaced Daniel Dunklin, who resigned after becoming Surveyor General of Missouri and Illinois.

Boggs, who is best known for issuing the extermination order against the Mormons, was elected to a full term in 1836.

The extermination order said, the Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace,” which led Joseph Smith and the Mormons to flee to Nauvoo, Illinois. The order remained on the books until Governor Christopher Bond canceled it in 1976.

Boggs also is remembered for the “Honey War” for almost going to war with the state of Iowa, a boundary line dispute.

Missouri Congressman Graves: it’s time to get the economy open again

November 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Voters in northern Missouri are sending U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, back to Washington for his 11th term on Capitol Hill. Graves captured 67 percent of the vote Tuesday against Platte City Democrat Gena Ross.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, (right) speaks to a farmer at the Port of St. Joseph on September 1, 2020 (photo courtesy of Congressman Graves’ Facebook page)

Graves, the ranking Republican on the U.S. House Transportation Committee, tells Missourinet that it’s humbling to be re-elected.

“You know I want to continue to do exactly what I do, and that is represent the 6th District to Washington D.C. I will not represent Washington D.C. back to the 6th District,” Graves says.

His top priority is getting the economy open again.

“We have businesses and small businesses that are literally going broke because of what the government has done. And we have to get this economy going again and we got to get people back on their feet,” says Graves.

He’s also focusing on agriculture. He notes there are fewer and fewer farmers in the Congress.

The sixth congressional district covers 36 counties, and is larger than nine states. Graves’ district includes St. Joseph, Bethany, Chillicothe, Hannibal, Macon and Memphis.

Graves is the new dean of Missouri’s congressional delegation, after U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, was defeated in the August primary by Cori Bush. Ms. Bush was elected to Congress on Tuesday, becoming the first African-American female to represent the state in Congress.

Graves and Clay had been the co-deans of the delegation. Both were elected to Congress in 2000.

Check out the close races in Missouri’s general election

November 4, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Missouri had some close calls in Tuesday’s general election. Here are the nail-biters of the night.

Check out the close races in Missouri’s general election

About 52% of Missouri voters have said thanks, but no thanks to Amendment 1. The proposed change to the state Constitution would have restricted the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Attorney General to two terms. Currently, the Governor and State Treasurer are the only statewide office holders with a two-term limit.

Amendment 3 has prevailed in Missouri. The count was close. About 51% of Missouri voters favored overturning a redistricting plan they endorsed in 2018.

The race for the Second Congressional District seat was not as close as some had anticipated. Republican Ann Wagner of Ballwin will remain in Congress. She gained about 52% of the vote compared to Creve Coeur Democrat Jill Schupp’s 45%.

Missouri Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, Democrat Judy Baker were locked in a tight battle all night for the 19th District Senatorial seat. About 52% of the voters chose to keep Rowden in office.

In the House District 135 race, prominent Republican Representative Steve Helms of Springfield lost by 34 votes to Democrat Betsy Fogle. The race is within the margin that gives Helms the chance to request a recount.

Republican Rick Roeber of Lee’s Summit won by 345 votes in the House District 34 race against Democrat Chris Hager. Roeber took home about 51% of the vote to Hager’s 49%.

In House District 21, Democratic incumbent Robert Sauls squeezed by Republican Vicki Riley. Sauls won by 25 votes.

Kehoe wins Missouri Lt. Governor’s race; plans to focus on infrastructure and veterans issues

November 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missourians overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to give Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) a full term.

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (left) and Governor Mike Parson wave to supporters at Jefferson City’s Memorial Park on September 23, 2019, on the night Kehoe announced his candidacy (file photo courtesy of Kehoe campaign)

The Jefferson City Republican defeated Democrat Alissia Canady. He tells Missourinet he’ll continue to focus on workforce and infrastructure, which are also two of the governor’s priorities.

“A lot of people don’t talk about all the construction jobs that we have going across our state right now, and that’s largely due to, A, several things MoDOT has done, but also the bridge package that we passed,” Kehoe says.

More than 100 bridges in Missouri’s $350 million bridge bonding plan are now under contract.

Governor Mike Parson (R) appointed Kehoe to the post in June 2018, after Parson was sworn-in following Governor Greitens’ resignation. Kehoe is a former Senate Majority Leader.

Kehoe says veterans’ issues continue to be a top priority, noting Missouri has 450,000 veterans. That’s the fifth-highest in the nation.

“Our core issues are veterans, working with our veterans community. We know how important those heroes are in our state. Tourism, helping them rebound from the COVID crisis, that’s an issue,” says Kehoe.

Kehoe praises Canady for running a positive campaign, saying they both focused on the issues.

Parson wins first term as Missouri’s governor

November 3, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson has won his first term as Missouri’s chief executive officer. The Bolivar Republican gave his victory speech tonight to a crowd in southwest Missouri’s Springfield.

Gov. Mike Parson and State Auditor Nicole Galloway

“I believe it is our time to protect the Constitution. I believe it is our time to preserve the American dream. I believe it is our time to preserve freedoms for the next generations and it is our time to be governor for four more years,” he exclaimed.

About 57% of Missouri voters endorsed Parson while about 41% favored Galloway.

Galloway thanked her supporters at a gathering in Columbia. She currently serves as Missouri’s State Auditor.

“You can bet I’ll keep demanding accountability and transparency from politicians in Jefferson City for years to come. I’m not going anywhere Missouri. Thank you and good night,” she says.

Parson took over as governor in 2018 after former Governor Eric Greitens, a fellow Republican, resigned from office due to a growing list of allegations.

Catch Missourinet’s live election night coverage on these stations

November 3, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Here is a list of Missourinet affiliates taking our live election night coverage. Starting at 8:05 p.m., catch Missourinet at five minutes past the top of the hour.

KAAN in Bethany
KBNN in Lebanon
KBOA in Kennett
KESJ in St. Joseph
KFEQ in St. Joseph
KFRU in Columbia
KLIK in Jefferson City
KJPW in Waynesville
KMEM in Memphis
KMMO in Marshall
KMRN/KKWK in Cameron
KNEM in Nevada
KREI in Farmington
KTKS in Versailles/Osage Beach
KTTN in Trenton
KWIX in Moberly
KXEO in Mexico
KXEA in Clinton
KCRV in Caruthersville
WGCQ in Hayti
KSMO in Salem
KDRO in Sedalia

Missouri voters will decide today who stays and who goes

November 3, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The months of campaigning are over and the fate of each candidate on the Missouri general election ballot today rests in the hands of voters. Here is an overview of some of the top races on today’s ballot:

Republican Governor Mike Parson is seeking his first full term as Missouri’s chief executive officer. He faces Democrat and current State Auditor Nicole Galloway. Libertarian Rik Combs and the Green Party’s Jerome Howard Bauer are also running for the top spot.

Missouri voters will decide today who stays and who goes

In the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Republican and current office holder Mike Kehoe, is running against Democrat Alissia Canady, Libertarian Bill Slantz and Kelley Dragoo.

Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is seeking reelection. He takes on Democrat Yinka Faleti, Libertarian Carl Herman Freese, Paul Lehmann of the Green Party and Paul Venable of the Constitution Party.

Most of the attention in the Treasurer’s race has been on Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, who was appointed to the seat, and his opponent, two-term State Representative Vicki Lorenz Englund of St. Louis County. Nicholas Kasoff, a Libertarian, and Joseph Civettini of the Green Party are also running for the job.

Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt is campaigning for his first full term. He takes on Democrat Rich Finneran and Libertarian Kevin Babcock.

All 163 Missouri House seats are up for grabs, along with 17 of the 34 Senate seats. A hotly contested race is underway between Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, and Judy Baker, D-Columbia. Baker served two terms in the Missouri House.

Another race to watch is in the 15th Senatorial District between Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, and Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood. Lavender currently serves in the Missouri House.

Missouri voters will also be weighing in on Amendment 1 – a proposed change to the state Constitution that would restrict the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Attorney General to two terms. Currently, the Governor and State Treasurer are the only statewide office holders with a two-term limit.

The other ballot measure is Amendment 3, which aims to change the redistricting process voters approved two years ago.

Democrat Cori Bush of Florissant is expected to capture the First District Congressional seat in St. Louis and become Missouri’s first African American woman to serve in Congress. She faces Republican Anthony Rogers and Libertarian Alex Furman today. Bush defeated longtime Democratic St. Louis Congressman Lacy Clay in August. A write-in candidate is also on the ballot.

In Missouri’s Second Congressional District, Republican incumbent Ann Wagner of Ballwin and Democratic State Senator Jill Schupp of Creve Coeur are in a dead heat for that seat. Libertarian Martin Schulte is also running for the post. A write-in candidate is also on the ballot.

Third District Republican Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer of St. Elizabeth is seeking reelection. Democrat Megan Rezabek and Libertarian Leonard Steinman are also vying for the east-central Missouri seat. A write-in candidate is also on the ballot.

Fourth District Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of Harrisonville squares off against Democrat Lindsey Simmons and Libertarian Steven Koonse. Hartzler represents west-central Missouri.

Fifth District Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City is running for reelection. He faces Republican Ryan Derks and Libertarian Robin Dominick. Write-in candidates are also on the ballot.

Sixth District Republican Congressman Sam Graves represents 36 northern Missouri counties with a district that stretches from his home in northwest Missouri’s Tarkio to northeast Missouri’s Hannibal. He is running against Democrat Gena Ross and Libertarian Jim Higgins.

Seventh District Republican Congressman Billy Long of Springfield takes on Democrat Teresa Montseny and Libertarian Kevin Craig. Write-in candidates are also on the ballot.

The Eight District Congressional seat is also on the ballot. Republican incumbent Jason Smith of Salem is challenging Democrat Kathy Ellis and Libertarian Tom Schmitz.

Missouri voters will also decide today whether 53 nonpartisan judges should stay on the bench, including State Supreme Court Judge Patricia Breckenridge. They will have at least two judges on their ballot as part of so-called retention elections.

Missourinet’s live election night coverage begins at 8:05 p.m. on many of our affiliates across the state. Look for updates on Missourinet.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Brattin and Kinney running to replace State Senator Emery in western Missouri

November 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

(News director Andrew Pitkin at Missourinet Nevada affiliate KNEM contributed to this story)

Two familiar names are hoping to replace term-limited State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, in rural western Missouri. Emery is being forced out of the Legislature by term limits, after serving 16 years, eight in each chamber.

State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor in Jefferson City on February 19, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Jonathan Lorenz at Senate Communications)

Emery chaired the Senate Government Reform Committee.

Former State Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, served in the Missouri House from 2011-2018, before being forced out of that chamber by term limits.

One of the issues he’s championed and filed in recent years is legislation to authorize a property tax exemption for people who have owned real property for thirty years and those who have owned personal property for ten years. Real property is land and homes.

Brattin’s bill has never gained much traction, due to opposition from education groups worried about school funding. Brattin says Missourians pay for personal property or real property taxes forever.

Brattin’s Democratic opponent is former Sweet Springs Mayor Raymond Kinney, who lives in Raymore. Kinney grew up in the small town of Cleveland, Missouri, south of Kansas City.

One of his top priorities is assisting small, rural towns with infrastructure. He says rural Missouri towns are struggling to keep up with roads, water lines, as well as police and fire protection.

Kinney notes that in many small towns, the income level is low, resulting in low tax dollars. He says before focusing on high-profile issues, attention must be given to the infrastructural backbone of our communities.

Missouri’s 31st senatorial district covers five rural counties: Barton, Bates, Cass, Henry and Vernon. The district has been Republican. The late State Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, held it for years. Then-State Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, also held the seat, although he was elected to that seat as a Republican and later switched parties.

Towns in the district include Lamar, Harrisonville, Butler, Clinton and Nevada. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the district.