Missouri House Democrats say the winds of political change are blowing in the Show-Me State, and they’re predicting change at the ballot box in November for the Missouri House.
Six new Missouri House members were sworn in on January 8, 2020. They are, from left to right, State Reps. Mike Person, D-Ferguson, Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, Mark Sharp, D-Kansas City, Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, Yolanda Young, D-Kansas City, and Trish Gunby, D-Manchester (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, says the November election of Manchester Democrat Trish Gunby in a previously GOP district is significant.
“What that says to us (House Democrats) is that folks are frustrated with the extremes of the Republican Party in Missouri,” Quade recently told Capitol reporters in Jefferson City.
Gunby defeated Ballwin Republican Lee Ann Pitman in November’s special election. Gunby received 3,357 votes to Pitman’s 2,855.
The district, which is in west St. Louis County, was formerly held by Missouri Republican Party executive director Jean Evans.
“So what that means for the upcoming elections is we’re going to continue to talk about the extremism that’s happening here, and the things that Missourians deserve and are asking for, like health care among many other things,” Quade says.
While Quade has described the 99th House district as a “solid red district”, Evans has noted that former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) received more votes than Republican challenger Josh Hawley in that district in 2018.
Republicans currently control the Missouri House 114-48. Democrats won five of the six November House special elections. Four of the five seats they won are strong Democratic districts.
One key issue for Democrats is Medicaid expansion, an issue Gunby campaigned on. Quade says Democrats will also focus on growing gun violence.
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