Missouri's presidential preference primary Archives

Missouri’s presidential primary draws 23 percent voter turnout

March 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

About 23.5 percent of Missouri’s registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s presidential preference primary (PPP).

The Missouri Secretary of State’s office says about 973,000 Missourians cast ballots on Tuesday.

The majority of those, about 660,000, voted in the Democratic presidential primary, which former Vice President Joe Biden won.

About 309,000 voted in the Republican primary, which President Donald Trump won.

A combined total of about 3,500 Missourians voted in the Libertarian, Green and Constitution party primaries. Jacob Hornberger won Missouri’s Libertarian primary, while Howie Hawkins won the Green Party presidential primary. Don Blankenship is the winner of Missouri’s Constitution Party primary.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says military and overseas ballots can come in through this Friday. Results are expected to be certified by April 10.

This was the sixth consecutive time that Missouri has held presidential preference primaries. The state held them in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Missouri House Democrats emphasize importance of unity in presidential primary

March 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House Democratic leader describes the Show-Me State as a microcosm of the nation for the Democratic presidential primary.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) and House Assistant Minority Leader Tommie Pierson Jr. (D-St. Louis) brief Capitol reporters on March 5, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The primary is taking place on Tuesday, along with Missouri presidential primaries in the Republican, Libertarian, Green and Constitution Parties.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells Capitol reporters in Jefferson City that there are a lot of progressive pockets in Missouri, along with rural areas.

“For us as the Democratic House caucus we’re always balancing how do we increase voter turnout for our base and make sure that those issues are highlighted, while still reaching out to the rural (Missouri) voters and making sure that those topics are part of the conversation too,” Quade says.

Leader Quade says it’s a balance, adding that the Democratic Party is having that discussion nationwide.

“What makes me proud to be a Democrat is both of these policy perspectives (progressive and rural areas) fit under the big tent of our party, so for me whoever wins is who I am going to be supporting,” says Quade.

As the Democratic Floor Leader, Quade does not endorse in any primary. She emphasizes the importance of unity.

Quade and Missouri House Assistant Minority Leader Tommie Pierson, D-St. Louis, briefed Capitol reporters on Thursday at the Statehouse in Jefferson City. Reporters asked about Missouri’s presidential preference primary (PPP).

While he hasn’t made an endorsement either, Leader Pierson is looking forward to seeing Tuesday night’s election returns. Representative Pierson notes former Vice President Joe Biden’s wins on Super Tuesday.

“I look forward to seeing how he will be able to take advantage of the momentum that has been created in his campaign, and just seeing how he will be able to use some of the endorsements that he has gotten,” Pierson says.

He says it’s important for Democrats to unite and support the eventual nominee.

Missouri polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Missouri’s local election officials are projecting about a 40 percent voter turnout for the presidential preference primary.

Missourians will need to declare party affiliation for Tuesday’s presidential primary

March 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s local election officials are projecting about a 40 percent voter turnout for Tuesday’s presidential preference primary (PPP).

Polls will open Tuesday morning at 6 and will close at 7 p.m. statewide.

Under Missouri law, you can only choose one political party ballot at the primary: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Green or Constitution.

Poll workers will ask you to choose one of the five party ballots, so you will need to declare your party affiliation on Tuesday.

There are several former Democratic presidential candidates who’ve dropped out who remain on Tuesday’s ballot in Missouri, because it was too late to take them off the ballot.

They include U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

This will be the sixth consecutive time that Missouri has held presidential preference primaries. The state held them in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Missouri’s Legislature adopted the presidential preference primary in 1986, for one PPP to be held in 1988. At the time, some said it was aimed at helping then-U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-St. Louis County, in his 1988 presidential campaign.

Congressman Gephardt ended his presidential run in March 1988, and ran again and was re-elected to his congressional seat.

Missouri used caucuses in 1992 and 1996. In 1998, the Missouri Legislature approved a PPP with no expiration date. That was Senate Bill 709, which was signed by then-Governor Mel Carnahan.

The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office encourages anyone with questions about Tuesday’s presidential preference primary to call Secretary Ashcroft’s office. That number is 1-800-669-8683.

Secretary Ashcroft calls for eliminating Missouri’s presidential preference primary

February 3, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Secretary of State wants to do away with Missouri’s presidential preference primary (PPP), saying it would save taxpayers millions of dollars.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (right) applauds First Lady Teresa Parson in the Missouri House chamber in Jefferson City on January 16, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Republican Jay Ashcroft made his comments about the PPP, while testifying last week before the House Budget Committee in Jefferson City.

“An election that has really no bearing on the presidential race,” Ashcroft testifies.

He tells Budget Committee members that Missouri is using a caucus system now, to choose delegates.

“You all know that we have a presidential primary, we spend $9.1 million of taxpayer money,” says Ashcroft. “And then we ignore the results and we have a caucus that actually chooses delegates to choose who goes to the national conventions.”

If state lawmakers approve Mr. Ashcroft’s call, it would not impact this year’s PPP, which will take place on March 10 across Missouri.

None of the Budget Committee members from either party had follow-up questions for Secretary Ashcroft, about his call.

Ashcroft says doing away with the PPP would save $9.1 million ever four years, plus interest.

Missouri’s Legislature adopted the presidential preference primary in 1986, for one PPP to be held in 1988. Some at the time said it was aimed at helping then-U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-St. Louis County, in his 1988 presidential campaign. Congressman Gephardt ended his presidential run in March 1988, and ran again and was re-elected for his congressional seat.

Missouri used caucuses in 1992 and 1996. Then in 1998, the Legislature approved a PPP with no expiration date. That was Senate Bill 709, which was signed by then-Governor Mel Carnahan.

The state has held presidential preference primaries five straight times: in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

During his testimony, Secretary Ashcroft also emphasized the importance of technology, in his office and in libraries.

Ashcroft testifies his office is willing to absorb the cost of the Legislative Library, which is located at the State Capitol.

“It’s not a lot of money, but we would allow you (state lawmakers) to zero out the budget for the Legislative Library. We would absorb the cost of that into our own budget,” Ashcroft says.

Ashcroft wants to use his office’s technology trust fund to update the Legislative Library, which he says it not electronically cataloged. He tells lawmakers it would provide a better library experience for them and for their constituents who visit the Capitol.

Ashcroft’s technology trust fund is supported by business filing fees. He notes it funded a complete overhaul of what he calls an outdated Secretary of State’s office phone system. Ashcroft tells lawmakers that under the old phone system, it was difficult to transfer calls from St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield to the Jefferson City office. Many callers were cut off, because of the old technology.

He also testifies that filing fees collected by his office added $8.8 million to general revenue in the last fiscal year.