The Republican primary for Missouri’s lieutenant governor is heating up, with campaign finance reports revealing over $50 million raised and spent by GOP candidates in statewide races.
Why it matters: The lieutenant governor position, while limited in constitutional authority, serves on various influential boards and can break ties in the Missouri Senate.
The details:
- Dave Wasinger, a candidate and attorney, appears connected to significant PAC spending attacking his primary opponents, state Senators Holly Rehder and Lincoln Hough.
- DACA Partners III LP, linked to Wasinger’s home address, loaned $300,000 to the Missouri First Conservative PAC, which funded attack mailers against Rehder and Hough and supported Wasinger.
- Hough criticized the spending, suggesting Wasinger is trying to obscure fund sources and messaging creators.
- Wasinger has primarily self-funded his campaign, loaning $2.6 million out of the $2.8 million raised.
Other Republican candidates include Paul Berry III, Tim Baker, and the recently withdrawn Matthew Porter.
On the Democratic side:
- State Rep. Richard Brown and Anastasia Syes are vying for the nomination.
- Brown, a former schoolteacher, focuses on affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare.
- Syes aims to remove personal property taxes on vehicles and advocate for voter rights, women’s reproductive rights, and the voice of low-income and middle-class citizens.
The big picture: Republican candidates in statewide primaries have significantly outraised Democrats, with $54 million compared to $4.8 million.
What’s next: The August 6 primary will determine who moves forward to the general election, where the winner will face Democratic and Libertarian challengers for Missouri’s lieutenant governor position.
Full story
Eight candidates are vying to be Missouri’s next lieutenant governor in the upcoming primary election on August 6. The crowded field includes two Democrats and six Republicans. The Democrats running are Richard Brown, a state representative from Kansas City, and Anastasia Syes of St. Louis.
Brown, a retired schoolteacher, has worked on issues like affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare. Syes aims to remove personal property taxes on vehicles and advocate for voter rights and women’s reproductive rights. On the Republican side, the candidates are:
Tim Baker, the Franklin County Clerk, who has focused on reducing wasteful spending and promoting local businesses.
Paul Berry III, a St. Louis businessman who champions pro-life and 2nd amendment policies, election integrity, and prison reform. Lincoln Hough, a state senator from Springfield, who has served in the Missouri House and as a Greene County Commissioner.
His main interests include infrastructure, education, and public safety.
Eight candidates compete for primary
Matthew Porter suspended his campaign on July 5, stating they no longer had a path to victory.
Holly Rehder, a state senator representing southeast Missouri counties. She has focused on policies to help people out of poverty and mental health issues. Dave Wasinger, an attorney and CPA who ran unsuccessfully for auditor in 2018.
He sees the role as a platform to expose corruption in Jefferson City. The lieutenant governor position involves sitting on various boards, breaking ties in the Missouri Senate, and has limited constitutional authority. The primary will determine who moves forward to the general election to face the Democratic and Libertarian challengers.
Campaign finance reports show the Republicans have raised and spent significantly more than the Democrats. Hough and Wasinger lead in fundraising among the GOP candidates. The winner will replace current Lt. Gov.
Mike Kehoe, who is running for governor.
- MissouriIndependent.”PAC spending in Missouri lieutenant governor’s race shows links to candidate Dave Wasinger”.
- NewsLeader.”These 8 candidates are running for lieutenant governor in Missouri”.
- SEMissourian.”State News: Crowded GOP primary field vying to be Missouri’s next lieutenant governor (7/29/24)”.