FERGUSON, Mo.—After a political cycle when she decided not to endorse a Democratic primary candidate for Missouri's U.S. Senate in 2022, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, remains on the sidelines as the 2024 campaign for another Senate seat, currently held by Republican Josh Hawley, heats up.

Lucas Kunce, the 2022 candidate who was joined in the ‘24 contest by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell less than two weeks ago, has been on an endorsement spree since, picking up backing from former Congressman Bill Clay, Sr., St. Louis Aldermanic President Megan Green, Florissant Mayor Tim Lowery, former Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell and Jackson County Executive Frank White, among others. 

Bell, the former Ferguson Councilman who later defeated Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCullough, quickly flipped the endorsement of Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones from Kunce to his own campaign. The two served together on the Ferguson City Council.

Bush, one of only two Democrats representing Missouri in Congress, told reporters when asked by Spectrum News on Monday that she doesn’t plan on getting into the race herself.

But she didn't sound like someone in a rush to choose sides.

“I’m looking at making an endorsement but I’m not totally sure just yet. I’m looking because I know what’s needed there. I’m looking because right now I’m in a tough spot to where—at least I had Roy Blunt. Roy Blunt and I worked so well together, our offices worked well together…people say oh Republicans, Democrats can’t work together….We worked so well together…I miss him,” she said. 

Bush said she was talking with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about the race.

“I don’t know if other people are going to jump in but right now, we are having conversations,” she said.

The Clay, Sr. endorsement of Kunce is worth noting in context when considering Bush’s next steps. She defeated his Clay’s son, longtime U.S. Rep. William “Lacy” Clay in 2020, and then dispatched a Clay family-supported primary challenge from State Sen. Steve Roberts in 2022. 

Hawley has said he expects more Democrats to enter the race.

The state’s other Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, of Kansas City, backed Trudy Busch Valentine over Kunce in 2022 and has not announced his support for 2024. 

Secretary of State’s race

The Republican field of candidates looking to succeed Jay Ashcroft is also growing, but don’t expect Ashcroft to choose a favorite in the primary.

Ashcroft is one of three men currently running or exploring a run for Governor in the GOP primary, along with Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and State Sen. Bill Eigel.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, the party’s 2012 nominee for Secretary of State, announced his candidacy for the same job in the current cycle several months ago. Earlier this month, State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, announced he’s joining the field. There’s speculation the GOP field could get even wider, with Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden among those rumored to be considering it. 

Ashcroft told Spectrum News last week he won’t play favorites in the race to succeed him.

“I believe the people of the state are smart enough to make their own decisions. I believe that they know how to make decisions in life. I don’t think the government makes them better. I’m very happy to leave it up to the people of the state,” he said after a gathering with Lincoln County Republicans in Troy last week.

Staying on the sidelines helps avoid alienating potential support in his own race.

On the Democratic side, State Rep. Alan Gray, D-Black Jack has filed Missouri Ethics Commission paperwork for the race. State Rep. Peter Merideth has said he’s considering the race. 

State Senate announcement

An anticipated State Senate race that will have the GOP watching takes a fresh step this week. 

State Rep. Doug Richey formally launches his bid for the Republican nomination for the 21st State Senate seat Tuesday with an event in Camden, Mo.

Richey dropped out of a race to one day be Speaker of the House and made waves during this year’s session, pushing to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) spending from the budget. The effort failed in the Senate.

Former House Speaker Tim Jones, who represented the Eureka area in the Missouri House, will MC the event.

Richey follows fellow State Rep. Kurtis Gregory in formally launching a campaign for the seat. Gregory is a former University of Missouri football player who authored successful bills boosting Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) efforts over the past two sessions. Gregory, a farmer, took a lead role in the House during the past session to address foreign ownership of Missouri farms.  

The sprawling district stretches from the Kansas City suburbs to Boonville.

Property tax legislation

According to St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson now plans to hold off signing a bill that would let counties authorize property tax freezes for seniors.

Harder, a candidate for the State Senate, wants to make St. Louis County the first in the state to pass county-level legislation authorized under Senate Bill 190, which would also end state taxation on social security benefits. Harder told an audience of Republicans in Maryland Heights recently that Parson planned to sign the bill Wednesday in Jefferson City. Monday he told Spectrum News that the target date was now June 30.

Monday night, a Parson spokesperson confirmed there were no bill signings planned this week and that there was nothing confirmed for June 30.

The Missouri Municipal League, the Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri School Board Association are still urging the Governor to veto the bill. St. Louis County said it would have lost $33.6 million in revenues over the past five years had the property tax freeze been in place. 

Parson has until July 14 to sign or veto legislation. Bills without his action after that date automatically become law.

Senate Bill 190 would go into effect on August 28, 2023.