ST. LOUIS—Roughly 24 hours after saying he was still weighing whether he wanted to be a political candidate or not, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, who was sworn in on May 30 to replace Kim Gardner after her abrupt resignation, has made the decision to seek the office in his own right.

While the timing of the announcement Wednesday appeared to catch Gore’s office off-guard, the news isn’t entirely a surprise. Gore has received praise from Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed him to the post, as well as St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, a progressive Democrat.

Gore was a former federal prosecutor who was in private practice as a partner at Dowd Bennett at the time he was appointed. Gardner resigned under legal pressure for her removal by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, as well as legislative pressure brought by a bill in the General Assembly that would have allowed the governor to appoint a special prosecutor for violent crime.

Gore is using the same St. Louis-based consulting firm, Meyers Ohohson, used by Jones and St. Louis Treasurer Adam Layne, among others.

Asked about his plans Tuesday during a news conference to mark six months since he assumed the position, Gore said “I will tell you that I have enjoyed this work immensely. I’ve enjoyed my colleagues, I’ve enjoyed the progress we’ve made. I am very pleased with the trajectory the office is on, and the final part of my decision process is just trying to make the decision as to whether or not I want to be a political candidate.” 

His campaign’s website touts many of the themes he discussed Tuesday, including work that he says has restored the Circuit Attorney’s Office to its place in the criminal justice system. Gore’s office has charged 45% more cases between June 1 and Dec. 1 of this year than Gardner’s administration did in 2022. Gore says has happened by making charging decisions faster, usually on the same day police apply for warrants, and that his office isn’t “looking the other way” on any cases.

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, Gore filed paperwork Wednesday that allows him to start fundraising for his campaign. David Mueller, a former public defender, is the only other declared candidate in the Democratic primary. 

"Being hand-picked by our Republican Governor, Mr. Gore hasn't had to get into the specifics of his vision for the office. I look forward to hearing his positions on the issues that matter: bond reform, mass incarceration, alternatives to the traditional justice system like diversion programs, which have been languishing in the City," Mueller told Spectrum News.

Gore said Tuesday that the Prosecuting Attorney's office had 40 participants in its diversion program when he took office and that within six months he wants to see 250 to 400 people in it.

Gardner continues to operate an active Ethics Commission committee, but has shown no obvious signs she plans to seek the office again. No Republicans have declared for the race.