Here’s who Missouri Democrats pick to challenge incumbent Republicans in November
Former federal prosecutor Rich Finneran emerged victorious from a spirited Democratic attorney general primary on Tuesday, setting up a faceoff with Republican incumbent Eric Schmitt this fall.
With 75% of precincts reporting, Finneran was leading Elad Gross 57% to 43%.
Also emerging from Tuesday’s Democratic primary is former Kansas City councilwoman and mayoral contender Alissia Canady, who cruised to victory over Gregory Upchurch to earn a shot at incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.
The wins by Finneran and Canady solidify the Democratic ticket moving into the fall, where Democrats hope to win back statewide offices that are all currently held by Republicans.
State Auditor Nicole Galloway faced no serious opposition in Tuesday’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, making her the party’s flag bearer heading to November.
“Gov. Parson had his chance. He failed the test of leadership. It’s time for a change,” Galloway said during her victory speech Tuesday night.
She will take on Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who easily fended off former state Rep. Jim Neely and former auditor candidate Saundra McDowell to win his party’s nomination.
“To protect Missourians in this job and create new opportunities for Missouri working families, experience matters,” Parson said, later adding: “There is no on-the-job training for the Office of Governor.”
Galloway was appointed auditor in 2015 and won a full term in 2018. Parson was elected lieutenant governor in 2016 and became governor following the resignation of Eric Greitens in June 2018.
Canady, who came in third last year in the race for Kansas City mayor, will take on Kehoe, a former state senator whom Parson appointed to replace him as lieutenant governor in 2018.
Finneran, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri for seven years, will take on Schmitt, who was elected state treasurer in 2016 and appointed attorney general by Parson after Josh Hawley was sworn in as a U.S. Senator.
Yinka Faleti, a former nonprofit executive, prosecutor and Army officer, was unopposed in the Democratic primary for secretary of state. He’ll take on the Republican incumbent, Jay Ashcroft, a lawyer and son of former governor and U.S. attorney general John Ashcroft who was elected to the job in 2016.
Vicki England, a former Democratic state lawmaker from St. Louis County, was also unopposed in Tuesday’s primary. She’ll face Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, a former legislator who was tapped by Parson to become treasurer in 2018 after Schmitt was chosen to become attorney general.
Democrats Greg Razer and Barbara Washington won their respective primaries for open seats representing Kansas City in the state Senate.
Most of the city has been without a state senator since Parson appointed both Jason Holsman and Kiki Curls to positions in his administration in January. Razer will face Green Party candidate Nathan Kline in November, while Washington will face Republican David Martin. Both Democrats enter the fall campaign as heavy favorites.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 11:00 PM.
