The Star Editorial Board’s endorsement for Missouri governor in Democratic primary | Opinion

The next Missouri governor will face major challenges and must untangle dysfunction in Jefferson City.

Democratic front-runner Crystal Quade has made much of her personal story, while promising to restore abortion rights in the state. If she is the nominee — and we think she should be — we believe Quade should extend her discussion beyond those concerns to other important problems confronting Missouri.

Our recommendation

We endorse Crystal Quade for the Democratic nomination for governor.

“We need an adult in the room,” she told us in response to our pre-endorsement survey. Yes. We think Quade can be that grown-up.

Quade is from Springfield, and currently serves as minority leader in the Missouri House. In that job, she and her colleagues have fiercely and sometimes successfully resisted the right-wing urges of the GOP supermajority.

She proposes an end to the state sales tax on food (which is already relatively low, thanks to Democratic former Gov. Mel Carnahan.) She told us she supports more freedom for local governments to pass laws that make sense in their communities — an absolutely essential step if Kansas City is to address its violent crime problem.

She did not reject state assistance for the Chiefs and Royals stadiums, but said she would strive for a balance that protects taxpayers. Quade has also talked about protecting abortion rights — the state’s voters will likely have their say on the issue in November.

We think Crystal Quade gives Democrats the best chance of taking the governorship this year.

Mike Hamra of Springfield has run an interesting, substantive campaign, and should be applauded for that. “I want to unleash the potential of our state … but it’s going to take more than politics as usual,” he told us in our survey.

But he lacks experience in politics, and questions have been raised about his residency in Missouri — questions that might be a distraction if he is the nominee.

Other candidates in the race include Eric Morrison, who told us he supports stricter gun laws, Sheryl Gladney and Hollis Laster.

Missouri has never had a woman serve as governor. The state should have a chance to elect one in November, and will have that chance if Democrats nominate Quade on Aug. 6.

This story was originally published July 14, 2024 at 5:01 AM.