When 15 Republicans sided with Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon last September in sustaining his veto of a tax cut he argued could threaten education funding, conservative groups vowed there would be electoral consequences come primary time.
The conservative Missouri Club for Growth, which was a vocal supporter of last year’s House Bill 253 – vetoed by Nixon and sustained by the state Legislature (which claims Republican supermajorities in both chambers) – began immediately fundraising off of the so-called “Flimsy 15,” requesting $15 contributions at Republican events against the 15 lawmakers they saw as traitors, siding with Democrats on one the party’s key issues: tax cuts.
“For folks who campaigned as fiscal conservatives, to not vote for a tax cut is egregious to me, and our organization,” said Missouri Club for Growth Chairwoman Bev Randles said at the time.
And it wasn’t just Bev Randles. House Speaker Tim Jones, a Republican considering a statewide run in 2016, said ominously on conservative talk radio host Dana Loesch’s show at the time, “they’re going to have to answer to the constituents.”
Of the 12 Republicans who voted against the tax cut who are seeking reelection this year, only four of them have received direct primary challenges, according to filings with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office upon closure of candidate filing Tuesday evening.
Todd Abrajano, a spokesman for the Missouri Club for Growth, said, first, the group was glad to see three of the candidates not seek reelection. Kent Hampton, Dennis Fowler, and Mike Thomson – three Republicans who opposed the bill – are not seeking reelection this year. Thomson was restricted this year by term limits, but the others? Abrajano said the organization had heard the two made the tax vote and the chance for a challenge part of their decision to not seek reelection.
“Both of them saw the writing on the walls,” Abrajano said.
Fowler had been appointed to a commission by Nixon as an apparent reward for his support, but was blocked by Senate Republicans, and, in turn, decided not to run for reelection. And Hampton, who won by 116 votes – the closest Republican margin in 2012 – also opted against seeking reelection.
Abrajano said in the three open seats, “the fact that we’re not up against an incumbent is actually better.”
On Thursday, the Missouri Club for Growth received $973,000 in its political action committee from St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield for use in the primary and general election later this year. The funds will be used not only in the primaries against Republicans who voted against the tax vote, but could also be used in the open seats, as well as in districts where Republicans who supported the bill and other tax cuts are facing their own challenges.
“There are people who took a hard vote where we’re going to do what we can to help,” he said.
Aside from The 15, there are 21 Republican primaries across the state and 12 open districts.
“We want to make sure the state is full of people who support pro-growth policies,” he said. “We have a broad swath to look at.”
The Challengers
Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville, the first Republican to announce his opposition to the tax cut proposal last summer, is facing a Republican challenge by John Bailey, R-Kirksville, an area surgeon. In announcing his candidacy, he was critical of Medicaid expansion, but did not mention the 2013 tax cut fight.
“I do not believe we need to expand Missouri’s Medicaid system,” Bailey said. “Expansion of Medicaid is the implementation of Obamacare in Missouri and Missourians want government out of their lives.”
Walker has more than $17,000 on hand for reelection, while Bailey has yet to file a campaign finance committee. Candidates have 20 days after forming a committee to officially file, and would not be required to file if they are not planning to raise or spend money.
Rep. Paul Fitzwater, R-Potosi, is being challenged by Ron Bohn. Bohn, R-Irondale, was defeated by Fitzwater in 2010, but is making another run for the seat four years later. Fitzwater has $13,000 heading into the primary, while Bohn has yet to form a new committee.
Rep. Jeff Messenger, R-Republic, is being opposed in the August primary by Loren Hunt. Hunt, R-Bois D’Arc, ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2012 – losing to Messenger in the primary election that year. Hunt has also yet to file a campaign committee, while Messenger already has more than $6,600 on hand.
And Rep. Lyle Rowland, R-Cedarcreek, is being challenged by two Republicans, Mike Lind and Jason Frodge.
The rest – Reps. Elaine Gannon, Donna Pfautsch, Lyndall Fraker, Sue Entlicher, Craig Redmon, Lyle Rowland, David Wood, Lynn Morris, Don Phillips – are all going unopposed by Republicans in the primary election.
Gannon, one of the most vulnerable Republicans this year, has received a Democratic opponent. Dan Darian, a deputy juvenile officer in Jefferson County, told a local newspaper he was a “pro-life,” pro-gun Democrat who wanted to seek compromise in Jefferson City.
“Rather than focusing on extremist issues and an unwillingness to compromise to get things done, I will work with Gov. (Jay) Nixon to use a common sense approach to solving some of Missouri’s most pressing concerns, like jobs, education and repairing our failing infrastructure,” he said.
Pfautsch and Fraker both did received Libertarian opponents, but it isn’t clear whether the Club for Growth would be willing to support a minor-party candidate.