Tomorrow's primary election is notable for the divisive and expensive ads (especially for the Republican races for governor and attorney general). But voters have a lot of choices to make all the way down the ballot.
In the months before the primary, all of the major candidates for statewide office appeared on our Politically Speaking podcast. For those who haven't yet discovered it, the podcast is a place where politicians talk about issues and introduce themselves to listeners in an informal setting. Below, you will find links to each of those podcasts and more
Governor
The four Republican candidates — John Brunner, Eric Greitens, CatharineHanaway and Peter Kinder — largely agree on issues, so they have argued more about effectiveness, experience and the deficiencies of their opponents. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Chris Koster has no well-funded opposition.
- Meet the Missouri GOP gubernatorial candidates: Brunner, Greitens, Hanaway and Kinder
- Politically Speaking: Hanaway on Ferguson, Mizzou and her way forward in a crowded governor's race
- Politically Speaking: Eric Greitens on his latest mission to become Missouri's next governor
- Politically Speaking: After 2012 loss, John Brunner talks about the road back to electoral politics
- Politically Speaking: Lt. Gov. Kinder takes on Koster, Kroenke, Nixon in rollicking rhetoric
- On the Trail: What do Missouri's gubernatorial candidates think of the religious shield legislation?
- On the Trail: Takeaways from a combative and illuminating GOP gubernatorial debate
- Missouri GOP contenders for governor mince no words during heated debate
Lieutenant Governor
The contrast among the candidates is striking. On the Republican side: Mike Parson is a long-time legislator and a farmer; Bev Randles is a Kansas City lawyer and formerly headed Missouri Club for Growth. The Democratic race features a former member of Congress, Russ Carnahan, and state legislator and pastor Tommie Pierson.
- The scramble to be Missouri's next lieutenant governor
- Politically Speaking: Sen. Parson on his quest to become Missouri's next lieutenant governor
- Politically Speaking: Randles makes her case to become Missouri's next lieutenant governor
- Politically Speaking: Former Congressman Carnahan on his comeback bid for lieutenant governor
- Politically Speaking: Rep. Pierson on navigating the Missouri House and seeking lieutenant governor
Attorney General
The GOP attorney general candidates rival their party's candidates for governor in expensive and acrimonious ads. They do have differences in how they see the function of the office, with Kurt Schaefer stressing prosecutorial functions and Josh Hawley emphasizing the role of constitutional interpretation and appeal. The Democrats also have different perspectives: Theresa Hensley leans toward the prosecutorial side; Jake Zimmerman stresses consumer protection.
- Politically Speaking: Zimmerman seeks to avoid 'muck and mud' in bid for attorney general
- Politically Speaking: Hensley on her bid to become Missouri's next attorney general
- Politically Speaking: AG hopeful Josh Hawley on battling the 'Jefferson City cartel'
- Politically Speaking: Sen. Schaefer on state budget, Planned Parenthood and his attorney general bid
- Missouri attorney general candidates battle over symbolism as well as substance
- Missouri's GOP candidates for attorney general rip off the gloves
Treasurer
Republican Eric Schmitt has no major opposition. For the Democrats, Pat Contreras from Kansas City is a businessman who was a foreign service officer. His opponent, Judy Baker, of Columbia, is a former teacher and state representative who also runs a business.
- Baker and Contreras aim to succeed Zweifel in the state treasurer's office
- Politically Speaking: Contreras on his bid to become Missouri's next state treasurer
- Politically Speaking: Former Rep. Baker discusses her bid for state treasurer
Secretary of State
The favorite in the Democratic primary is former newswoman Robin Smith. The Republican contest is between state Sen. Will Kraus from Lee's Summit and attorney Jay Ashcroft of St. Louis County. Ashcroft is the son of former governor and U.S. attorney general, John Ashcroft.
- Kraus and Ashcroft battle it out in GOP primary for secretary of state
- Politically Speaking: Sen. Kraus expounds on his secretary of state bid
- Politically Speaking: Jay Ashcroft on his bid to become Missouri's secretary of state
Congress
Among the area's congressional districts, the firepower is being unleashed in the 1st District. Long-time incumbent Lacy Clay is being challenged by state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (both live in University City) and St. Louis school board member Bill Haas. The Republican contest is between Paul Berry III and Steven Bailey.
- Clay and Chappelle-Nadal put undefeated electoral records on the line in 1st District showdown
- First District's only congressional forum centers on Clay legacy
Missouri Senate
Of the contested races for the state Senate, we focused on the 15th district in west St. Louis County, where two Republicans (Andrew Koenig and Rick Stream) and two Democrats (Mark Boyko and Steve Eagleton) are trying to take the seat that had been held by Eric Schmitt, who is running for treasurer.
- Right to work is playing a big role in St. Charles-based Senate race
- Politically Speaking: Eagleton seeks to follow his famous uncle into the electoral arena
- Politically Speaking: Boyko seeks to break GOP stranglehold on 15th senatorial district
- Politically Speaking: Stream talks about Senate bid and lessons from county executive loss
- Politically Speaking: Rep. Koenig on his time in the House - and his bid for the Senate
- Four candidates seek to succeed Schmitt in St. Louis County Senate seat
Missouri House
The races addressed in the overview story are for the 80th district in St. Louis (Democrats Ben Murray and Peter Merideth), the 81st ( Democrats Fred Wessels, Adam Kustra and Steve Butz), the 96th (Republicans David Gregory and Dan Reuter), the 100th (Republicans Mike Allen and Derek Grier) and the 101st (Republicans Joy Krieger, Bruce deGroot, Anne Gassel and Noreen McCann). The city's 78th district, where Bruce Franks Jr. is challenging Rep. Penny Hubbard, is covered in the second article.
- Competitive House races abound around the St. Louis region
- On the Trail: Franks mounts latest challenge to the Hubbards
St. Louis Circuit Attorney
When long-time prosecutor Jennifer Joyce decided to step down, the interest in the job was clear. Three people who have worked in the circuit attorney's office and a former police officer are on the ballot.
- Six things to know about the candidates running to replace Circuit Attorney Joyce
- Politically Speaking: Rep. Gardner talks about standing out in the circuit attorney crowd
- Politically Speaking: Patrick Hamacher wants circuit attorney to be 'smart on crime'
- Politically Speaking: Harmon hopes to bring outsider perspective to circuit attorney office
- Politically Speaking: Mary Pat Carl says St. Louis' circuit attorney should target illegal guns
St. Louis Sheriff
Jim Murphy has been sheriff even longer than Joyce has been prosecutor. Former deputies and an alderman are among those seeking to replace him.
