Former Missouri state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed is the latest guest on Politically Speaking. The St. Louis Democrat talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about some of the highlights of her legislative career now that she has been term-limited out of office.
Nasheed recently completed her eight-year run as the senator for the 5th District, which takes in portions of St. Louis. She is the first person to complete two consecutive four-year terms for the district since J.B. “Jet” Banks. Nasheed also served six years in the Missouri House.
Here’s what Nasheed talked about on the program:
- Her transition from being an activist to a member of the Missouri General Assembly. She noted how being a lawmaker requires building relationships, especially with Republicans who control the General Assembly.
- Nasheed said during her first appearance on Politically Speaking in 2013 that the biggest mistake of her legislative career was voting to overturn campaign finance limits in 2008. She discussed whether a 2016 ballot item reinstating them has been effective at keeping money out of politics.
- Nasheed, who has been a supporter of Tishaura Jones’ St. Louis mayoral bid, gave her take on the upcoming contest.
- She also believes St. Louis is about to go through a monumental political change besides the race for mayor. Nasheed pointed out that the impending reduction of the Board of Aldermen to 14 members will fundamentally alter who gets to make key decisions in city politics.
Nasheed won a House seat in 2006. She also owned a bookstore that was a well-known gathering place for some of the city’s most prominent political players.
She advanced to the Missouri Senate in 2013 after defeating incumbent Robin Wright-Jones in a spirited Democratic primary. She won reelection in 2016, and was unable to run for another term because of term limits. In 2019, Nasheed narrowly lost an election for St. Louis Board of Aldermen President to incumbent Lewis Reed.
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
Follow Jamilah Nasheed on Twitter: @SenatorNasheed
