This week’s election edition of Politically Speaking looks into the referendum over Missouri’s right-to-work law — and the GOP primary for state auditor.
Besides the U.S. Senate contest, the right-to-work fight and GOP auditor race will be on every Missouri primary ballot on Aug. 7. And both matters could have long-term ramifications for the state’s politics.
Right to work bars unions and employers from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of employment. Lawmakers quickly passed that measure after then-Gov. Eric Greitens was sworn into office. But unions were able to gather more than enough signatures to place the policy up for a vote.
Since the beginning of January, a group seeking to repeal right to work has taken in more than $10.7 million in donations of $5,000 or more. Most of that money has come from Missouri-based or national labor unions. That’s far more money that any pro-right-to-work campaign committee has raised thus far.
Meanwhile, four Republicans are running for the chance to face state Auditor Nicole Galloway in November. Galloway, a Democrat, was appointed to serve most of Tom Schweich’s unexpired term. She’s considered a possible gubernatorial contender in 2020, but most of the state’s political observers believe she needs to win a full term to be a viable contender.
Of the four candidates, attorney David Wasinger and state Rep. Paul Curtman, R-Union, have raised the most money thus far. Also in contention are Jefferson City attorney Saundra McDowell and St. Louis County native Kevin Roach.
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
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Music: “People are People” by Depeche Mode
