The high-stakes primary season and a general election full of impactful ballot initiatives will shape Missouri politics and policy for years to come.
And while the election wasn’t as monumental in Illinois, there were several contests that could reverberate throughout the Metro East.
As is tradition, St. Louis Public Radio’s politics team chose the top stories of 2024.
1. Missourians legalize abortion
Voters wiped away decades of abortion restrictions, as well as one of the most restrictive bans in the country, through a statewide ballot initiative, 51.6% to 48.4%.
Because the measure passed while President-elect Donald Trump won the state by double digits, there is no doubt that GOP voters ended up making a difference in the outcome.
What happens next, though, will be decided in court.
A Kansas City circuit judge is considering what to do with other abortion restrictions, while GOP lawmakers are mulling whether to get Missourians to vote again on restricting or banning the procedure. A more practical concern could be how available abortion will be in the state, especially if judges keep in place restrictions on clinics. Planned Parenthood couldn’t restart abortion services even after a largely favorable preliminary injunction.
2. Wesley Bell ousts Cori Bush
St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s defeat of Congresswoman Cori Bush followed what was far and away the most contentious and expensive Democratic primary of 2024.
Much of the focus in the race was on Bush’s fierce criticism of Israel. Groups supportive of the country’s military action in Gaza spent millions of dollars to boost Bell’s candidacy.
This contest between major political figures who came to prominence after Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson was also about the future of St. Louis leadership. Bush argued that commingling elected service with activism would raise awareness about long-standing and difficult issues. Bell contended that a region with a seemingly endless list of problems needed a representative who stressed collaboration and, at times, compromise.
Bush hasn’t shut the door on running again, which means a Bell-Bush rematch could happen.
3. Restricting Missouri constitutional amendments flounder
Republicans who run the House and Senate made no secret that their top priority was making it harder to amend the state’s constitution. But a combination of GOP infighting in the Senate and a record-breaking Democratic filibuster scuttled those plans.
This was a stunning outcome, given that the Missouri GOP has enough members in both legislative chambers to pass anything without Democratic support.
However, lawmakers are unlikely to take up efforts to make it harder to amend the constitution thanks to this year’s legislative failure.
4. Missouri Democrats fail to gain ground
At the end of the 2024 legislative session, Missouri Democrats were in an unusual position of feeling confident about the upcoming election. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Crystal Quade told reporters at one of her final press conferences as minority leader that her caucus would break the GOP supermajority thanks to backlash over abortion and other issues.
That confidence turned out to be misplaced.
Not only were Democrats completely demolished in statewide office races, but the party failed to gain any seats in the House or Senate. Even the long-awaited return of a Boone County-based Senate seat to the Democratic fold got canceled when the GOP captured a Kansas City-area seat encompassing Independence.
5. Michael Madigan goes to trial
It seemed like only yesterday that Michael Madigan seemed omnipresent in Illinois politics, wielding unprecedented power and influence.
Yet in 2021, Madigan’s grip on the Illinois speakership fully collapsed amid accusations that he used his office to enrich himself and his allies.
His public corruption trial began in October, and the prosecution rested its case in mid-December. The trial is set to resume later this week.
6. Kehoe captures governorship
Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe raised by far the most money — and received the most endorsements — among the three major candidates to succeed Gov. Mike Parson.
But Kehoe didn’t have either the near-universal name recognition of Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft nor the upset-the-apple-cart edge of state Sen. Bill Eigel.
Ultimately, Kehoe prevailed both in the primary and, even more emphatically, in the general election against Quade.
The big storyline going into 2025 is how Kehoe will navigate the treacherous waters of Missouri Republican Party politics, especially if the right flank of his party continues to be leery of him.
Honorable mentions
- The GOP primary for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District between incumbent Mike Bost and former state Sen. Darren Bailey. Bost narrowly won in August and then overwhelmingly in November, giving him another two years to serve in the slim House Republican majority.
- Passage of ballot initiatives legalizing sports betting and raising Missouri’s minimum wage.
- County Treasurer Chris Slusser’s defeat of Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler.
- Refunds for St. Louis’ earnings tax, a major source of revenue for the city, for work done at home.
- Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer retiring, which set the stage for longtime rival Bob Onder to succeed him in the state’s 3rd District.
- Republicans continuing to gain ground in St. Clair County.Top Missouri and Illinois political stories of 2024
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha and Alex Heuer. Jada Jones is our production assistant. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.
