Caleb Rowden

Session ended on Friday with recriminations from within the GOP supermajority — and measured optimism from Democrats that they could gain seats this year.

In a rare instance of triumph for Missouri Democrats, an effort to raise the bar to amend the state constitution — a central GOP priority — was defeated.

The deadline for the legislature to pass the budget for the upcoming fiscal year is 6 p.m. Friday.

Unless Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft uses an unusual procedure to speed up counting petition signatures, a bid to legalize abortion won’t go before voters until after the Aug. 6 primary.

Missouri is one of 11 states with formal chapters of the State Freedom Caucus Network, which aims to push Republicans to the right on issues such as immigration, voting access and transgender restrictions. But some Republicans say that the caucus is more interested in grandstanding.

The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would place control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under a board consisting of governor-appointed members and the mayor of St. Louis.

The Columbia Republican points to a coarsening discourse for pulling the plug on his statewide bid earlier this month.

The annual state budget and a tax that funds the bulk of Missouri’s Medicaid program are two things that must pass this session.

Rowden, who as of January was sitting on the largest campaign fund in the field, said when he announced his run in November, it was the best choice for his family but he “no longer believe(s) that to be true.”

Factional warfare marks passage of Republican priority as Freedom Caucus members denounce leadership for stripping out provisions labeled ‘ballot candy.’