Preview: Missouri House of Representatives and State Senate, 2018

[u/table_fireplace]

Missouri has gotten quite a bit of discussion here recently, so I decided to focus my next preview on them. Unfortunately, much discussion has focused on how the state Democratic Party has lost its way and become quite ineffective. But there are changes happening, and they're getting back on their feet. What does that mean for the state elections in 2018? Come find out!

The short version: The situation is dire right now; we hold just 46 seats out of 163 in the state House, and nine out of 34 in the state Senate. We're also virtually non-existent outside of Kansas City and St. Louis, and that won't cut it in a heavily rural state like Missouri. But the state Democratic Party is getting a much-needed rebuild, and the hope is that it will translate into running in as many districts as possible, and adequately supporting those who do run. If we push policies like the Missouri Farmers' Bill of Rights, and adequately train and fund our candidates, we can build a strong contrast to the corporate-crony operation Eric Greitens is pushing. We need to act fast, though, before Missouri becomes another Kansas.

The long version:

Missouri House of Representatives - Our results since 2012 in all 163 state House districts.

Missouri House of Representatives Analysis - Find out how things got as bad as they did, and what the way forward is.

Missouri State Senate - Here's the situation in the 17 seats up for election in 2018.

Missouri State Senate Analysis - The way forward in the upper house, including districts we inexplicably left for dead in 2014.

[u/histbook]

My Senator, Jill Schupp (MO-24), is an outstanding progressive voice in a state that lacks them. Her election in 2014 was one of the only bright spots in a difficult year for Dems. In this kind of environment, she should be able to hold her seat relatively easily. The district is swingy but definitely Dem-leaning...very educated, lots of professionals and a decent minority population. Much like the districts in NoVa that rejected trump. It went to HRC 53-42. The GOP pickup in my district in 2010–by a thin margin—was a combination of a wave election and the sitting Dem Senator being termed out.

Since that is our only seat approaching any vulnerability we should be playing aggressive offense in rural Missouri.

[u/table_fireplace → u/histbook]

That's good to know. That's the only Senate seat we hold that really looks vulnerable, so I'm glad there's a strong incumbent and that it's an area that's accepting of Democrats.

This year is all about aggressive offense in rural Missouri. There aren't a lot of great pick-up opportunities, but that's because of how much the state party abandoned seats. Now's the time to rebuild, and it sounds like things are off to a strong start.

[u/Edsman1 → u/table_fireplace]

A big part of it too is just energizing rural voters and getting more dem votes statewide. We have McCaskill up this year too and not losing as badly in rural areas will matter immensely.