JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Two of the Republicans who have declared their candidacy for Missouri Governor in 2016 have wasted little time in campaigning, and at least one of them is hoping to rally the heart of their support from inside the state’s legislature.
State Auditor Tom Schweich and former Missouri House Speaker, Catherine Hanaway, are both hoping to succeed Gov. Jay Nixon in 2016. Schweich and Hanaway made back-to-back appearances at an annual event with the Missouri Press Association today.
Schweich’s remarks were lengthy and detail-oriented, a nuts-and-bolts approach that has become the Auditor’s regular approach to pitching his candidacy. Hanaway, by contrast, spoke more broadly about what her administration would look like, but also touched on sweeping rhetoric typical of statewide races.
“For too many Missourians, the policies that come to of this building are keeping the American Dream out of reach,” Hanaway said.
Hanaway’s appearance came after Schweich, and shortly after her campaign dropped a statement with a laundry list of Missouri state lawmakers endorsing Hanaway for Governor. Hanaway’s work during the 2000 and 2002 election cycles — which ultimately helped Republicans seize the majority in the House and put her on the fast track to the Speaker’s office — has helped her recruit a small army of former local and state lawmakers who Hanaway hopes to tap for a broad grassroots effort.
“Speaker Hanaway has unique leadership qualities that will suit Missouri well in the Governor’s Mansion,” Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said. “Speaker Hanaway is the one person in Missouri politics who can bring all sides of an issue to the table and walk away with a solution. I encourage all Missourians to get to know Speaker Hanaway. Having worked with her, I know she possesses the qualities and attributes to be an outstanding Governor.”
Schweich, for his part, released an “open letter” he received last November with signatures of more than 120 lawmakers, lawyers and business owners around the state. Some high profile names found on the letter include former Missouri Senator and U.S. Attorney General John Danforth, former U.S. Senator Jim Talent, state senator Mike Parson, former state senator and current state representative Kevin Engler, along with a slew of other officials and business owners.
House Speaker John Diehl declined to comment on who he would be supporting when asked by reporters later that day. Instead saying he would “make his feelings known when the time was right.”
Both Hanaway and Schweich can be expected to continue to circle their wagons of supporters as both camps gear up for an almost certainly expensive and bloody primary.
Hanaway’s full list includes both lawmakers and former lawmakers, and can be found below.
Senator Mike Cunningham, Webster County
Senator Ed Emery, Barton County
Senator Dan Hegeman, Andrew County
Senator Mike Kehoe, Cole County
Senator Will Kraus, Jackson County
Senator Brian Munzlinger, Lewis County
Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, Jasper County
Representative Justin Alferman, Gasconade County
Representative Sue Allen, St. Louis County
Representative T.J. Berry, Clay County
Representative Wanda Brown, Benton County
Representative Cloria Brown, St. Louis County
Assistant Majority Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot, Jackson County
Representative Kathie Conway, St. Charles County
Representative Charlie Davis, Jasper County
Representative Tom Flanigan, Jasper County
Representative Diane Franklin, Camden County
Representative Marsha Haefner, St. Louis County
Representative Galen Higdon, Buchanan County
Representative Tila Rowland-Hubrecht, Stoddard County
Representative Mike Kelley, Barton County
Majority Caucus Chair Shelley Keeney, Bollinger County
Representative Glen Kolkmeyer, Lafayette County
Representative Bill Lant, McDonald County
Representative Donna Lichtenegger, Cape Girardeau County
Representative Dave Muntzel, Cooper County
Representative Sonya Murray-Anderson, Greene County
Representative Bill Reibolt, Newton County
Representative Rebecca Roeber, Jackson County
Representative Noel Shull, Clay County
Representative Shelia Solon, Jackson County
Representative Chrissy Sommer, St. Charles County
Representative Bryan Spencer, St. Charles County
Representative Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau County
Representative Ken Wilson, Clay County
Representative Anne Zerr, St. Charles County
Jim Avery, St. Louis County
Brian Baker, Cass County
Charles Ballard, Webster County
Linda Bartelsmeyer, Lawrence County
Matt Bartle, Jackson County
Carl Bearden, St. Charles County
Bob Behnen, Adair County
Jon Bennett, St. Charles County
Judy Berkstresser, Stone County
Lanie Black, Mississippi County
Jerry Bough, Christian County
Jason Brown, Platte County
Kathy Chinn, Macon County
Connie Cierpiot, Jackson County
Shannon Cooper, Henry County
Larry Crawford, Moniteau County
Cynthia Davis, St. Charles County
Gary Dusenberg, Jackson County
Doug Ervin, Clay County
Mayor Sally Faith, St. Charles County
Kathlyn Fares, St. Louis County
Barney Fisher, Vernon County
Tim Flook, Clay County
Sam Gaskill, McDonald County
Jim Graham, Madison County
Presiding Commissioner John Griesheimer, Franklin County
Casey Guernsey, Harrison County
Steve Henderson, Morgan County
Carl Hendrickson, St. Louis County
Presiding Commissioner Steve Hobbs, Audrain County
Steve Hunter, Jasper County
Pat Kelley, Jackson County
Ken Legan, Polk County
Tom Loehner, Osage County
Don Lograsso, Jackson County
Bob May, Phelps County
Mike McGhee, Lafayette County
Ronnie Miller, Cedar County
Danielle Moore, Callaway County
Jewell Patek, Livingston County
Susan Phillips, Clay County
Bryan Pratt, Jackson County
Charles Pryor, Morgan County
John Quinn, Livingston County
Rex Rector, Cass County
Commissioner Luann Ridgeway, Clay County
Mayor Carson Ross, Jackson County
Presiding Commissioner Marilyn Ruestman, Newton County
Therese Sander, Randolph County
Rodney Schad, Morgan County
Pat Secrest, St. Louis County
Tom Self, Benton County
Christopher Shoemaker, Macon County
Joe Smith, St. Charles County
Todd Smith, Pettis County
Neal St. Onge, St. Louis County
Bryan Stevenson, Jasper County
Don Summers, Putnam County
Kevin Threkeld, Franklin County
Noel Torpey, Clay County
Kevin Wilson, Newton County
Larry Wilson, Hickory County
Presiding Commissioner Dennis Wood, Stone County
