Missouri Primary Election 2018: Races To Watch

MISSOURI — Missouri is holding a statewide primary election today (Tuesday, August 7), and the decisions Show-Me State voters make will shape state and national politics for at least the rest of the year — possibly longer. In addition to selecting who will be on the ballot for U.S. Senator in November, as well as a host of state, county and local candidates, voters will be asked to weigh in on the state's new "right-to-work" law.

(Polls close at 7 p.m. Check back for statewide results and local results as they come in.)

Proposition A

That law, which critics call "right to work for less," was passed by the Missouri legislature in 2017 and signed into law by former Gov. Eric Greitens. But, more than 300,000 voters signed a petition earlier this year to put a referendum on the ballot to repeal the law.

A "yes" vote on August 7 would ratify the law, stripping unions across the state of their ability to collect dues for collective bargaining and other services. A "no" vote would repeal the law, leaving Missouri a union state.

U.S. Senate

For U.S. Senate, current Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, is fending off primary challenges from six other candidates. And almost a dozen Republicans, including Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, are competing for the chance to take McCaskill's seat away from her.

Despite hopes (or fears) of a coming "blue wave," McCaskill is expected to have a tough reelection ahead of her in November. Running in a state President Trump won by almost 20 points, she is routinely listed as one of the most vulnerable Democratic senators in the country. Hanging on to her seat will be key to Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate later this year.

McCaskill confirmed a report last month that she had been targeted by Russian hackers in a sophisticated phishing attempt similar to the one used against Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta in the lead up to the 2016 election. U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the goal of sewing chaos, helping Trump and hurting Democrats. Security chiefs fear a repeat in 2018.

U.S. House: MO-1

In Missouri's 1st district, Cori Bush is fighting to unseat 18-year incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay. The progressive Bush, who has been endorsed by fellow Democratic insurgent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, represents the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party. Her race highlights a growing fault line in Democratic Party politics, between establishment centrists and those wishing for a bolder, more progressive agenda. It will be a key race to watch, both locally and nationally.

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In Missouri's 4th senate district, Democratic incumbent Jacob Hummel is facing state Rep. Karla May. Hummel has promised to work toward raising the minimum wage, while May has made affordable health care a signature issue.

In the 14th district, state Rep. Joe Adams is facing former state Rep. Sharon Pace and former Congressional staffer Brian Williams for Maria Chappelle-Nadal's current state Senate seat. Chappelle-Nadal is term limited, and is running for the state's 86th House district.

St. Louis County

In St. Louis County, the race for County Executive is proving equally fractious. Incumbent Steve Stenger is facing businessman Mark Mantovani for the Democratic nomination. Stenger is running on cutting wasteful spending, and has accused his opponent in an ad of taking almost $2 million in tax breaks. Mantovani has accused Stenger of corruption, saying he's beholden to big-money donors.

The race for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney is also shaping up to be highly significant. That office is currently held by Democrat Robert McCulloch, who came to national attention in 2014 when he declined to charge former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson with murder after Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown, a black teenager. McCulloch, who has been at his post for more than a quarter century, drew criticism for his handling of the case, including from the NAACP and prominent black lawmakers.

McCulloch is being challenged by fellow Democrat Wesley Bell, who has called for the elimination of the cash bail system and other criminal justice reforms. The Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has launched a new voter education effort focused on the race. Read more about both candidates here.

Other races to watch

Other races to watch include Missouri's 86th district, where term-limited state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal is facing candidates Bobby Shields, Farrakhan Shegog and Gloria Nickerson.

In the county's 5th district, Councilman Pat Dolan is facing Lisa Clancy and Michael Burton. According to the Post-Dispatch, Dolan has often been County Executive Stenger's sole supporter on the council.

And, in the city, Democratic State Rep. Mike Butler is hoping to unseat 38-year incumbent Sharon Quigley Carpenter to become Recorder of Deeds. Butler would the be first millennial elected to citywide office, as well as St. Louis' first African-American Recorder of Deeds.

For more information about state and local races, including sample ballots, visit Vote411.org. And check back with Patch for up-to-date election results throughout the day.

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