n November 3, 2020, 163 Missouri state representa- tives, 17 state senators and five statewide officers were
elected. That is the entire Missouri House of Representatives, half the Senate, and almost all the Executive Branch. Voters turned out in historic numbers to give Republicans firm control of the House, Senate and Executive branch, solidifying Missouri’s status as a red state. Now that we can breathe a sigh of relief that Election Day—or should I say election week—is behind us (sort of), let’s review:
CANDIDATES
As expected, President Donald Trump won all 10 of Missouri’s electoral votes after winning by 15 points against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Governor Parson beat Democrat challenger Nicole Galloway. All other Republican statewide candidates won their races by nearly 60 percent (Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft). This will be the first elected terms in office of Governor Parson, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and Attorney General Eric Schmitt after being appointed in the wake of former Governor Eric Greitens’ resignation in 2018.
Overall, Republicans triumphed in their legislative races. Following a handful of close calls, Republicans held onto every seat in the Missouri Senate. This includes Senator Andrew Koenig, who fought hard to win a neck-and-neck race against termed Democrat Representative Deb Lavender in St. Louis County. Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, a Republican from Columbia, won an even closer race against former Democrat Representative Judy Baker.
In the Missouri House, Republicans lost one seat to Democrats. Up to Election Day, some Capitol regulars were anticipating
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losing up to seven House seats. Incumbent Representative Steve Helms, a Republican from Greene County, lost to Democrat Betsy Fogle by just 34 votes. This means Republicans still have veto-proof su- permajorities in both state chambers: 114 Republicans to 49 Democrats (House), and 24 Republicans to 10 Democrats (Senate).
Missouri Republicans also maintained their federal congressional delegation seats. Ann Wagner, a Republican represent- ing Missouri’s second Congressional District in St. Louis, was reelected by seven percent- age points, beating out Democratic state Senator Jill Schupp. Schupp will continue her role in the Missouri Senate.
Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, won Missouri’s first Congressional District. Bush, an activist, made headlines back in August after beating incumbent Representative Lacy Clay in the Democratic primary. She made history on Tuesday by becoming the first Black female from Missouri to be elected to Congress. Cori Bush and Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) are the only Democrats to represent Missouri in Congress.
MODentPAC contributed to more than 75 legislative and statewide candidates in Missouri’s November general election. I am happy to report all these candidates won their races but one (Steve Helms, Republican from Greene County). The MODentPAC is a critical tool used to promote the MDA’s interest in the policy-making process. It has successfully united MDA members from across the state to take an active role in our elections and to gain the attention of can- didates and policy-makers. Now more than ever, continued legislative and regulatory threats to your practice and patients’ safety demand a well-operated and well-funded
MODentPAC presence. Thank you to all of those who contribute!
AMENDMENTS
At the end of your ballot you saw two proposed constitutional amendments. To the surprise of many, the controversial Amendment 3 passed by just two percent- age points. Polling in late October indicated the amendment was likely to fail, with just 29 percent of respondents pledging support. Instead, Amendment 3 passed 51 percent to 49 percent. The amendment modifies Article III of the Missouri Constitution to change certain provisions of Missouri Amendment 1, which passed with 62 percent of the vote in 2018. Amendment 3 reduces lobbyist gifts from $5 to $0 and reduces campaign contri- butions for state senator candidates by $100 per election. Most important, the amend- ment dramatically alters the way legislative districts will be redrawn in 2021. Every 10 years, legislative districts are redrawn based on the latest census numbers. Next year, new districts will be drawn by a bipartisan com- mission appointed by the Governor instead of by a nonpartisan state demographer.
Amendment 1 received far less news cover- age and ultimately failed by four percentage points. The amendment sought to limit all statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Treasurer) to two terms in office.
MDA LEGISLATIVE DAY PLANS
In closing, I want to announce the unfortu- nate news that the 2021 MDA Legislative Day will not be held as an in-person event at the State Capitol. At the time this decision was made in mid-November, COVID cases were on the increase in Missouri with an almost 21 percent positivity rate. These concerns are being echoed in the halls of the Capitol and as it currently stands, we are being told the
