New Group Recruits Progressives for Missouri State Legislature

In an effort to make sure that the progressive agenda is heard in Republican-dominated Jefferson City, a coalition of progressive groups is pro-actively seeking candidates to run for for seats in the Missouri House and Senate.

Missouri’s Progressive Candidate Recruitment Project [PCRP] began in late fall 2012, and it’s being led by one of Missouri’s most outspoken and well-known progressive legislators, Joan Bray.  The project’s goal is to identify state legislative districts that could have competitive elections and to match them up with candidates who represent core progressive values.

“Missouri is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, but our state legislature is disproportionately dominated by Republican politicians, and the minority still deserves to be represented with vigorous voices,” says Bray. “In the legislature, the minority has one job: to actively question the majority and hold them accountable. So, we need to fill any seat possible with Democrats who will stand up for the core values of caring for people, families and workers for human and environmental rights—people who see these values eroded in our lives. We need these people to go to Jefferson City and say to the majority, ‘This is wrong.’ To question, question, question, and to oppose, oppose, oppose, and not go down without a fight.”

PCRP is reminiscent of similar efforts by Republicans over the past several decades to create a pipeline of conservative candidates. The project also has objectives parallel to efforts in some other states, such as Arizona and Wisconsin, as well a national initiative, called “2,012 in 2012,” launched last year. But PCRP is not part of any of these other projects. It’s a stand-alone, initiated by Missouri progressives.

Unfortunately, Missouri’s contentious, 2012 redistricting process has made PCRP’s effort quite messy. The state-legislative redistricting plan formulated by the legislature’s Republican majority lumps a number of Democratic state representatives together in some redrawn districts. That scenario adds to the difficulty for incumbents to figure out where to run. In addition, the state-legislative redistricting map is still being challenged in court, and a decision could result in a truncated filing season or changes in filing deadlines.

Bray says her job is “to touch base with people in various areas around the state to ascertain who’s talking about running, to watch candidate filings as they develop, to help determine where progressives could be elected, and where we should be beating the bushes harder.

“We’ve identified a number of districts where progressives can win,” she adds. “But we’re happy to work with anyone who comes forward. If someone wants to serve in public office, but doesn’t know which one, we might even advise them to run for city council or school board in their area.”

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a candidate, or if you’d like to suggest someone else, contact candidates@missouriprovote.org.

Member groups of the PCRP coalition include: AFT-Local 420, CWA District 6, CWA 6355, CWA 6301, CWA Greater St. Louis City Council, Missouri NOW, Missouri Progressive Action Group, Missouri Progressive Vote, Missouri Votes Conservation, Missouri Women’s Leadership Council, MOLLI’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, Painters District Council 2, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, PROMO, SEIU MO/KS State Council, Womens Political Caucus of St. Louis. PCRP also coordinates with the Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee [MHDCC].