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Missouri governor candidate Crystal Quade on why she thinks she can win as a Democrat

Rep. Crystal Quade (D-Springfield), house minority leader, speaks to the media alongside Rep. Richard Brown (D-Kansas City) on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, during the first day of the legislative session at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Mo.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
State Rep. Quade announced her candidacy earlier this week in a campaign ad in which she played roller derby.

Missouri state Rep. Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat who serves as the House minority leader, announced her gubernatorial candidacy earlier this week. She says her primary issues are childcare and health care access, and defending public education.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade has thrown her hat into the ring to be the next governor of the Show-Me State, in hopes of succeeding Republican Mike Parson.

Quade told KCUR's Up To Date that, if elected, her administration would focus on "pocketbook issues" and avoid policies she views as divisive.

"I know childcare in every corner of our state is a problem," Quade said. "I know that access to health care is still a real struggle — that's affordable — especially on the prescription drugs conversation. Public education is constantly under attack in our state. We have the lowest paid teachers in the nation, even after this pay raise."

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As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
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