Missouri Democratic Party

Not only did Democratic candidates get blown out in statewide contests for governor and the U.S. Senate, the party failed to gain any ground in the Missouri General Assembly. The election showed that the party continues to falter in rural and exurban areas.

Missourians have backed ballot items supported by Democrats in the past decade — including abortion rights, expanded Medicaid, legalized marijuana and labor rights — while also giving Republicans unfettered control over state government.

Missouri's Republican Party continues to hold a supermajority in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Several Kansas City-area legislators are among the new leadership teams.

While Missouri Republicans continued to dominate statewide and legislative politics, they lost a critical fight over abortion rights.

In the race to be Missouri's next governor, Democrat Crystal Quade says she'll work across political differences to make Missourians' lives better. She shares her thoughts on issues Missouri voters are concerned with ahead of the November election. Plus: We bring you political headlines from across the metro.

Derron Black, a former Democrat, is running as a Republican for the first time in Missouri’s 9th State Senate District. He says local Democratic leadership has failed to get his community what it needs, and that voters are ready to look elsewhere for help. Community leaders, his incumbent opponent and the area’s voting history say otherwise.

Special tracks for each state and territory were played during Tuesday night's DNC roll call. Kansas representatives chose a classic song, while Missouri picked one from a newer superstar.

Fewer than half of Missouri's 180 legislative contests had candidates from both of the two major parties in 2022. In a state where Republicans have fully controlled the legislature for two decades, Democrats are trying to give voters more options.

Missouri state Rep. Crystal Quade and Springfield businessman Mike Hamra are both running for governor as Democrats, and although either would be the underdog in November, they could benefit from a proposed amendment to legalize abortion. Plus: Rep. Sam Graves is heavily favored to retain his seat representing Missouri’s 6th District, even as some critics say he’s lost touch with constituents.

In the Democratic primary for Missouri governor, the frontrunners are House Minority Leader Crystal Quade — who leads in name recognition after years in state politics — and businessman Mike Hamra — who has a serious fundraising advantage.

Lucas Kunce and Karla May have similar views on major policy issues like support of abortion rights and organized labor. But whether Missouri is in play for Democrats may depend on whether Kamala Harris can energize voters.

Democratic delegates who had pledged themselves to Biden following Kansas and Missouri’s presidential primary votes were largely united around Harris before they met Monday night to endorse her. The votes helped give Harris enough support to secure the party's presumptive nomination.