Your Midterm Ballot

It's hard to believe, but absentee voting is already open for our upcoming November 8th Midterm Election. I've collected a bunch of links in this blog to help you learn a bit more about the candidate and issues on your Midterm Ballot - and be ready to VOTE.

First, some KEY DATES for the Nov Election:

• Application-based absentee voting (both by mail and in-person) began on 9/27/22
• Last day to register to vote for this election: October 12 - CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION
• No excuse needed absentee voting begins: October 25 - SEE LOCATIONS
• Last day to request an application-based absentee ballot by mail: October 26 - LEARN MORE
• Last day to vote absentee in person: Monday, November 7th
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 8th - SEE ALL VOTING LOCATIONS (Precinct-based and citywide options available)

Next, let's take a look at what's on your BALLOT 

Click on the green link above to see a PDF of the ballot

Candidates

US Senator

Currently held by retiring Senator Roy Blunt (R) - who's held this seat since 2011.
ERIC SCHMITT  (REP) currently Schmitt is serving as the MO Attorney General, endorsed by Blunt. Schmitt made headlines for suing six local schools over masking requirements and has also sued the city of St. Louis over using funds for logistical abortion access.
TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE (DEM) has the endorsement of Missouri AFL-CIO, Missouri Nurses Association, and Human Rights Campaign as well as the St. Louis Democratic Central Committee
JONATHAN DINE  (LIB) Dine also ran an unsuccessful bid for this seat in 2012
PAUL VENABLE (CON) Follow the link for more about his personal views 

MO State Auditor

Our current MO Auditor is Nicole Galloway, CPA last elected in 2018.
SCOTT FITZPATRICK (REP) currently serving as State Treasurer, appointed by Gov. Parson 
ALAN GREEN (DEM) former CFO and State Rep, Green has endorsements from many St. Louis City and County elected officials
JOHN A. HARTWIG, JR (LIB) longtime CPA from the St. Louis area

US Rep District 1 

Bush is currently serving her first term after first being elected in 2020 replacing former Rep. Lacy Clay
ANDREW JONES (REP) Jones ran an unsuccessful bid for STL City Mayor in 2017 
CORI BUSH (DEM) Bush is popular in the district winning the Dem Primary with 69.5% of the vote 
GEORGE A. ZSIDISIN (LIB) “Supply chain is the solution” is his campaign theme

MO State Senator - District 4

May is currently serving her third term as District 4 Senator, first elected in 2018
MARY THERESA McLEAN (REP) McLean currently serves as Chair of the Republican Central Committee in St. Louis City, she's also endorsed by MO Right to Life PAC
KARLA MAY (DEM) Senator May currently serves as Minority Caucus chair as well as Chair of the Democratic Central Committee in St. Louis City

MO State Rep HD 82

After redistricting, some of us who were previously in HD 83 with Jo Doll are now in HD 82. 
ROBERT J. CRUMP (REP) Has unsuccessfully challenged Baringer in the past two elections for this seat
DONNA M.C. BARINGER  (DEM) Serving as Rep since 2017 and former Ward 16 Alderwoman

MO State Rep HD 84 

Taylor challenged current Rep. Wiley Price in the Democratic primary and won the Democratic nomination. He runs unopposed in the General. Price was recently appointed committeeman representing Ward 26 on the St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee.
DEL TAYLOR (DEM) 

Not sure which House District you're in after redistricting? Check the map

General Election President of the Board of Aldermen

MEGAN ELLYIA GREEN - Green won the Primary on 9/13/22 with 53.72% of the vote citywide
JACK COATAR -In his first citywide race had a strong showing winning in the new 4th Ward and being the favorite in all three precincts in Lindenwood Park, Clayton-Tamm, and it was 50/50 in Clifton Heights.

It's important to remember, however, this was a super low-turnout election at just over 6% citywide, so November will likely look very different. And whoever wins will only fulfill the end of Lewis Reed's term, so this seat will be on your ballot again in Spring 2023. See full precinct-level results here.

STL City Collector of Revenue

ROBERT VROMAN (REP) Is currently serving as Vice-Chair for the GOP Central Committee and Ward 22 Committeeman, he previously ran unsuccessfully for City Treasurer in 2020 against Tishaura Jones.
GREGORY F.X. DALY (DEM) Daly has been serving as Collector of Revenue since 2007. His office has worked hard to modernize many of the cumbersome city payment procedures.

STL City License Collector

MICHAEL HEBRON (REP) Is servicing as Committeeman for Ward 6 GOP Central Committee and ran unsuccessfully against Steve Roberts for State Senate District 5 in 2020.
MAVIS [TESSA] THOMPSON (DEM) Thompson has served as License Collector since first being appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon in 2013.

STL City Recorder of Deeds

TIMOTHY GARTIN (REP) Is currently serving as Ward 20 GOP Committeeman
MICHAEL BUTLER (DEM) Butler has served as Recorder of Deeds since 2018 and current Chairman at The Missouri Democratic Party
JEROME H. BAUER (GRN) Bauer has been a Green party candidate for many races previously including Governor, President of BoA, and US Senate.

My recommendation is to vote for all of the Democratic candidates – but please note, I have not made an endorsement in the President of the BoA race.

Judges

You can vote Yes/No to retain each. The best place to research judges is YourMissouriJudges.org - hosted by the Missouri Bar Association, this site has evaluations from attorneys who work with these judges. Click on "judges" and then you can search "Reviews by Circuit". I also find that a quick google search might bring up any high-profile cases the judge may have presided over.

MO Supreme Court Judges:
ZEL M FISCHER and ROBIN RANSOM

MO Court of Appeals Judges - Eastern District:
KELLY C. BRONIEC, THOMAS C. CLARK, II, MICHAEL E. GARDNER, and  JOHN P. TORBITZKY

22nd Judicial Circuit Court Judges:
BRYAN L. HETTENBACH, MICHAEL K. MULLEN, JOHN T. BIRD, DAVID C. MASON, CHRISTOPHER E. McGRAUGH

Assoc. Circuit Court Judge:
BARBARA TINA PEEBLES

Ballot Issues

Read Missouri Ballot Proposals in Plain English from Elad Gross, civil rights and government transparency attorney and host of the Eladpod.

You'll be able to vote YES or NO on the following issues - listed below is the language you'll see on your ballot plus the "fair ballot language" from the SOS site. You can click on the green title to link out to full ballot language.

Constitutional Amendment 1

Proposed by the 101st General Assembly (First Regular Session) HCS HJR 35 

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: *allow the General Assembly to override the current constitutional restrictions of state investments by the state treasurer; and *allow state investments in municipal securities possessing one of the top five highest long-term ratings or the highest short-term rating? State governmental entities estimate no costs and increased interest revenue of $2 million per year. Local governmental entities estimate no costs and increased interest revenue of at least $34,000 per year.

A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to grant the General Assembly statutory authority to invest state funds and also expand the state treasurer's investment options. Currently, the Constitution grants the General Assembly no statutory investment authority and limits the treasurer's investment options. This amendment will allow the General Assembly by statute to determine investment avenues for the state treasurer to invest state funds, as well as allow the state treasurer to invest in municipal securities.

A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and limit the treasurer to investing state funds only in those investment options currently approved by the Constitution.

I'm aligned with The Missouri State Democratic Party on their "NO" recommendation on Amd. 1

Constitutional Amendment 3
Proposed by Initiative Petition

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: *remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one; *require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits; *allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records expunged; *establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates; *issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district; and *impose a six percent tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs? State governmental entities estimate initial costs of $3.1 million, initial revenues of at least $7.9 million, annual costs of $5.5 million, and annual revenues of at least $40.8 million. Local governments are estimated to have annual costs of at least $35,000 and annual revenues of at least $13.8 million.

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one.

The amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged; along with imposing a six percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes will remain prohibited under current law. Medical marijuana would remain unchanged.

If passed, this measure will impose a 6 percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana.

Yes on 3 has been endorsed by Missouri AFL-CIO, St. Louis County and City NAACP, Missouri NORML, Empower Missouri, ACLU of Missouri, and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. My recommendation is "YES" on Amd. 3 

Read a comprehensive guide on all the details here.

Constitutional Amendment 4
Proposed by the 101st General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS2 SJR 38 

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to authorize laws, passed before December 31, 2026, that increase minimum funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities? State and local governmental entities estimate no additional costs or savings related to this proposal.

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly by law to increase the minimum funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities. Currently, the only police force established by the state board of police commissioners is found in Kansas City, Missouri.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

I'm aligned with The Missouri State Democratic Party on their "NO" recommendation on Amd. 4

Constitutional Amendment 5
Proposed by the 101st General Assembly (Second Regular Session) HJR 116

Shall the Missouri National Guard currently under the Missouri Department of Public Safety be its own department, known as the Missouri Department of the National Guard, which shall be required to protect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of Missourians? State governmental entities estimate no savings and ongoing costs of $132,000 annually. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to create the Missouri Department of the National Guard as a new state agency, headed by an adjutant general appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the National Guard.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

I'm aligned with The Missouri State Democratic Party on their "NO" recommendation on Amd. 5

Constitutional Convention 
Submitted by John R. Ashcroft, Secretary of State, State of Missouri

Shall there be a convention to revise and amend the Constitution?

A “yes” vote will require the governor to call an election of delegates to serve at a convention for the purpose of revising or amending the Missouri Constitution. Any revisions or amendments will then be put to a vote of the people for their consideration.

A “no” vote will mean no constitutional convention will be held.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

Learn more about what changes that would mean for Missouri should it pass in this great piece by The Missouri Independent

More from St Louis Public Radio on this issue.

I'm aligned with The Missouri State Democratic Party on their "NO" recommendation on this Constitutional Convention Question.

SLPS Board of Education (vote for two)

DR. J. L. QUINONES - Longtime educational advocate, Quinones ran previously for school board in 2021
EMILY HUBBARD - Endorsed by NPE Action and Local 420, AFL-CIO unions
DONNA R. JONES - Jones was first elected in 2006 and is currently Board Secretary, also endorsed by AFT & AFL-CIO unions
WILLIAM [BILL] MONROE - Monroe previously served on the board prior to 2017
DAVID L. JACKSON, JR. - Jackson has previously served on the board prior to 2015

Here's an article from The Post-Dispatch in 2017 about the past state of the board.

Local teacher's union AFT 420 as well as AFL-CIO, the STL Labor Council, and, Solidarity with SLPS have endorsed both Jones and Hubbard. Personally, I will follow their endorsements.

So yes, this is a looooong ballot. Be ready to vote, make your plan and if you can, take advantage of that no-excuse absentee voting starting two weeks before Election day! Happy Voting!