The election cycle is heating up in the closing weeks before election day – especially in several key races in Missouri and Kansas. In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson is holding a steady lead over Democratic challenger Nicole Gallaway. A poll from St. Louis University has Parson with a six-point lead over Gallaway, with 3.6 percent of voters undecided. 

Parson became the governor in 2018 when former Gov. Eric Grietens resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations and campaign finance law violations. Gallaway has been the auditor for Missouri since 2015. While she was the auditor, Gallaway discovered over 350 million dollars of wasted or stolen tax money. She also brought criminal charges against offenders from both parties and has called herself an “independent watchdog.” Gallaway’s New Way Plan would make healthcare cheaper, increase transparency of the tax system and improve the quality of public education in Missouri.

Parson has tried to portray himself as the hometown governor. Throughout the campaign, he has talked about his history of having a great work ethic while working in the local Missouri government. Parson and his administration have touted the low unemployment rate and low income taxes during his tenure. Parson has said that he prevented the health care system from being overwhelmed during the pandemic and opened the economy early to save businesses in Missouri.

Galloway has been very critical of Parson’s response to COVID-19. Parson, who tested positive for the coronavirus in late September, has been an outspoken opponent to a mask mandate in Missouri, claiming that it is a violation of personal liberties. While campaigning, Parson has said that he has helped Missourians throughout the pandemic. Parson has said that there have been positive results from his COVID-19 response. About Parson’s pandemic response, Galloway has said, “This has been a failed test of leadership.” 

There are two constitutional amendments on the ballot for Missouri in 2020. Amendment 1, if passed, would expand term limits in the State Executive branch. Currently, the two-term limit only applies to the governor and the treasurer. The proposed amendment would create a two-term limit on the lieutenant-governor, the state auditor, the secretary of state and the attorney general. The second proposed amendment, Amendment 3, would bring changes to redistricting, lobbying and campaign finance laws in Missouri. The measure would “eliminate the nonpartisan state demographer and use a bipartisan commission appointed by the governor again for legislative redistricting, alter the criteria used to draw district maps, change the threshold of lobbyists’ gifts from $5 to $0, and lower the campaign contribution limit for state senate campaigns from $2,500 to $2,400.” 

In Clay County, there is a proposed amendment to the county constitution. The amendment would prohibit lawmakers from being able to vote on their pay increases. It would also allow for officeholders to be recalled from office and would set a limit on public debt. The amendment would additionally create a citizen review commission for all future constitutional amendments. 

In Missouri’s 6th district, which encompasses Liberty, incumbent Republican congressman Sam Graves is running against Democratic nominee Gena Ross and Libertarian candidate John Higgins. Graves has been the representative for the Missouri 6th since 2001 and most recently won in 2018 with 65.4 percent of the vote. The district is classified as “Solid Republican” by The Cook Political Report.

Among the decisions on the ballot this election cycle is the selection of a governor for Missouri. Four candidates are running for the position, Republican Mike Parson, Democrat Nicole Galloway, Libertarian Rik Combs and Jerome Bauer for the Green Party. 

As election day approaches polls show a tightening race for governor in Missouri between incumbent Governor Mike Parson and State Auditor Nicole Galloway. 

Both Galloway and Parson have received support from their respective national party leaders. President Trump endorsed and tweeted about his support for Gov. Parson Sept. 10 while former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden endorsed Galloway Sept. 14. 

While President Trump is still expected to win Missouri, polls have shown a closer race than his 18.5 point victory in 2016, casting doubt about the length of his coattails potentially impacting the governor’s race. 

While the Real Clear Politics average of polls shows a comfortable nearly twelve point lead for Parson, this lead has been steadily declining in recent polls. This decline has been reflected in the nonpartisan Cook Political Report’s decision to move the race from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.” 

Galloway, the lone state-wide elected Democrat, touts her experience as State Auditor to focus on the nonpartisan issue of eliminating government waste. Eliminating government waste as well as improving Missouri’s medical care are central planks to the Galloway campaign. Beyond this focus, she has also been vocal in castigating Parson for his handling of the state’s coronavirus response. 

Parson, despite personally testing positive for the virus, has maintained support for his position that issues such as mask mandates should be a matter of local control and personal responsibility rather than being imposed by the state. 

Looming over this debate is the spread of the pandemic in the state. Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Missouri. The state reported over 5,066 new cases Oct. 9, more than doubling its previous single day total. 

Analysts have differed in their assessments of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gubernatorial race. The Cook Political Report cited Parson’s handling of the pandemic as one of the reasons for tightening in the race. Other political observers have argued that the governor’s decision is reflective of voter sentiments in the Republican-leaning state. 

The debate over COVID-19 responses has also sparked a broader healthcare fight between the two candidates. Since Missouri voted to expand Medicaid in August, Galloway has asked for voters to trust her with implementation and contrasted her support for expansion with Parson.  Long a vocal opponent of Medicaid expansion, Parson has publicly wondered about where the state would find the money for such an initiative. 

Leaning into his background as a former sheriff – with rising homicide rates in both Kansas City and St. Louis – and mirroring President Trump, Parson has emphasized law and order in his campaign. The governor convened a special session of the state legislature over the summer focused on anti-crime legislation. The Parson campaign and allies have accused Galloway of supporting the Defund the Police movement and being soft on crime, assertions that Galloway denies. 
All four candidates met for a contentious forum in Columbia Oct. 9. With the backdrop of the pandemic and the budgetary challenges that will confront the next governor, the forum saw clashes on a wide range of economic, social and public health issues.