(St. Louis Public Radio) – Missouri Republicans won big Tuesday, sweeping all statewide offices and putting the party almost totally in charge of the Missouri Capitol beginning in January.
And in part, they have Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to thank. His Missouri coattails of more than 20 percentage points arguably provided a strong wind at the GOP’s back.
Eric Greitens, a best-selling author and former Navy SEAL, becomes the Missouri’s next governor. Like Trump, Greitens has never held political office. And like Trump, Greitens promised to “drain the swamp’’ of what he called corruption by some in both parties who are – or were – leaders in Jefferson City.
Greitens promised in his victory speech late Tuesday “to build a stronger and better Missouri.”
Also winning are:
•State Sen. Mike Parsons, R-Bolivar, who becomes the next lieutenant governor;
•Mizzou professor Josh Hawley, who becomes the next attorney general;
•State Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, who becomes the state’s next treasurer;
•Jay Ashcroft, son of former governor/U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft, who is the next secretary of state.
Democrats have controlled all but one of Missouri’s state offices. As of January, the Democrats will only hold one: state Auditor Nicole Galloway.
Republished with permission of St. Louis Public Radio: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/buoyant-republicans-set-solid-control-missouri-state-government
