Race for governor heats up as Hanaway touts legislative support

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Two of the Republicans who have declared their candidacy for Missouri Governor in 2016 have wasted little time in campaigning, and at least one of them is hoping to rally the heart of their support from inside the state’s legislature.

State Auditor Tom Schweich and former Missouri House Speaker, Catherine Hanaway, are both hoping to succeed Gov. Jay Nixon in 2016. Schweich and Hanaway made back-to-back appearances at an annual event with the Missouri Press Association today.

Schweich’s remarks were lengthy and detail-oriented, a nuts-and-bolts approach that has become the Auditor’s regular approach to pitching his candidacy. Hanaway, by contrast, spoke more broadly about what her administration would look like, but also touched on sweeping rhetoric typical of statewide races.

“For too many Missourians, the policies that come to of this building are keeping the American Dream out of reach,” Hanaway said.

Hanaway’s appearance came after Schweich, and shortly after her campaign dropped a statement with a laundry list of Missouri state lawmakers endorsing Hanaway for Governor. Hanaway’s work during the 2000 and 2002 election cycles — which ultimately helped Republicans seize the majority in the House and put her on the fast track to the Speaker’s office — has helped her recruit a small army of former local and state lawmakers who Hanaway hopes to tap for a broad grassroots effort.

“Speaker Hanaway has unique leadership qualities that will suit Missouri well in the Governor’s Mansion,” Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said. “Speaker Hanaway is the one person in Missouri politics who can bring all sides of an issue to the table and walk away with a solution. I encourage all Missourians to get to know Speaker Hanaway. Having worked with her, I know she possesses the qualities and attributes to be an outstanding Governor.”

Schweich, for his part, released an “open letter” he received last November with signatures of more than 120 lawmakers, lawyers and business owners around the state. Some high profile names found on the letter include former Missouri Senator and U.S. Attorney General John Danforth, former U.S. Senator Jim Talent, state senator Mike Parson, former state senator and current state representative Kevin Engler, along with a slew of other officials and business owners.

House Speaker John Diehl declined to comment on who he would be supporting when asked by reporters later that day. Instead saying he would “make his feelings known when the time was right.”

Both Hanaway and Schweich can be expected to continue to circle their wagons of supporters as both camps gear up for an almost certainly expensive and bloody primary.

Hanaway’s full list includes both lawmakers and former lawmakers, and can be found below.

Senator Mike Cunningham, Webster County

Senator Ed Emery, Barton County

Senator Dan Hegeman, Andrew County

Senator Mike Kehoe, Cole County

Senator Will Kraus, Jackson County

Senator Brian Munzlinger, Lewis County

Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, Jasper County

Representative Justin Alferman, Gasconade County

Representative Sue Allen, St. Louis County

Representative T.J. Berry, Clay County

Representative Wanda Brown, Benton County

Representative Cloria Brown, St. Louis County

Assistant Majority Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot, Jackson County

Representative Kathie Conway, St. Charles County

Representative Charlie Davis, Jasper County

Representative Tom Flanigan, Jasper County

Representative Diane Franklin, Camden County

Representative Marsha Haefner, St. Louis County

Representative Galen Higdon, Buchanan County

Representative Tila Rowland-Hubrecht, Stoddard County

Representative Mike Kelley, Barton County

Majority Caucus Chair Shelley Keeney, Bollinger County

Representative Glen Kolkmeyer, Lafayette County

Representative Bill Lant, McDonald County

Representative Donna Lichtenegger, Cape Girardeau County

Representative Dave Muntzel, Cooper County

Representative Sonya Murray-Anderson, Greene County

Representative Bill Reibolt, Newton County

Representative Rebecca Roeber, Jackson County

Representative Noel Shull, Clay County

Representative Shelia Solon, Jackson County

Representative Chrissy Sommer, St. Charles County

Representative Bryan Spencer, St. Charles County

Representative Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau County

Representative Ken Wilson, Clay County

Representative Anne Zerr, St. Charles County

Jim Avery, St. Louis County

Brian Baker, Cass County

Charles Ballard, Webster County

Linda Bartelsmeyer, Lawrence County

Matt Bartle, Jackson County

Carl Bearden, St. Charles County

Bob Behnen, Adair County

Jon Bennett, St. Charles County

Judy Berkstresser, Stone County

Lanie Black, Mississippi County

Jerry Bough, Christian County

Jason Brown, Platte County

Kathy Chinn, Macon County

Connie Cierpiot, Jackson County

Shannon Cooper, Henry County

Larry Crawford, Moniteau County

Cynthia Davis, St. Charles County

Gary Dusenberg, Jackson County

Doug Ervin, Clay County

Mayor Sally Faith, St. Charles County

Kathlyn Fares, St. Louis County

Barney Fisher, Vernon County

Tim Flook, Clay County

Sam Gaskill, McDonald County

Jim Graham, Madison County

Presiding Commissioner John Griesheimer, Franklin County

Casey Guernsey, Harrison County

Steve Henderson, Morgan County

Carl Hendrickson, St. Louis County

Presiding Commissioner Steve Hobbs, Audrain County

Steve Hunter, Jasper County

Pat Kelley, Jackson County

Ken Legan, Polk County

Tom Loehner, Osage County

Don Lograsso, Jackson County

Bob May, Phelps County

Mike McGhee, Lafayette County

Ronnie Miller, Cedar County

Danielle Moore, Callaway County

Jewell Patek, Livingston County

Susan Phillips, Clay County

Bryan Pratt, Jackson County

Charles Pryor, Morgan County

John Quinn, Livingston County

Rex Rector, Cass County

Commissioner Luann Ridgeway, Clay County

Mayor Carson Ross, Jackson County

Presiding Commissioner Marilyn Ruestman, Newton County

Therese Sander, Randolph County

Rodney Schad, Morgan County

Pat Secrest, St. Louis County

Tom Self, Benton County

Christopher Shoemaker, Macon County

Joe Smith, St. Charles County

Todd Smith, Pettis County

Neal St. Onge, St. Louis County

Bryan Stevenson, Jasper County

Don Summers, Putnam County

Kevin Threkeld, Franklin County

Noel Torpey, Clay County

Kevin Wilson, Newton County

Larry Wilson, Hickory County

Presiding Commissioner Dennis Wood, Stone County