Thomas Gounley

TGOUNLEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

When it comes to legislative races in southwest Missouri, August primaries are often more important than November elections.

Thanks to the region's conservative nature, the candidate that gets the Republican nod typically winds up in Jefferson City. Sometimes there's not even a general election opponent.

But there's one Missouri House of Representatives seat that has regularly bucked that trend. District 132 is currently represented by Democrat Charlie Norr.

Skyler Johnston, executive director of the Greene County Democrats, notes that outside of the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas, "it's the only Democratic district south of I-70" — a region that comprises half the state.

District 132 sits smack dab in the middle of Springfield. It includes downtown and the Missouri State University campus, as well as a solid stretch of the northwest part of the city — a relatively economically disadvantaged area.

Norr has represented all or part of the area — which underwent redistricting after the 2010 election — since 2006, with the exception of one term. In 2010, he lost to Republican Melissa Leach by about 300 votes, or 4 percent. But when the two met again two years later, Norr won by about 8 percent.

Norr is ineligible to run again, due to term limits. Heading into the Aug. 2 primaries, the Republicans and Democrats each have two candidates in District 132.

"It's going to be a seat that is going to get a lot of Democratic attention, just because we would like to hold it," Johnston said.

Republicans feel just as strongly.

"We've been constantly trying to get it," said Danette Proctor, chair of the Greene County Republican Central Committee.

Daniel Ponder, director of the Meador Center for Politics and Citizenship at Drury University, said Norr's 13 percent margin of victory over his Republican challenger in 2014 would typically qualify the district as a safe Democratic seat. But the district generally sees fewer votes than others in the city, he said — meaning it doesn't necessarily take many voters to turn the tide.

"I would be surprised to see it go to a Republican," Ponder said. "But it's also ripe for mobilization."

Two candidates, attorney Bob Sweere and nonprofit executive Crystal Quade, are competing in the Democratic primary. Ponder said he considers Sweere to have a slight advantage because the prominent sign on National Avenue outside his law office has given him a degree of name recognition.

On the Republican side, Thomas Quinn and Tyler Hobbs are hoping for the nod.

The Aug. 2 primary will narrow the field. Three months later, it will be Democrat versus Republican, with Libertarian Chris Burros thrown in the mix.

"The more important race is going to happen in November," Johnston said.

Meet the candidates: Quinn, Hobbs vie for Republican nod in District 132

Meet the candidates: Quade, Sweere compete in District 132 Democratic primary

Two additional Republican primaries contested

The District 132 race is the only local contested Democratic statehouse primary.

But there are two additional contested primaries on the Republican side.

In District 133, which generally covers southwest Springfield, four Republicans — Curtis Trent, Matthew Sims, David Cort and Mike Goodart — are hoping to be the choice for the November general election. The seat is currently held by Republican Eric Burlison, who is ineligible to run again due to term limits.

In District 137, Jake Myers is running in the Republican primary against incumbent Lyndall Fraker.

Head of Democrats: More candidates this year

While Democrats may only have the one contested primary, Johnston said, they do have candidates for all but one Greene County statehouse seat.

Only District 137 — which partially covers Webster County — won't have a Democrat on the November ballot.

By comparison, in 2014, there were three local Greene County statehouse races without a Democrat on the ballot. In 2012 and 2010, there were four.

"This year is kind of unusual in just the sheer number of Democratic candidates," Johnston said, adding that fielding more candidates was a goal of his upon becoming executive director last year.

What races will be competitive in November?

Proctor said that, besides 132, "the one district we're going to watch is 135."

While the 135th District — which generally comprises east Springfield — has consistently elected Republicans, Proctor said, the margin is typically smaller than other area districts.

Republican Lincoln Hough carried the district with a 16 percent margin in 2014 and a 10 percent margin in 2012. This year, Hough is running for a Greene County commissioner seat, leaving Democrat Randy Alberhasky poised to face off against Republican Steve Helms in November.

Ponder said he'll be watching District 136 in November, as Democrat Jeff Munzinger squares off against Republican incumbent Kevin Austin. Munzinger, Ponder said, has some name recognition and has had decent fundraising hauls.

Projecting August, November turnout

Just over 21 percent of registered Greene County voters turned out to the polls for the August 2014 primaries, compared to 22.7 percent in August 2012.

Turnout this August should benefit from several competitive races at the statewide level. Four Republicans are seeking the party's nomination for governor, with polling indicating a close race.

Proctor said she believes area Republicans are more tuned in to state races this year — in part because they may not be as enthralled as usual with the party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

"This is Cruz country down here," she said. "What I'm seeing is the Cruz people coming out and helping statewide candidates."

Proctor did add, however, that "we do have a lot of people walking in our headquarters, wanting Trump signs." But when she spoke with the News-Leader in mid-July, the party actually didn't have any to give away.

In November, Proctor said, "what's going to motivate people to get out are the statewide and local races."

Johnston, meanwhile, predicted a "very interesting November" in which "conventional wisdom is going to go out the window."

Regarding Trump, he said: "I honestly think he is going to be the best Democratic organizer we could hope for."

Polling place location changes

A number of Greene County precincts will have new polling place locations for the Aug. 2 primary, according to the Greene County Clerk's Office:

9AB: Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center, 300 S. Jefferson Ave. (Previously 1st Baptist Church Christian Life Center)

11: East Sunshine Church of Christ, 3721 E. Sunshine St. (Previously High Street Baptist Church)

31C: Springfield Bible Church, 2145 E. Grand St. (Previously High Street Baptist Church)

32AC: Second Baptist Church, 3111 E. Battlefield Road (Previously Brentwood Christian Church)

38AB: Second Baptist Church, 3111 E. Battlefield Road (Previously Glendale Baptist Church)

34AC: Executive Conference Center and 910 Ballroom, 910 W. Battlefield Road (Previously Sunset Church of Christ)

Clay B: Fellowship Bible Church, 4855 S. Farm Road 205 (Previously River of Life Lutheran Church)

Wilson A: David Harrison Elementary School, 3055 W. Kildee Lane (Previously St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)

Temporary shift: 45A: Unity of Springfield Church, 2214 E. Seminole St. (Previously Brentwood Library)

The full list: Candidates for area statehouse races

Here are all the candidates that will be on the ballots Aug. 2 for Greene County and Christian County Missouri House of Representative seats. Names within parties are listed in the order that they will appear on the ballot.

130th District

Republican: Jeff Messenger

Democratic: Ella Jane Goeppinger

131st District

R: Sonya Murray Anderson

D: Nate Branscom

Libertarian: Arthur Hodge Sr.

132nd District

R: Thomas Quinn, Tyler Hobbs

D: Crystal Quade, Bob Sweere

L: Chris Burros

133rd District

R: Curtis D. Trent, Matthew Sims, David Cort, Mike Goodart

D: Jim Clemmons

134th District

R: Elijah Haahr

D: Angela Dowler Pryor

L: Daniel A Romine

135th District

R: Steve Helms

D: Randy Alberhasky

L: David Carr

136th District

R: Kevin Austin

D: Jeff Munzinger

137th District

R: Jake Myers, Lyndall Fraker

138th District

R: Don Phillips

139th District

R: Jered Taylor

140th District

R: Lynn Morris

D: Jim Billedo