Democrats gather for annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner

SAINT LOUIS, Mo. — Hundreds of Democratic lawmakers, volunteers and supporters gathered at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown for the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. The annual event is designed to bring party activists, lawmakers and donors to one place to build party unity.

U.S. Assistant Senate Majority Leader, Dick Durbin, was the keynote speaker, joining Secretary of State Jason Kander, Sen. Claire McCaskill, who all spoke to the packed ballroom.

About 500 attendees ate dinner and listened to Democrats sound a rallying cry. Kander, a young favorite within the Party, roused the crowd by hammering the “embarrassing failures,” of the Republican legislature.

“You know that part in Zoolander when Will Farrell’s character screams ‘I feel like I’m taking crazy pills’?” Kander said. “That’s how I feel every day during the legislative session in Jefferson City.”

Kander said Republicans rejected Medicaid expansion for “morally bankrupt” reasons like winning primaries or disliking President Obama.

Lawmakers from across the state, several seeking new office in 2014, attended the dinner to rub elbows with party faithful. State representatives Jill Schupp and Jeff Roorda, both seeking seats in the state senate in 2014, were both in attendance.

Attorney General Chris Koster — all but certain to be the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2016 — gave a second $100,000 check to the Missouri Democratic Party in keeping with his promise last year to financially support down-ticket Democrats.

“Little by little we are going to rebuild majorities in this party,” Koster said. “While never forgetting the voiceless.”

McCaskill could not attend, citing an illness in the family. However, McCaskill sent a video greeting to the crowd, where she encouraged more grassroots involvement and teamwork.

“Something important is worth fighting for,” McCaskill said. “Don’t give up.”