Contests for the 12 governor’s offices up in November are mostly snoozers, with incumbents or members of the same party now in office strongly favored to win.
But the fight over the Missouri governorship is looking like a real race. Republican Gov. Mike Parson, 64, will face State Auditor Nicole Galloway in his bid for a full term in the office he inherited on June 1, 2018, when his Republican predecessor, Eric Greitens, resigned amid a sex scandal.
Galloway, 38, is the sole Democrat and woman among the six elected statewide officeholders in Jefferson City. She has been state auditor since 2015 and previously was treasurer for Boone County, home to the University of Missouri.
Missouri is likely to favor President Trump over Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Once a pivotal swing state in presidential politics, from 2004 on, it’s been a reliably GOP Electoral College win.
Parson has been a longtime player in Missouri politics, serving as the 12-year sheriff for the conservative Polk County, which Trump won by a nearly 57-point margin. He was later a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, followed by the state Senate.
The race is projected by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report to be “likely Republican” in favor of Parson. The rating indicates that the race is not currently competitive but could have the potential to become more engaged.
Parson’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has faced criticism by Democrats, including Galloway. Parson also garnered national attention when he made a controversial statement saying that children returning to school in the fall will get the coronavirus.
In the same interview, Parson further said he would most likely pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey if they face criminal charges. The St. Louis couple made headlines after they were caught on video pointing guns at protesters marching outside their home in a gated community shared with the city’s mayor.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch cited Parson’s record as one of emphasizing on improving education and infrastructure. He is someone who typically stays away from vocal partisan attacks, the paper said.
Galloway is framing herself as a “Missouri Democrat” with a focus on good government. She has advocated for “commonsense” gun control reforms, including enhanced background checks and permits.
The Democrat also unveiled a response plan to the coronavirus pandemic that includes a statewide mask mandate and investments in local health facilities. Missouri is one of the hardest-hit states experiencing spikes in COVID-19 cases. It is also one cautioned by Dr. Anthony Fauci to try to keep cases at bay, especially around holidays.
Galloway also sparred with Sen. Josh Hawley over an audit she spearheaded regarding his travel expenses when he served as Missouri’s attorney general. Hawley dismissed the report and accused Galloway of violating basic auditing standards to make the audit more critical for the attorney general’s office.
