Saint Louis, Mo. — A 30-year political career came to an end on Tuesday night when St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley lost to his Democratic primary challenger, county councilman Steve Stenger, in a primary night full of ups and downs for the St. Louis region.
Stenger won by a huge margin (a 2-1 victory at around midnight, 90 minutes after Dooley conceded the race) in the most publicly brutal race in the St. Louis region. An impressive turnout in the southern and western parts of St. Louis County propelled Stenger to a win in a race that most experts said would be decided by turnout.
Stenger staged something of a coup in St. Louis County, where Dooley had the support of Mayor Francis Slay and a considerable political machine. Dooley was hurt in no small part when most organized labor in the region decided to back Stenger, saying that Dooley had broken a number of campaign promises.
Other races:
**Dr. Bob Onder breezed through a crowded primary in a race with no general election challenger. Onder took 63 percent of the vote in a three-way primary against former Rep. Vicki Schneider and Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, in one of the evening’s most decisive wins.
**Jay Ashcroft won by almost 20 percent of the vote in his primary against Jack Spooner and Robb Hicks, lining him up for a likely explosive general election against Democratic Rep. Jill Schupp.
**The ugly primary between Rep. Josh Peters and Chris Carter Sr., which got even bloodier on primary day, ended in a nine point win for Peters.
**Rep. Kurt Bahr was initially thought to be in some danger after a staunch anti-Right-to-Work Republican and his labor supporters poured significant money and energy into the race, but he ultimately cruised to an easy victory.
**Former State Senator Brian Nieves lost is bid for Franklin County Recorder of Deeds by 10 percent.
**Former University City Mayor Joe Adams won the four-way Democratic primary for the 86th House district seat held by the late Rep. Rory Ellinger by more than 10 percent despite intense campaigning against him by senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal.
**Alan Green decisively won both the special election and the Democratic primary for the seat vacated by Rep. Steve Webb, assuring his chance to vote in the veto session.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
