BOLIVAR, Mo. — Confirming weeks of speculation, Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, formally announced his bid for the governor’s mansion in 2016 to a packed high school auditorium of hundreds of supporters.
Parson’s kick-off event was in Bolivar High School in Parson’s hometown, where Parson has worked as a farmer and served as Polk County Sheriff. Parson pledged to be a candidate supporting the agricultural industry, guided by Christian faith, and committed to a cleaner brand of politics.
“After all, the welfare of the people is meant to be the supreme law of the land,” Parson told the crowd. “Even in a day and age when it seems far too many politicians have lost touch with that idea, I strive each and every day to put people before politics in every decisions I make.”
Parson said Missourians were “fed up” with politicians “running each other through the mud.” Parson, a third generation cattle farmer and former U.S. Army service member, was greeted with thunderous applause when he promised his number one priority would be agriculture, before supporters holding signs began to chant “We Like Mike.”
“Missouri has always been a state where our strength comes from the things we grow in the soil and the products we make,” Parson said. “I will do all I can do to promote Missouri agriculture.”
Parson joins a field expected to get more crowded. Catherine Hanaway, a former Speaker of the Missouri House and U.S. Attorney has long announced her intentions to run and recently began campaigning again. Former Senate candidate John Brunner is widely speculated to be preparing to enter the race as well. Parson will have to overcome his relative lack of name ID compared to his fellow candidates in order to mount a significant primary challenge.
“It’s a long time until the election,” Parson said. “We’re going to be getting out there and getting the name ID up, but we’re already seeing some good things with that already for having not even announced until today.”
Parson said the suicide of state Auditor and candidate for Governor, Tom Schweich, factored heavily into his decision to run. He called it a “wake up call,” and said he made a decision shortly after “to refuse to do nothing.”
Parson included a list of events beginning May 1, when he will travel to Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, and Poplar Bluff for campaign events.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
