Zweifel backs away from gubernatorial race, easing the path for Koster
By Eli Yokley and Scott Faughn
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Treasurer Clint Zweifel will not seek the Democratic nomination for Governor during 2016, sources close to his campaign committee said, clearing the field of a major road-block for Attorney General Chris Koster’s likely candidacy.
Zweifel, a former Teamster, announced his intention during a meeting with Attorney General Chris Koster. After the meeting, he informed U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill while she was in mid-Missouri earlier this week, according to Democratic sources with knowledge of the internal discussions.
Jane Dueker, a St. Louis based government relations attorney who previously served as Chief of Staff to Gov. Bob Holden, said she hoped Zweifel’s move is a sign of unity to come among the ranks of the Missouri Democratic Party that could help them replicate the wins of the last two election cycles during the coming two election cycles.
“Attorney General Koster will be an incredibly strong nominee for Governor in 2016,” Dueker said. “I am sure Democrats also hope that this does not signal that Treasurer Zweifel, who has done a spectacular job, is done with public service in Missouri.”
Sen. Jamiliah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, who has experience with brutal primaries, agreed with Dueker’s sentiment and said she hopes 2016 could be another good year for Democrats.
“The last thing the Democrats needed was self destructive primary for Governor,” she said. “I can truly say that Clint Zweifel is a team player within the Democratic Party. Now the fundraising dollars can go into one primary pot for the gubernatorial race.”
Zweifel’s announcement would open the door for unions to solidify even further around Koster, if they chose to do so. Just this past quarter, for example, the United Auto Workers in Hazelwood, Mo., contributed $25,000 to Koster’s campaign committee — part of a $95,000 large donor haul during the first full quarter since his reelection last November.
Koster, who switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party ahead of his 2008 campaign for Attorney General, would be a similar candidate to the office’s current occupant, Gov. Jay Nixon, who won reelection on the premise that he was a moderate willing to work together with the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
Zweifel’s decision comes at a curious time — before the party has even selected candidates for the state auditor race next year, and before Koster has even publicly acknowledged his intention to run during 2016.
According to an aide close to Zweifel, the deal was not made because of party pressure or promises. The decision, the aide said “was a personal one, with the ages of his daughters being a significant factor. The Treasurer isn’t ruling out any other options.” 
Zweifel will be term limited in 2016, and his name has been mulled as a potential nominee for U.S. Senate against Sen. Roy Blunt. The meeting could be the first in an effort by McCaskill and others to solidify a ticket early to continue the party’s hold on the top of state government, particularly in a year like 2016, where the powerful Blunt political machine will emerge from its current hibernation.
James Harris, a lobbyist and Republican consultant, is one of the many operatives watching Zweifel’s move carefully. Harris lauded Zweifel’s move as good for the Democrats, and added he hoped the GOP would do the same for one of his clients, state Auditor Tom Schweich.
“It is smart that Democrats are coalescing behind Chris Koster and avoiding a primary battle, especially considering that Missouri is trending Republican,” he said. “Hopefully, Republicans will follow suit and rally behind someone like Tom Schweich.”
The last nine out of 10 governors, however, have been statewide officials, which Schweich’s team see’s as an advantage. Unlike Koster, however, Schweich is not alone on the GOP shortlist. Aside from many of the senior members of the state Senate who are not shy about future political ambitions, other names like John Brunner, who has spent much of the spring attempting to maintain his name identification by hitting the Lincoln Day Circuit, as well as U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer are also said to be mulling runs.
Zweifel’s move does, however, open Koster up to more fire. Under Missouri Republican Party Chairman Ed Martin, much of the in-house staff spent the last two years channeling their fire at Koster during Martin’s run for attorney general. Those research books have not disappeared, and Republicans will have time to use them.
“The early move by the Democrats will allow the Republican Party three plus years to define the empty suit of a politician that is Chris Koster, a comparative advantage for the party, which now has a clear target,” said Shane Schoeller, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.
To contact Eli Yokley, email eli@themissouritimes.com, or via Twitter at @eyokley. To contact Scott Faughn, email publisher@themissouritimes.com, or via Twitter at @scottfaughn.
