Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Times has learned that Senator Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) will be moving to the lt. governor’s race. The official announcement will be made sometime over the weekend or early next week.
Parson hails from Bolivar, Missouri. Before becoming a member of the General Assembly, Parson was in the U.S. Army for six years and then the sheriff of Polk County for twelve years, until he was elected as a state representative in 2004. He beat fellow State Reps. Larry Wilson and Ed Emery in a Republican primary in 2010 to become a state senator.
Parson already has $726,729.72 on hand for his upcoming run at lt. governor’s race.
The entries of fellow senator and southwest Missourian Sen. Bob Dixon and especially Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to the gubernatorial race have complicated Parson’s path in the crowded Republican primary to face off against Attorney General Chris Koster in 2016.
Sources indicate that his new campaign for lt. governor will be kicked off with several endorsements, including most of the Senate Republican caucus.
Kansas City attorney and former Club for Growth chairwoman Bev Randles is already in the race on the Republican side. She has $902,767.87 on hand for the race.
On the Democratic side, physician and attorney Brad Bradshaw is already running a spirited campaign, and he is joined by Rep. Tommie Pierson. Farmer and businessman Barry Aycock of Parma is considering a run, but is unlikely to announce until the fall.
