Voting is now closed.
#BarklageCup was used 400 times in the second round and for each hashtag used, $1 will be donated to the Epilepsy Foundation, continuing through the entire tournament. If you would like to make your own donation, please go to https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EpilepsyFoundationofMissouriK/TributesGiftsMemorials.html.
Dick Webster Region
1 Brian Grace vs. 13 Travis Fitzwater
1 Grace 52%
13 Fitzwater 48%
Grace was on upset alert against Senator Nasheed, but advanced to the sweet 16 to face bracket buster and freshman diaper dandy Rep. Travis Fitzwater. This one will be nuclear with the gentleman from Callaway going head to head with super lobbyist and podcast star Brian Grace. We have lunch at Cork for the winner.
3 Peter Kinder vs. 15 Sammy Panettiere
3 Kinder 47%
15 Panettiere 53%
Freshman phenom Sam Panettiere is on a tear coming out of the 15 seed and knocking off fellow Kansas Citian Danny Pfeifer in one of the closest matchups in #BarklageCup history. Can he keep his magic going against the dean of the Missouri Republican Party in Peter Kinder? Or does Kinder make every dollar count for the epilepsy foundation, and have a symbolic reuniting with David Barklage via his face on a cup in his possession for a year.
Jim Mathewson Region
1 Caleb Rowden vs. 5 Robert Cornejo
1 Rowden 68%
5 Cornejo 32%
Sophomores will square off as Rowden moved the previous question on House Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot in a close race and Cornejo got even for every Republican Jeff Mazur has ever mocked in advancing to the Sweet 16. Let’s say Cornejo won a “vote measuring contest.” Now the two of them go head-to-head with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line in a matchup that will be as interesting as an elderly liberal giving Scott Faughn interior decorating tips. We’re hoping Cornejo spices things up by challenging Rowden to a hair vs. hair match.
6 Scott Charton vs. 2 Jason Rosenbaum
2 Rosenbaum 55%
6 Charton 45%
Media titans face off as Rosenbaum continues his dominance over Joe Lakin and Charton comes in with a head of steam thanks to his Beer, Bacon, and Cigars campaign. I-70 will be hot as Columbia vs. St. Louis square off. This one kind of reminds of you of the scene in anchorman where the Channel 9 and Channel 2 news teams squared off in Anchorman. We hope the spanish language and public access news teams don’t interfere.
Bill McKenna Region
1 Jane Dueker vs. 12 Alex Eaton
1 Dueker 41%
12 Eaton 59%
Dueker won the KMOX bowl against John Hancock in the 2nd round and Alex Eaton used a combination of hudspa, great hair, and a reckless abandon for his client’s legislative agenda to defeat the Speaker. Now the 12 seed will face his biggest underdog challenge yet in perennial vote against powerhouse 1 seed Jane Dueker. Maybe the two of them can get in an Uber, or a cab, and work out a clean campaign pledge. If not, look for the hottest battle not including the state seal of the sweet 16.
3 Mark Reardon vs. 2 Eric Schmitt
2 Schmitt 54%
3 Reardon 46%
Reardon snuck by rising campaign and social media star Michael Hafner into the Sweet 16 where he faces the “Official State Senator of the Mark Reardon Show” Eric Schmitt. Historians may look to Schmitt’s 2nd round victory of Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster as the first battle in the 2020 governor’s race. However, the task at hand is: who is the more popular, the host or his top guest? Who built Wrestlemania: Vince McMahon or Hulk Hogan? Who was more valuable: Tony LaRussa or Dave Duncan? We many not ever know the answers to these questions, but we will know who wins this social media Missouri political personalities online poll. You’re welcome.
Harold Caskey Region
8 Jeremy LaFaver vs. 5 Kurt Schaefer
5 Schaefer 49%
8 LaFaver 51%
Kurt Schaefer won the first ever three way dance in #BarklageCup history coming out on top against Crystal Brinkley and Megan Shackelford. Now he will be tested in the Sweet 16 by a Cinderella story in Jeremy LaFaver, who knocked off Mayor Slay to advance. Many have wondered how a senate debate would go down between the staunch liberal from south Kansas City and the man who closed an abortion clinic, but now the people can decide with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.
14 Aaron Baker vs. 2 Chris Kelly
2 Kelly 53%
14 Baker 47%
Aaron Baker storms into the sweet 16 after back-to-back upsets, this one over Rep. Haahr, but now he takes on the man with the quickest wit in Missouri politics in former Rep. Chris Kelly. Baker will have to summon Axiom and maybe even Ted Cruz to continue his phenomenal run in his freshman entry into the #BarklageCup. If nothing else the Epilepsy Foundation will benefit, and maybe we can hear some Chris Kelly jokes about Ted Cruz.
