JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — As Missourians get ready to decide whether or not they want to become a right-to-work state, nearly $10 million has been spent on advertising as both sides work to get their message to voters.
We Are Missouri, the coalition of pro-worker supporters opposed to Proposition A, has the spending and fundraising advantage. The ‘No on Prop A’ campaign has raised a total $16.1 million as compared to $3.1 million between three different committees in support of the measure. The committee advertising and advocating for Prop A, Missourians for Freedom to Work, has raised $1,441,166.97 this election, with half of that amount — $735,000 — coming from the National Right to Work Committee.
When it comes to advertising, a total of $9.9 million has been spent between broadcast television, cable, and radio. The coalition opposed to the measure has outspent the other side by nearly eight times. But, the Virginia-based National Right to Work Committee has spent nearly three times the amount than Missourians for Freedom to Work.
We Are Missouri has spent $8.4 million on advertising between broadcast television, cable, and radio. In contrast, supporters of the measure — Missourians for Freedom to Work and the National Right to Work Committee — have spent $1.4 million in advertising between broadcast television, cable, and radio.
The one median where the pro-Prop A campaign has outspent the opposition is radio. Missourians for Freedom to Work has spent $323,464.08 and the National Right to Work Committee has spent $146,969.00. We Are Missouri has spent $186,700.00 and Local Laborers 663 has spent $17,000.00.
When it comes to broadcast television, We Are Missouri spent $5,037,225.00, the National Right to Work Committee has spent $883,397.00, and Local Laborers 663 have spent $27,963.00. For cable advertisements, We Are Missouri has spent $3,201,840.00 and the National Right to Work Committee has spent $96,136.00.
“We are Missouri is running a professional campaign and reaching out to voters in every corner of the state,” said Jack Cardetti, spokesperson with We Are Missouri. “What is going to defeat Prop A on Tuesday in the grassroots campaign. In every corner of the state, neighbors are talking to neighbors, friends are talking to friends, they are getting out and canvassing to defeat Prop A. Missourian aren’t going to be fooled by a Virginia-based dark money organization that is trying to get Missourians to lower their own pay and benefits.”
Missourians for Freedom to Work did not respond to a request for comment.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
