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EMILY’s List endorses Gunby for HD 99

EMILY’s List, a national pro-choice political action committee, is wading into the fight for a swing district in the Missouri House.

The group formally endorsed Trish Gunby in the special election for HD 99 on Tuesday. On Nov. 5, Gunby will go up Republican Lee Ann Pitman to represent a portion of St. Louis County. 

“Trish Gunby is a strong community leader with deep ties to Missouri’s 99th House District. An engaged citizen who has championed issues like public safety, voting rights, and gun safety, she will undoubtedly be a strong voice in Jefferson City for working families,” Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, said in a statement. “The choice could not be more clear for voters come November and EMILY’s List is proud to support Trish’s candidacy for the Missouri House of Representatives.”

Gov. Mike Parson called the special election for the district following the resignation of Jean Evans, who was just months into her second term before she became the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party

In the 2018 general election, the district elected Evans, a Republican, to the House while simultaneously voting to side with Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, for U.S. Senate. 

As of the July quarterly filings, Gunby had the bigger war chest. Gunby had $44,162.98 in the bank while Pitman had $3,876.79 cash on hand.  So far, Gunby racked in $62,917.75 in comparison to Pitman’s $5,651.00 in donations. 

In making the endorsement, EMILY’s List highlighted Gunby’s work to increase public safety through her Neighborhood Watch Program and to expand access to the ballot box with the St. Louis Area Voter Protection Coalition.

Gunby’s professional background is in project management and marketing, according to her campaign website. She worked at Citicorp Mortgage and Purina before staying home to raise her two children.

She served as a social justice coordinator at Manchester United Methodist Church, where she worked on elevating the congregation’s awareness of issues related to gun violence, hunger, poverty, LGBTQ rights, mental health, and racial justice.

EMILY’s List is a national political action committee with a goal of helping to elect pro-abortion Democratic women to office.