Press "Enter" to skip to content

Last week’s special election seats await approval

By Eli Yokley

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Two new members will be joining the General Assembly as a result of last Tuesday’s special election.

Mike Moon, R-Mt. Vernon, and Joshua Peters, D-St. Louis, both won their elections and are expected to be seated as soon as Secretary of State Jason Kander certifies election results.

Potential Rep. Mike Moon, R-Mt. Vernon
Potential Rep. Mike Moon, R-Mt. Vernon

Peters ran unopposed, but Moon, a conservative favorite who had never been elected to public office before, was challenged by Charles Dake, Moon’s own veterinarian, who previously won the seat during a 2006 special election.

Because of the nature of the election, Republicans and Democrats were able to expend resources in the rural district.

Democrats dispatched Attorney General Chris Koster and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel to the region to help boost Dake’s candidacy. Though unsuccessful this time, Joe Duffy, executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party, said his party will continue to compete for competitive legislative seats.

“While the results aren’t particularly surprising given the strong Republican tilt in that district, our involvement sends a signal that we’re going to compete everywhere in the state,” he said.

In an effort to defend their super-majority, Republicans were incredibly active throughout the district. In addition to opening a House Republican Campaign Committee office in the district, volunteers and staff canvased the region during the weeks leading up to the election.

Potential Rep. Joshua Peters, D-St. Louis
Potential Rep. Joshua Peters, D-St. Louis

On April 1, the day before the election, 27 Republican state representatives visited the district to canvas for Moon — following weeks of work from Missouri Republican Party staff and a visit to the district by House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka.

Moon’s win last week brings the Republican majority back to 110 — one more than the minimum to be veto proof.

“Mike Moon’s victory showed that the Republicans in Missouri are solidly united,” said Scott Dieckhaus, executive director of the HRCC. “With HRCC taking the lead, and a team of volunteers, state representatives, and party officials, he won by a much larger margin than most expected against a quality Democrat opponent.”

Moon’s election was important to the super-majority because during June, before any special session of the General Assembly and September’s veto session, another Republican — House Speaker Pro Tem Jason Smith — is the favorite to win a special election for U.S. Congress in the 8th Congressional District, pulling the majority back to 109 — the number required to be veto proof.

To contact Eli Yokley, email eli@themissouritimes.com, or via Twitter at @eyokley.