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POLL: Koster leads but down ballot looks good for statewide Republicans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster maintained his lead in the race for governor, but it’s looking like a strong year for down-ballot Republican statewide candidates.

In the weekly Missouri Times poll, Koster checked in with a seven point lead, within his margin of error from last week when he lead Republican Eric Greitens by six points. Three weeks before the election, Koster leads the Republican 48-41.

Down ballot, Republicans continue to hold strong leads over their Democratic opponents. In the race for attorney general, Josh Hawley leads Democrat Teresa Hensley 48-42, a six point lead over the former prosecutor.

If Hawley were to maintain his lead, he would be the first Republican attorney general in Missouri since William Webster in 1993.

Republican state Sen. Eric Schmitt also maintained a lead the treasurer race, outpacing former state Rep. Judy Baker 49-40. Schmitt owes a lot of his success to strength in the St. Louis media market, where he’s running evenly with Baker, a tremendous advantage for a Republican.

Combined with previous results showing Republican secretary of state candidate Jay Ashcroft leading his race and Republican Mike Parson in a virtual tie with Russ Carnahan for lieutenant governor, this could be a strong year for Republicans in statewide office.

Only four Republicans have held statewide elected office since 2000. Current Missouri Times polling shows that in January, five Republicans could hold statewide office.