Local lawmakers were in Kansas City’s Northland last week, July 13, celebrating the opening of their headquarters, recruiting volunteers, giving some primary endorsements and a stern warning for those not enthusiastic about voting Democrat at the top of the ticket.
“Let me tell you, those of you who are not big fans of Joe Biden right now I’m not either but I’m voting for Supreme Court picks,” District 12 State Rep. Jamie Johnson-D said before the President said he was dropping out of the race. “Let the talking heads talk but at the end of the day a Democrat is going to be President of the United States.”
Since Biden’s announcement Vice President Kamala Harris has jumped into the race as the front-runner and has the current President’s endorsement.
Johnson talked about a plan some Republicans have openly endorsed, Project 2025 and she referred to the document as a “standard operating procedure for taking over the country.” Johnson warned that former President Trump if reelected, will appoint “professionals” that will kowtow to whatever he wants.
“Trump will come in and appoint federal judges who might not even have law degrees at this point,” Johnson said.
Rep. Ashley Aune, D-14, said Democrats need to also focus on taking back the state. For more than 20 years Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority in both chambers of the legislature and currently hold every statewide elected office.
Aune said after the rise of the Tea Party in 2009, also former President Barack Obama’s first year in office, the state party in Missouri was decimated and not one single Democrat was elected the House or Senate south of I-70; Until Crystal Quade, the Democrats’ House Minority Leader from Springfield, broke through and won her seat. Now she’s running for governor and has the full endorsement of both Aune and Johnson.
“The one person we need to consider here is Crystal Quade. Nobody else matters as far as I’m concerned,” Aune said. “Crystal is the first Democrat to flip a seat south of the I-70 corridor to help bring us back out of our deep dark abyss.
“She flipped it herself,” Aune added. “When the state party wasn’t there, when the state party wasn’t funded she built the pieces. She created the infrastructure we needed.”
“And guess what happens when you build it?” Johnson asked. “They will come.”
Johnson was referring to herself and credits Quade for helping her be the first African American elected to the state legislature from Platte County. Johnson said thanks to Quade’s hard work Democrats are only three seats away from breaking the supermajority.
“She built the infrastructure that got me into District 12,” Johnson said. “She has built the infrastructure that has helped Democrats win throughout the state.”
Both women aimed at Quade’s main opponent, Springfield businessman Mike Hamra.
“She is not a millionaire and her opponent is,” Aune said. “I have not met him and he has not been here doing the work. Crystal has and she deserves a voice.”
Both ladies also endorsed current Assistant House Minority Leader Richard Brown from Kansas City for Lt. Governor; Elad Gross for Attorney General and Pam May of St. Joseph for U.S. Congress District 6.
One race the two didn’t want to step in was the nomination to go up against U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley for his seat. Lucas Kunce, a former Marine, ran for the nomination two years ago. State Sen. Carla May, a Democrat from St. Louis, is also running for the nomination.
“I think we have strong candidates and there are reasons to vote for both,” Aune said.
The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 6.