Missouri Democratic gubernatorial candidates Hamra, Quade outline plans

ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 is Your Local Election Headquarters and with the Missouri primaries just two weeks away, two candidates for governor visited the newsroom for a special report.

Most of the money, advertising, and overall attention in the Missouri governor primaries have been on the Republican side. However, there is also a heated race among Democrats, with just two candidates who garner demonstrable support in statewide polls.

With the issue of abortion rights also likely to be on the ballot in November, they believe they can turn a red state blue.

Missouri State Rep. Crystal Quade and chain restaurant (Wendy’s, Noodles, Panera) owner Mike Hamra, are both from Springfield. Both point to disfunction at the Republican-dominated state capitol as a top issue of the campaign, among others.

“The crippling gridlock is really what pushed me to want to run for governor this year,” Quade said. “We’re some of the lowest in the country for things like teacher pay and education funding. We’ve had 18 rural hospitals close in the last decade, our roads and bridges are crumbling, the list goes on and on. Instead of focusing on that, it’s just been nothing but divisiveness.”

“I’m tired of the political games that are being played in Jefferson City,” Hamra said. “I know I’m the only candidate in this race that just released a large policy plan. It’s a 42-page document. It talks about growing our state economy; it talks about supporting things that are important to our parents and families in our state, like supporting kids in our public school system, (and) making sure we have great health care in the state of Missouri.”

Both candidates addressed the key issue of abortion rights.

“We have one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country today. Thanks to advocates across the state, we’ll have a ballot initiative in November that will provide voters the opportunity to restore abortion rights to women in the state of Missouri,” Hamra said. “I’m confident we will get that done—I’ll be a governor who will protect those rights and make sure we keep them in place.”

“I personally have received calls from women who are actively miscarrying. They go to the doctor’s office and they’re told, ‘You’re not close enough to dying yet, so, you’ve got to go home for a little while,’ it’s really scary,” Quade said. “That is something I’m hearing everywhere. We add IVF to that conversation and birth control rights… folks everywhere are really frustrated with this government overreach into our personal lives.”

Quade has lagged in campaign funding and advertising, with Hamra donating more than $1.5 million to his own campaign since December. Still, both see Democrats taking back the governor’s office for the first time in eight years.

“I know the direction we’re headed if we don’t get a Democrat in office—that’s why I’m running; that’s why I’m investing in this campaign myself,” Hamra said. “I know how important and how critical this is for the State of Missouri and for the people of the state. What you see on the other side is politicians, candidates for office playing games (and) attacking each other. My ads and what I’m trying to communicate to voters is that I have a real agenda. I have a policy initiative that I will implement as governor.”

“Yes, my opponent has dominated TV. He is a self-funder but I think ultimately I can win this race because I know what folks are up against and I can go in and start working on day 1,” Quade said. “Governor is not a thing you can learn on the fly or on the job…that’s how I know I’ve got a shot this year in November in a state like Missouri. These aren’t partisan things—folks want their elected leaders who understand what they’re going through and who will fight for the issues that impact them every single day.”

The two also talked about their governing style.

“I wanted to run for office to bring that voice to the table, so, when we are making decisions on who gets the tax cut, it’s not necessarily just the corporations and the wealthy but we’ve got somebody in the room who can advocate for regular Missourians,” Quade said. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do as governor.”

“I’m running for this office because I know how to move things forward. I know how to bring people together, set a vision, and get people aligned on that vision,” Hamra said. “Even where there might be disagreements, I’ll bring that same approach to being governor because that’s how I’ve grown my business over the last 22 years.”

Missourians can expect to see both of these candidates a lot in the area in these final days before the Aug. 6 primary, as they both say St. Louis voters are key to their success.

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