25 fundraisers in three days: Veto session offers Missouri lawmakers a chance to raise money

The Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City this week to consider whether to override any of Gov. Mike Parson’s vetoes.

And while they are in town, many will also engage in another veto session tradition — raising campaign cash at a parade of parties and fundraisers all over the Capitol City.

Less than two months out from the November election, there are 25 fundraising events scheduled over the course of three days this week, offering everything from “fellowship and coffee” to “live music” to “debate watch and karaoke.”

The first event takes place Monday night, when nine incumbent Republican senators will be joined by eight GOP nominees for open Senate seats at the Jefferson City office of the Armstrong Teasdale law firm.

A few of those listed on the Armstrong Teasdale invite are also scheduled to attend another fundraiser at the same time less than a block away at CORK & and Board, which advertises itself as Jefferson City’s “one and only board game pub.”

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On Tuesday, another 19 fundraisers are scheduled, kicking off at 1:15 p.m., when House Majority Leader Jon Patterson will be the special guest at an event for five of his fellow Republican representatives at the offices of the Association of Realtors.

Democrats get into the act by 3 p.m., with seven representatives holding an event at The Grand Cafe.

Statewide candidates are raising money Tuesday as well, with Republican Denny Hoskins gathering supporters at Bar Vino to aid his campaign for secretary of state at 3:30 p.m. and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Crystal Quade joins members of her caucus in the House at the Millbottom at 6:30 p.m.

Quade’s rival in the governor’s race, GOP Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, is hosting “dessert by the pool” at his Jefferson City home at 8 p.m.

Patterson, who is expected to be the next House speaker, and state Rep. Alex Riley, the leading candidate to replace Patterson as majority leader, will host a fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. at the offices of the Missouri Times, an online compendium of press releases and opinion pieces. That will also be the venue for an 8 p.m. fundraiser for state Rep. Melanie Stinnett of Springfield.

The next morning, GOP Sens. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Curtis Trent will hold a fundraising event at the Association of Realtors headquarters and nine Republican representatives will gather to raise money at a breakfast event just down the street.

Veto session officially kicks off at noon on Wednesday.