Springfield candidates leading democratic ticket for Missouri Governor

MISSOURI — In the race for Missouri Governor, two candidates from Springfield are leading the democratic ticket.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade and businessman Mike Hamra will be on the ballot on August 6.

“We need a government that is putting Missourians first and really making sure that we’re meeting our needs,” Quade said.

“I think it’s so important that we get a governor that’s going to actually focus on what matters in the state of Missouri instead of playing political games and playing with people’s lives,” Hamra said.

Quade says her background as a Democrat in a majority Republican house will help her bridge the political divide.

“When it comes to my governing style, it will be the exact same way, looking where we can work across the aisle to find compromise, because that’s not necessarily a bad word, even though folks like to think it is and do things that really invest in Missourians,” Quade said.

Hamra says if elected. he will lean on his experience as a business owner.

“These are the kind of issues that I dealt with in the last 22 years, bringing people together, bringing all the stakeholders together, sitting down, figuring out what is going to work and what’s not going to work,” Hamra said. “And as governor, I would do that exact same thing.”

One of the biggest issues facing Missouri voters — a ballot initiative that would allow access to abortion if passed in November.

“I’m very grateful for the groups and the 380,000 Missourians who signed that petition to tell government to get out of their doctor’s offices,” Quade said. “You know, politicians have no business making these decisions on behalf of doctors and patients.”

“The biggest issue that’s facing all of us right now and impacting our state is the fact that we have this extreme abortion ban in the state of Missouri,” Hamra said. ” If voters elect me as their next governor, I will be a governor who’s going to ensure that we protect those rights going forward.”

Quade says she’s running for governor to represent the working class.

“As someone who has won elections down in southwest Missouri as a Democrat, I’ve had my yard signs right next to Donald Trump yard signs, in the same yard, not necessarily because we agree on on all of the issues, but that we agree on the core issues that are that dictate folks every day,” Quade said.

Hamra says voters have told him they are tired of politicians not focusing on what matters.

“I have a long record of being able to bring people together, even where there’s resistance, even when there are barriers that have been put in my way, I know how to move things forward,” Hamra said. “And I don’t stop at the first barrier. I don’t stop at the first person that says no. I work through those. I work with people and I ensure success.”

OzarksFirst also asked about the issue of Kansas lawmakers trying to lure the Kansas City chiefs and royals to their side of the state line.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that we keep the Chiefs, including the Royals, in the state of Missouri,” Hamra said. “But it’s also got to be in the best interest of Missourians, like we can’t give out millions of dollars and not see something return to the state of Missouri.”

“I think we need to be doing is looking at something that is not just bailing out billionaires at the cost of regular taxpayers, but putting something together that ensures that these guys want to stay here,” Quade said.

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