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By Chelsea Rodriguez 14 Mar, 2024
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By Chelsea Rodriguez 07 Mar, 2024
Missouri Democratic Party Announces Locations to Serve as In-Person Voting Sites for Party-Run Presidential Primary, March 23, 2024
By Chelsea Rodriguez 28 Feb, 2024
Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Opening of 2024 Candidate Filing Period
By Chelsea Rodriguez 20 Feb, 2024
February 20, 2024 Today, following the filing of multiple House Joint Resolutions by members of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus in response to the tragic shooting that took place at the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan and Missouri State House Representative Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, released the following statement: “For too long we have allowed our communities to be held hostage by the argument that there is nothing that can be done to address the senseless gun violence that continues to ravage communities across the country and last week devastated our Kansas City Community. These Joint Resolutions filed by many of our Democratic Statehouse members would give Missouri voters the opportunity to put the power of addressing this urgent issue into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement in the communities they serve, not politicians in Jefferson City. “Missouri Republicans have worked hard to take more and more power away from our local communities, but Missourians across the political spectrum know that these decisions are best left to local experts who know their communities and keep them safe every day. These resolutions are a good first step in putting the power back into the hands of those local leaders and first responders to allow them to respect the rights of their constituents to own firearms and implement common-sense gun safety measures.” Carnahan finished. “As a mom, a teacher, and now a survivor of a mass shooting, I am angry that we have not addressed the senseless gun violence that is impacting our communities and scarring our children. These resolutions are meant to send a message to dysfunctional politicians holding us hostage in a violent hellscape that something must be done. They rightfully put the power of protecting our communities back into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement who wake up every day ready to keep us safe,” said Nurrenbern. Background: In 2021, the Missouri General Assembly passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act , which penalized local law enforcement $50,000 per infraction if they were found to be working with federal agencies like the ATF and the FBI on gun-related crimes. In March 2023, a federal judge overturned the Second Amendment Preservation Act, ruling that it “exposes citizens to greater harm.” Every Republican member present supported the measure signed by Governor Parson. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
By Chelsea Rodriguez 20 Feb, 2024
February 20, 2024 Following Governor Mike Parson’s announcement of his plan to fulfill his promise to perpetuate the crisis at the southern border by sending Missouri resources to Texas, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson and Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune released the following statement: “Governor Parson’s decision to double down his political theater at the southern border instead of urging his Republican colleagues in Congress to support the bipartisan border agreement is not surprising but is deeply shameful. Missouri Republicans have demonstrated time after time that they will always choose to play political games over doing their jobs no matter who is put at risk.” Patterson said. “I am sick and tired of self-serving politicians playing political games with our lives—whether we’re talking about immigration reform or common sense gun legislation. The bipartisan bill that was blocked by Republicans in Congress would have addressed this crisis, but Missouri Republicans would rather send Missouri resources to another state than do their jobs. To these politicians, our pain is their political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them political points. Governor Parson should urge his Republican colleagues to set aside campaigning from office and do the hard work of governing,” said Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune. Background: Bipartisan negotiators in the US Senate, including Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), worked for months to craft a comprehensive legislative package to address the immigration crisis at the southern border that was killed by former President Trump, who bragged about his efforts to kill the bipartisan deal by urging his supporters in Congress to reject the deal outright before the legislation has been considered by the body. Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune is the first Latina elected to serve in Missouri State House leadership and is only one of two Latino state legislators currently serving in the Missouri State House, alongside Representative Robert Sauls. Missouri’s Latino population continues to be among the fastest-growing populations in the state. According to the US Census, the number of Missourians who identify as Hispanic increased by 42.6% from 2010 to 2020. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
04 Feb, 2024
February 4, 2024 Following Governor Mike Parson’s participation in Texas Governor Abbott’s press conference to brief the media on his refusal to solve the crisis at the southern border for political gain, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson issued the following statement: “It is shameful but unsurprising that Governor Parson and other national leaders of the Republican Party have chosen to call a press conference in Eagle Pass instead of calling on their colleagues in Congress to pass the bipartisan border deal that would address this national security crisis. These power-hungry politicians have no intention of working together to find solutions, only to perpetuate crises. Instead, they should call on the MAGA extremists who are blocking a bipartisan bill to secure the border, and tell them to do their jobs,” Patterson said. Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune added, “Missourians are tired of self-serving politicians who would rather participate in a circus than do the hard work of governing. To these politicians, our pain is their political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them political points. Governor Parson should call on the Missouri Republican delegation in Congress to end the political theater and pass this bipartisan border deal.” Background: Bipartisan negotiators in the US Senate, including Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), have been working for months to craft a comprehensive legislative package to address the immigration crisis at the southern border that is nearly finalized. Former President Trump has recently bragged about his efforts to kill the bipartisan deal by urging his supporters in Congress to reject the deal outright before the legislation has been considered by the body. Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune is the first Latina elected to serve in Missouri State House leadership and is only one of two Latino state legislators currently serving in the Missouri State House, alongside Representative Robert Sauls. Missouri’s Latino population continues to be among the fastest-growing populations in the state. According to the US Census, the number of Missourians who identify as Hispanic increased by 42.6% from 2010 to 2020. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
By Chelsea Rodriguez 01 Feb, 2024
February 1, 2024 The Missouri Democratic Party is announcing the opening of the mail-ballot request period to vote in the presidential primary election scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Registered Missouri voters can request a ballot online here at https://request.mrgvote.com/Missouri or call 855-433-8683 to request their mail ballot. Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the Democratic National Committee has fully approved MDP’s plan for Missouri’s 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary. The following details are confirmed with more information available soon: ■ Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024. ■ The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of the primary. ■ Pending final availability, at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional sites in larger counties. ■ Missourians registered to vote by February 21, 2024 , with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office will be eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long as the voter is not registered as a Republican. ■ The mail ballot request period will close on March 12. ■ Ballots must be returned to the MDP by 10 AM on March 23, 2024. ■ Votes will be counted by March 25 , with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024 Background: In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This is another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. Nearly every Republican member supported the measure. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
30 Jan, 2024
January 30, 2024 Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson issued the following statement of condolence regarding the death of former Senator and First Lady Jean Carnahan: “Senator Carnahan was a fierce and brilliant public servant who spent her lifetime dedicated to working for Missouri families. Jean was a trailblazer and served as a champion to children, education, and our military personnel in the US Senate and at home. Missouri is a better state because of Jean’s compassionate service, and her legacy will be felt by Missourians for generations to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with Party Chair Russ Carnahan and the entire Carnahan family tonight and to all who had the great privilege of knowing her.” ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
27 Jan, 2024
January 27, 2024 On Saturday, January 27th, the Missouri Democratic Party convened a special meeting to consider a full endorsement of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom coalition’s initiative petition that would restore abortion rights for Missourians. Following the endorsement of the abortion rights initiative petition by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement: “With this unanimous endorsement by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, I am confident Missouri Democrats across the state will come together and advance this initiative petition and restore abortion rights stripped away by Donald Trump’s activist Supreme Court and the extremists in the state legislature,” Carnahan said. “The Democratic Party is joining groups across the political spectrum to say MO’s abortion ban goes too far and must be ended. This is a deeply personal issue around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not MAGA politicians in Jefferson City. We know the majority of Missouri voters, Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference. This initiative petition will provide an opportunity for Missouri voters to send the message loud and clear to stop these attacks on our most intimate freedoms.” “The Missouri Democratic Party has been collaborating with other states where similar efforts have been recently successful to learn best practices and gain insight into where the MDP can be most helpful in supporting the coalition’s effort. We are looking at opportunities to support these efforts around our party-run presidential primary on March 23 and will announce an action plan in the coming weeks.” Missouri Democrats who want to get involved in the Missouri Democratic Party’s organizing efforts around this abortion initiative petition can sign up here. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
23 Jan, 2024
January 23, 2024 The Missouri Democratic Party, pursuant to our presidential selection process, is announcing that the period for presidential candidates to file to appear on the Missouri Democratic presidential primary ballot closed at 5 PM, January 22, 2024. The following candidates filed and will appear on the ballot for the presidential primary election scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024: Joseph R Biden, Jr Dean Phillips Stephen P Lyons Armando Perez-Serrato Marianne Williamson Jason Michael Palmer Uncommitted “Uncommitted” shall automatically appear on the ballot. Write-ins are not allowed per DNC Rules (Rule 11.C, Rule 14.A, Rule 14.C, Rule 14.D, Rule 14.E, & Rule 15.H) On the Republican Legislature’s change requiring state parties to run their presidential preference primary election, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement: “After the Missouri Republicans eliminated our state-run presidential primary, the Missouri Democratic Party worked to design the best party-run process possible given the barriers of the new law. The old fashioned caucus-only election makes it hard to participate in our free and fair Democratic elections and disenfranchises too many senior citizens, military personnel, those with disabilities, and work or childcare obligations from exercising their right to vote.” Carnahan said. “Missouri Democrats sought to make lemonade with these lemons and maximize voter participation by offering a mail-in and an in-person voting option to Democratic presidential primary voters. It has long been the belief of the Democratic Party that greater participation in our Democratic elections is what is best for everyone, and the Missouri Democratic Party will continue to advocate for policies that expand access to voting and fight against these attacks on our Democratic process and restore Missouri’s state-run presidential primary for future elections.” Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the Democratic National Committee conditionally approved MDP’s plan for Missouri’s 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary. The following details are confirmed with more information available soon: ■ Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024. ■ The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of the primary. ■ Pending final availability, at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional sites in larger counties. ■ Missourians registered to vote by February 21, 2024 , with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office will be eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long as the voter is not registered as a Republican. ■ Ballots will be available for request beginning February 1st via the Missouri Democratic Party’s Website, with distribution beginning Feb 17th . This request period will close on March 12 . ■ Ballots must be returned to the MDP by 10 AM on March 23, 2024 . ■ Votes will be counted by March 25 , with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024 . Background: In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This is another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. Nearly every Republican member supported the measure. ### Media Contact: Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director press@missouridems.org
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