Now that Former Guy has picked his running mate, you’ll be seeing even more Missouri Republican candidates promoting their Christian Nationalist (gift article) credentials.
In the 128th District, Polk and southern Hickory Counties, cattle country, home and birthplace to Governor Mike Parson, one Republican got a head start as a Christian Nationalist candidate. Derral Reynolds has campaign yard signs and a YouTube commercial using the Christian symbol of a cross. The commercial also misspells foreign.
The Bolivar retiree wants voters to “Invest in the future of you and your family’s security by sending strong Christian Conservative values to Jefferson City… Take Missouri Back for us” per his campaign website. “Take Back America” is a popular theme for the Former Guy campaign. MAGA Republicans run Missouri, hold every statewide office, have a majority in both chambers of Legislature. For Missouri Republicans, this election season is a battle between MAGA and Extra Super MAGA.
The scariest statement on Reynold’s website: “It is time for the good Christian people of this country to step up and set things right. We need America to be “One Nation Under God” again.”
Per Press Release, Reynolds campaign talks about “illegal immigration” and “school choice.” “Illegal immigration – it affects your wallet, costing Missourians over $446 million last year. They bring drugs, sex trafficking and crime into our cities, violence and gangs to our schools.” “School choice will hold public schools accountable. Derral wants to move public money to pay for your kid’s private school. There are many problems in our schools he will address.”
Reynolds has loaned himself a total of $7,842.23 so far and not reported any monetary contributions. He and his family appear to be running his campaign. He’ll come in third is my guess.
The four-man GOP primary for 128th District comes down to the Battle of Mayors.
Chris Warwick, current Bolivar Mayor and electrical biz owner, has the usual MAGA agenda: “Upholding the Constitution, Supporting Family Farms & Businesses, Increasing Parents’ Rights in Education, Advancing the Pro-Life Cause, Promoting Local Control.” Local control is a bit of a joke when it comes to Missouri GOP. No MAGA Republican wants St. Louis and Kansas City to have local control.
Warwick raised $6,279.70, mostly local contributions, since converting his mayoral committee to Missouri House race. Pro-charter schools Quality Schools Coalition donated $2000 to his campaign.
Per Press Release, Warwick hired Jeff Roe’s Axiom Strategies. His campaign finance reports do not show any money paid to them to date.
The leading candidate is probably Dr. John Best, cardiologist, former Bolivar mayor. He loaned his campaign $50,000, donated another $5,225, has $42,464.21 on hand.
Best does not have a campaign website. He has a Facebook page but I don’t use Facebook and don’t encourage others to use it either. This press release provides no insight on where he stands on issues.
Best did a mailing to Hickory County voters for a meet and greet event last month at Pomme de Ritas, a bar with food at Pomme de Terre Lake. His campaign finance report lists an expense of $448.38 to Pomme de Ritas for “advertising.” A MAGA neighbor attended as was impressed by Best’s opposition to “illegal immigrants.”
In 2017 and 2018 (paywall) Best was the subject of sexual harassment complaints.
Victory Enterprises is running Best’s campaign. Protect the Harvest is another of their clients. That’s one of millionaire (half a billion) Forrest Lucas‘s pet projects. Lucas is the largest landowner in Hickory County, home to Lucas Cattle Company. He was under consideration for Interior Secretary during Former Guy’s term and responsible for two pardons by Former Guy in 2018. His wife said the quiet part out loud about minority populations in 2014.
Bill Yarberry, a Fair Play cattleman, is a perennial candidate for state representative and state senator who has loaned his campaign $3,300 and not received any contributions. He came in third place in 2022 in a three candidate GOP primary for Senate 28th District in which incumbent State Senator Sandy Crawford, the only Republican Senator with a primary challenger, held the seat with 63.7%. I don’t see a website for him but here’s a candidate bio from his 2016 campaign.
Yes. There’s a Democrat- Rich Horton, Brighton. He was Democratic Party nominee for 128th District in 2018 and 2022. He sold his electric service shop in Springfield last year. Horton donated $500 to his campaign and has $209.73 on hand. He has no website.
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