Missouri Primary Election Recap
* Tuesday’s primary election delivered some stunning results. Check the full returns here at the Secretary of State. One of the most stunning factors of the night was the massive margins by which each of our four constitutional amendments passed or failed. What drove this? Was it a surge in “nonpartisan” ballots? Did the millions of dollars in ads have their effect? Or does it show a deeper divide in the Republican voter base? Probably a little bit of all, but there’s a big discussion to be had on that last point, and I’m going to break that down further in a longer dedicated post.
* There were many incumbents reelected, and many moved from the state house to the state senate. However, some challengers did manage to oust incumbents. One of those notable races is Lori Rook’s defeat of Sen. Curtis Trent in District 20, not just an incumbent but an aspiring part of senate leadership. While a few upsets took place, the candidate results did not match the energy of their legislative efforts on ballot amendments.
INTERVIEW: Senator Joe Nicola breaks down amendment votes in MO
* State Sen. Joe Nicola (District 11) gave me his take on the massive margins on Amendments 1, 2, 4, and 5. He says it indicates flaws and distrust from the people and deservedly so. There is hope, he thinks, for the legislature to buckle down and make some real change to tackle what he thinks their priorities ought to be. Massive spending cuts and serious property tax changes and reductions. This should be the priority, and he thinks it may just get serious in the next session. He hopes the lesson for the General Assembly is to pass better policy. Read more on Amendment 5 (and others) on his “Senator’s Digest,” and follow him on X and on Facebook for more commentary.
Other Missouri news
* Secretary of State Denny Hoskins shot down the attempted referendum against our new 7-1 Missouri First Map - on the final deadline he had to take action. Did the signatures not add up? Doesn’t matter, Hoskins says. The referendum is unconstitutional because the map is! And it’s legal. AG Hanaway’s office agrees with him, but that hasn’t stopped the expected backlash. The referendum leaders, People Not Politicians, have already asked a court to block Hoskins’ shoot down of the petition. This battle will continue, I’m sure, but with no change before the November midterms.
* Newly re-nominated Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick hit the ground running on Wednesday announcing results of an audit in Webster Groves. Turns out a couple of former employees used official funds on some very questionable, explicit personal purchases. Fitzpatrick detailed the funds in a news release.
MASSIVE Second Amendment Victory Imminent
* Upon the passage and signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill last year, national pro-gun advocates like Gun Owners of America were ready to pounce on a golden opportunity. The compromise legislation (when it comes to firearms and the National Firearms Act or NFA) zeroed the $200 tax transfer stamp payment due on suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and “any other weapons” (AOW). For 90+ years the egregious assault against our Constitution known as the NFA (and don’t forget the Gun Control Act of ‘68) has gotten away with the hurdles in large part due to its status as a “tax.” Congress is allowed to do those, you may remember. But guess what? No tax collected = no tax = no legitimacy for a national registry of these silencers, SBS/SBRs, or AOWs. Gun Owners of America and other groups leapt at their legal chance.
* This week, their efforts were rewarded with an initial win in Texas Federal Court. Not a narrow decision, not a “kick the can” move — a definitive ruling of certain parts of the NFA being unconstitutional. I say initial, because we can only assume this will be appealed to the 5th Circuit. I expect them to approve of the lower court ruling and a final showdown to eventually take place at the Supreme Court. In the wake of Bruen and other solid pro-2nd Amendment SCOTUS opinions, I have high hopes this portion of the NFA infringement on our right to bear arms will soon head to the ash heap. No more national registries for defending my home or protecting my hearing.
* Read the full decision from the judge in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF and Jensen v. ATF here.
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