SOS Candidate Seeks St. Louis Support

House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller—a Willard Republican running for secretary of state—will be holding a fundraising event next Thursday in Town and Country.

The event at the Cedar Springs Clubhouse will be hosted by Rep. Sue Allen (R-Town and Country). In addition to a slew of Republican state representatives, the event will also feature House Majority Leader Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Sen. Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis County).

Jones is expected to become the next House Speaker if Republicans retain control on that chamber next year.

Schoeller is in a crowded race to replace Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton) and Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) are running for the GOP nomination, while Rep. Jason Kander (D-Kansas City) and Rolla resident Ryan Dillon are running for the Democratic nod.

Rupp's kickoff event earlier this year featured a number of St. Charles County politicos, including St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, Rep. Kurt Bahr (R-St. Charles) and Rep. Vicky Schneider (R-St. Charles). 

With candidates from the southwest, central and eastern parts of the state, the GOP race for secretary of state could be fascinating to watch.

EYE ON CARNAHAN-CLAY

There were a bunch of intriguing takes this week on the congressional redistricting process that put

As and elsewhere, Carnahan's residence is in the same district as Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO). That leaves him with the choice between running in a primary against Clay in the 1st Congressional District or trying his hand at the more GOP-leaning 2nd Congressional District.

The Wall Street Journal, for instance, noted how Democrats across the country “are fighting with leaders of one of their most dependable constituencies—African-American voters—as each tries to gain advantage from the redrawing of House district lines.”

Former state Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis) penned a lengthy article in the Hotline about why Carnahan should primary Clay. Smith, of course, ran against Carnahan in 2004 for Congress and went to jail for lying under oath about a Federal Election Commission investigation.

Carnahan has noted numerous times that he is waiting for the conclusion of a lawsuit challenging the maps before making a decision.

SOMMER’S VICTORY UPHELD

Over at , Kalen Ponche reports that Republican Chrissy Sommer’s razor-thin victory over Democrat Paul Woody for state representative was upheld in a recount.

Ponche reported that Sommer’s 38-vote victory actually expanded slightly to 40 votes. Because her victory was upheld, she will take the seat that was vacated when Republican Sally Faith was elected mayor of St. Charles.

POLS GET INTO CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

As this writer prepares to leave St. Louis for the scorching-hot confines of, uh, suburban Chicago, I've been busy sending out holiday cards to family and friends.

And it seems that numerous political candidates have been engaging in a similar activity, albeit on an electronic scale.

Most of the e-greetings feature the candidates and their family wishing the recipient well during the season. And while none of the cards were particularly newsworthy, Ed Martin, an attorney running as a Republican for the 2nd Congressional District, did mention that his family is anticipating the birth of a baby girl in February.

Not everybody thinks the communications are a good idea. Jen Haro, a notable Democratic fundraiser, tweeted: "Holiday emails? Pointless. Burn up your list, clog inboxes. Resist the urge. You look smarter when you don't send one."

In the meantime, this writer will continue to send cards the old-fashioned way. Just hope the recipients can read truly dreadful handwriting.