Capitol Calling
Missouri's irreverent and vital news source.
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I know that state Rep. Rick Stream has been getting encouragement to run for #mo2 as well. How do you think the field will ultimately shape up?
Asked by Anonymous
First of all, thank you for the question.
While it’s hard to say who would have the advantage this far out from the primary, it would not surprise me if the GOP field expanded to five to six candidates. This is obviously a rare opportunity for Republican congressional aspirants from St. Louis County, and to some extent St. Charles County, to run for a GOP-leaning seat.
At this point, I would say Ed Martin, Ann Wagner and Jane Cunningham will definitely be in this race. I heard about Joe Smith for the first time today, and I would guess a St. Charles County candidate could run even if he passes. As for Stream, my take would be that his decision would depend upon whether Mike Gibbons runs for the seat. Even if that isn’t a factor, running statewide - even unsuccessfully - helped Blaine Luetkemeyer in his congressional bid. And you could say such experience could help Gibbons as well.
In any case, Kirkwood is a sizable population center in MO-2, so it would not surprise me if a candidate emanated from that part of the district. Thus, Steam could be a logical contender for Congress.
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Former Missouri Republican Party chairwoman Ann Wagner made her 2nd Congressional District bid official Tuesday on the Dana Loesch Show.
Right after she made the announcement, Wagner put out a statement making her bid extra official:
“Today I am making it official. I am a candidate for Congress from my hometown. I have been traveling the district and listening to the people in our district about the strong, effective, conservative leadership we need in the Congress,” Wagner said. “The encouragement and enthusiasm I’ve received to run for Congress has been overwhelming.
Before she went on Loesch’s program, Wagner attended U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s U.S. Senate announcement in Creve Coeur. She talked about her congressional bid after Akin’s announcement. Click on the audio link to hear some of the Q&A with reporters.
One other note: former state Rep. Joe Smith, R-St. Charles, said in a Tweet he was seriously considering running for Akin’s seat. The reconfigured 2nd District includes portions of St. Charles County.
Smith considered running for the U.S. Ninth District seat in 2008 when U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia, ran for governor. He decided instead to run for re-election. Smith unsuccessfully ran last year for St. Charles Recorder of Deeds.
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State Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, told Jo Mannies of the St. Louis Beacon that she may run for U.S. Congress if U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, runs for Senate:Cunningham is considering a bid for the U.S. House seat in the 2nd congressional district — but only if Republican incumbent Todd Akin opts not to seek re-election. He is getting Republican encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate instead.
“I would not run against Rep. Akin,” Cunningham said. “I would only run if it’s an open seat.”
Cunningham (left) is among several Republicans interested — publicly or privately — in running for Congress in the 2nd District, should Akin move on. Former Missouri GOP chair Ann Wagner, who is still mulling over a Senate bid herself, is also believed to be considering a 2nd District bid if it becomes an open seat.
