Latest entries in Politics Watch
Political updates from Columbia, Jeff City and Washington by The Maneater's political reporters.
Nov. 2, 2010
'No' vote on Prop 2 leads with 75%
With 1,652 votes in, 75 percent have voted "No" on Columbia Proposition 2, the ballot measure that would make it illegal for individuals, including police officers, to threaten to use a Taser, stun gun or other conducted electrical device against another person within the city.
64 percent have voted "Yes" on Columbia Proposition 1, with 1,660 votes in. Proposition 1 would renew a one-eighth of one percent sales tax to raise money for upkeep and projects in Columbia parks. The tax was first passed in 2005.
Click here to view election results at the Boone County Clerk's website.
Kelly arrives at election watch party
Missouri State House of Representatives candidate and incumbent Chris Kelly, a Democrat, arrived minutes ago at his campaign's watch party located at Billiards on Broadway. Kelly is running for reelection as 24th district representative against Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser, a Republican.
Upon entering the room, Kelly immediately started greeting his supporters who are all in high spirits about the campaign and Kelly's efforts to get reelected.
"I think it's been a great campaign and he has done a great job of showing that he is a valuable member of the House," supporter Jonathan Sessions said. "That goes to show that we need to get him back in (the House)."
58 percent vote "No" on Prop B with 9% of precincts reporting
With 8.9 percent of precincts reported complete, 42 percent have voted "Yes" on Missouri's Proposition B, with 58 percent voting "No."
Proposition B would affect large-scale dog breeders statewide by placing a breeding dog limit of 50 dogs on breeders, as well as creating the misdemeanor "puppy mill cruelty" for violators of the law.
Republicans take 14 of 21 decided Senate races
With 21 U.S. Senate races decided at this point, MSNBC is reporting Republicans have won 14 seats and Democrats have won seven. 16 races, including the one in Missouri between Republican Roy Blunt and Democrat Robin Carnahan, have yet to be decided.
Republicans have won 89 U.S. House of Representative seats and Democrats have won 46, with 300 races still being counted, according to MSNBC.
Blunt leads US Senate race with 63% of vote
With 18 precincts reporting, U.S. House of Representatives Republican Candidate Roy Blunt is leading Democrat Robin Carnahan. Blunt has received 63.2% of the vote, Carnahan 30.7%.
Blunt will be watching results at the Republican watch party in Springfield, and Carnahan will make an appearance at a watch party in Kansas City.
Christainson announces defeat at Webber watch party
Scott Christianson, Democrat candidate for Presiding Commissioner in Boone County, announced his defeat at a watch party for Stephen Webber.
"i really want to express my gratitude and thanks," Christianson said. "There have been several times during this race that I had the opportunity to think about our political system, good and bad, and it's pretty amazing that an average person can go down and sign their name on a piece of paper and declare themselves a candidate and stand before their peers, millions of people around the world do not have that opportunity."
Webber, Missouri State Representative, is still in the lead with 68 percent of the vote.
Webber in the Lead
With 50 percent of districts accounted for Stephen Webber, Democrat Incumbent, leads the Missouri State Senate race with 68 percent of votes.
Stephen Webber watch party attendees commented on the most recent update on Prop B, which is currently at a 50/50 percent split from those in favor and against the proposition.
"I am a passionate supporter of Prop B, and I am excited because the numbers just significantly changed on that, it's been very far behind all evening and now it's suddenly much closer, I'm assuming because, and I'm just guessing, the Kansas City and St. Louis numbers have come in and I am very concerned if it doesn't pass because it seemed that its opponents were spreading a great deal of disinformation that simply wasn't factual and caused people to be very confused about what it was about, which is simply protecting animals, " said Cathy Rosenholtz, MU grad student in political communication.
Other attendees commented on the results as the night continued.
"I'm surprised it was so lopsided, I expected a lot of races to be closer and there were a couple of surprise upsets. I'm glad the Parks tax passed, that's extremely important , and the smoking ban, those were interesting results," accountant Frederick Schmidt said.
MU political groups make election day plans
As part of their Election Day activities, the MU College Democrats and Republicans have planned evenings to watch the polls.
The College Democrats plan to table in Speakers Circle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to guide people to vote at the Gaines-Oldham Black Culture Center, according to a Facebook message from the group.
They will then attend a Democratic watch party at the Blue Note at 7 p.m. and proceed to state Rep. Chris Kelly’s campaign watch party at 7:30 p.m. at Billiards on Broadway.
The College Republicans will be attending Blaine Luetkemeyer’s victory party at 8:15 p.m. and then travel over to the Heidelberg for a group celebration, according to a Facebook message from the group.
Dust cloud fills The Blue Note as Excitement Builds
Supporters of Stephen Webber experienced a brief state of confusion, if not panic, as a cloud of what appeared to be smoke filled The Blue Note. Shortly after, a message over the intercom announced that there was not a fire, and the cloud formed from dust as when staff turned on the heater.
"its an exciting moment and theres a lot of stir about the election. It's amazing here in Columbia, in the heart of Missouri, all of this interest, especially in regulating puppy mills," said Daria Carriage, supporter of Webber and Proposition B.
One bystander was particularly interested in Democrat Wes Shoemyer's outcome in the race for the Missouri State Senate. The crowd is very vocal when showing their support, cheering loudly as Democrats win and occasionally booing Republican winners.
Oct. 7, 2010
Blunt takes 13-pt. lead on Carnahan
Less than a month before Missourians go to polls to pick a new U.S. Senator, a new poll shows Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., leading Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) by 13 percentage points.
The CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll) shows that 53 percent of likely voters in the Nov. 2 election would cast ballots for Blunt versus 40 percent for Carnahan.
The poll results break down the percentages by age and region, but do not show results for voters between the ages of 18 and 34 or voters from the east central part of the state, where Columbia is located.
