Hulshof clinches GOP governor nomination

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof will face Attorney General Jay Nixon in the general election.

By Andrew Denney and Mary Daly

Published Aug. 6, 2008

After an expensive, competitive eight-month primary campaign that managed to garner attention from national media, the Republican candidate in this year's gubernatorial race has officially been nominated.

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof will take on Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon for the governor's mansion in the general election. Hulshof beat State Treasurer Sarah Steelman by 17, 803 votes, or almost 5 percent.

Hulshof, a former Boone County Prosecutor who held the seat of the Ninth Congressional District for six consecutive terms, said he and Steelman had a “spirited, tough” primary for the nomination.

“She’s been a courageous public servant and a tough campaigner,” Hulshof said.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who spoke at Hulshof’s victory speech – and who endorsed Hulshof during his candidacy – said Hulshof’s race against Steelman was an “uphill battle.”

“This is a battle where our candidate didn’t have the name recognition,” Bond said. “He didn’t have the financial resources in the campaign.”

Steelman campaign spokesman Spence Jackson said the race was a “hard-fought battle” and it “set the bar high” in taking on Hulshof.

“She’s very proud of the campaign she ran, proud of the bold measures she took.” Jackson said.

Missouri College Republicans Chairman Jeremy Hagen said Hulshof has appeal for “average Joe” voters.

“It’s the ‘average Joe’ that elects governors and I think Kenny talks to them,” Hagen said. “I think Kenny listens to them, and I think he understands their concerns.”

According to the campaign finance reports submitted by the candidates to the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 28, Hulshof received about $2.6 million in the primary and spent about $2.1 million. Steelman received about $2.3 million and spent about $1.6 million.

Nixon, who has not faced a serious intra-party contender since he began his bid for governor in 2005, had about $2.9 million on hand at that date.

In reference to the upcoming general election, Hulshof said while he and Nixon might agree on such issues as public safety, there would be “fundamental” differences between the two candidates.

“(Nixon) really embodies, in my view, the failed politics of the past,” Hulshof said to supporters in a speech after his nomination was clenched. “On the other hand, you and I want to offer the people of this great state a bright road to the future ahead.”

The primary became a face off between Hulshof and Steelman in February, after Gov. Matt Blunt announced he would not face Nixon for re-election and after Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder dropped out of the race.

Hulshof won counties in and around the Ninth District and counties in the southeast part of the state. In addition, he won five counties in the southwest of the state, where support for Steelman was generally the strongest.

Blunt, who was behind Nixon in the polls before he dropped out of the race, said he would not seek re-election in 2008 because he had “achieved virtually everything he set out to accomplish” when he decided to run for governor.