Missouri Democrats slowly accepting AG Koster

Koster changed from a Republican to a Democrat in 2007.

By Will Guldin

Published March 16, 2009

With the election finished and a few lighthearted jokes aside, many Democrats have accepted Missouri's Attorney General Chris Koster, a former Republican, as one of their own.

Koster, who represented Missouri's 31st district as a Republican, changed party allegiances in August 2007. Long-time differences with the Republican Party on several issues, including his support of stem cell research, prompted Koster to change allegiances.

Former Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat who now heads the Holden Public Policy Forum at Webster University in St. Louis, said Koster saw the Democratic Party as more accepting to new ideas.

"He felt more at home with the Democratic Party because I think he felt they were more open to diversity on issues and to new forms of problem solving," Holden said.

After he announced his party change, Koster went on to win a tough primary against former state Reps. Margaret Donnelly and Jeff Harris in 2008, and beat Republican Michael Gibbons in the general election.

Last week, during Democrat Days, an annual meeting for the Missouri Democratic Party, Democrats made several jokes at Koster's expense as he acknowledged his place in the party.

"I recognize that I am the low man on the totem pole in this room," Koster said in a speech. "I want you to hear me say that out loud so you know that I know, and the job of the low man on the totem pole is to work."

Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the UM-St. Louis, said leaders in the party have accepted Koster, especially because he has shown that he can win a statewide office.

"The core of the party accepts Koster," Robertson said. "He won the nomination, and he won the election. I think the influential people in the Democratic Party have come around to him as a person who can win election in a very important office."

George Connor, a political science professor at Missouri State University, said there might be some Democrats who are still not supportive of Koster.

"Are there hard feelings because of the switch?" Connor said. "I would say yes. I assume there are some Democrats who resent Chris Koster's switch, but it is not a productive attitude at this point."

During the campaign, Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, who has served in the House since 2004, publicly endorsed Gibbons over Koster.

Her office did not respond to requests to be interviewed for this article.

Koster said he felt welcomed to the party during his campaign for attorney general, and now that the elections are over, people on both sides of the aisle are coming back together.

Although Koster's party change was successful, Robertson said it was a large political gamble.

"It was a big risk for him because he knew he would make enemies in the Republican Party and he couldn't be sure of his friends in the Democratic Party," Robertson said. "I mean, remember when he changed parties he didn't even have the nomination for attorney general yet, so it was a leap of faith for him."

Robertson said it was easier for Koster to change parties in a state such as Missouri than it would be elsewhere.

"It isn't a very liberal party, in like say Vermont, where a moderate like Koster would have a harder time fitting in," Robertson said about the Missouri Democratic Party. "There are moderates, even some conservative and pro-life Democrats in the state of Missouri, so that makes Missouri a pretty moderate party compared to some states in New England and on the West Coast."