YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY

Springfield, MO

Log in Subscribe

Gov. Mike Parson announces his gubernatorial bid at Bolivar High School, pointing to a strong Missouri economy.
Photo provided by Mike Parson's campaign
Gov. Mike Parson announces his gubernatorial bid at Bolivar High School, pointing to a strong Missouri economy.

Parson makes it official with campaign announcement

Posted online

Gov. Mike Parson was in his hometown of Bolivar on Sunday to officially announce his gubernatorial bid in 2020.

Speaking from Bolivar High School, Parson pointed to a Missouri economy that’s added more than 35,000 new jobs since he took office with investments from Bayer AG, CVS Health and Nucor Corp., among other companies, according to a news release. The Republican took over last year for Eric Greitens, who resigned amid investigations of a sex scandal and misused donor funds.

“With record lows in unemployment, more people are going back to work in Missouri,” Parson said in his campaign announcement, which was livestreamed on Facebook. “Wages are on the rise. Just recently, we were named the top small-business wage growth state in the United States of America.”

During a visit to Springfield last month, Parson told Springfield Business Journal to expect an announcement about his 2020 plans during September. Prior to yesterday’s formal announcement, he also announced the promotion of his communications director, Steele Shippy, to manager of his re-election campaign.

Parson also has disclosed 2020 primary election funds with the Missouri Ethics Commission. For the three months ended June 30, Parson’s campaign reported money on hand of nearly $1.2 million, according to his quarterly MEC disclosure report.

The governor will face competition next year from Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway, who last month announced her gubernatorial campaign. Galloway, a Democrat, reported $132,907 in money on hand as of June 30, according to the MEC.

Galloway responded to Parson’s announcement yesterday in a video on her Facebook page, saying “Missouri families simply can’t afford” four more years with him as governor.

“On Gov. Parson’s watch, nearly 100,000 kids have lost their health coverage. Rural hospitals are closing, and the number of school districts going to a four-day week continues to rise,” she said in the video. “Well-connected insiders get what they want while Missouri families continue to struggle.”

Comments

No comments on this story |
Please log in to add your comment
Editors' Pick
From the Ground Up: Republic Intermediate School

The Republic School District is on track to open its Intermediate School for fifth- and sixth-grade students for the 2025-26 academic year.

Most Read
Update cookies preferences