The Race for Missouri Governor: Parson vs. Galloway
The election for Missouri’s next governor is quickly approaching on November 3rd, 2020. There are currently 4 candidates running for Missouri governor: current Missouri Governor Mike Parson (Republican), Nicole Galloway (Democrat), Jerome H. Bauer (Green), and Rik Combs (Libertarian). The ballots indicate that the race is most likely between Galloway and Parson as they represent the two major parties. Governor Mike Parson was lieutenant governor for Missouri until Republican Governor Eric Greitens resigned in 2018, in which Parson then took over as Missouri governor. Nicole Galloway is currently Missouri’s State Auditor, who graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in 2004 with bachelor’s degrees in applied mathematics and economics. Galloway is the first Missouri S&T graduate to hold executive office within Missouri’s state government. Governor Parson has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, while Galloway has been endorsed by previous United States President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Mike Parson lives in Bolivar, Missouri with First Lady Theresa Parson. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. Parson is a third-generation farmer and has a cow and calf operation. When Parson was sworn into office in 2018, he stated that he wanted a “fresh start” and promised greater transparency and accountability within the Missouri government to every Missourian. Parson’s two main focuses in office have been infrastructure and workforce development. “The governor knows an educated workforce is key to moving Missouri forward and is focused on ensuring Missouri workers have the skills to compete for jobs in the modern global economy.” states Parson’s campaign website. Missouri polls from August and September show Parson is ahead in the race for governor.
Nicole Galloway currently lives in Columbia, Missouri with her husband Jon, and their three children. According to Galloway’s campaign website, she wants to “lower costs and expand access to healthcare for Missouri families, rebuild and recover with her COVID-19 action plan, implement an agenda for black Missourians, show that Missouri is the best place in America to raise kids, uplift Missouri’s economy, implement a government with integrity and openness, make safer communities, and revitalize rural communities.” Galloway has run her campaign largely on criticism of Governor Parson’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri. If Galloway is elected, she will become Missouri’s first female governor.
The governor candidates were supposed to have their first debate with all four candidates on Friday, September 25th, 2020, but the event was postponed after Governor Parson tested positive for COVID-19. The Missouri governor debate has been rescheduled for Friday, October 9th, 2020. The debate will be hosted by the Missouri Press Association and KOMU-TV, and will take place in Columbia, Missouri at the Missouri Theatre. The debate will not be open to the public due to COVID-19, but several platforms will provide live streams of the debate. Make sure to tune in to learn more about Missouri’s governor candidates and hear their discussion on issues affecting Missouri. Exercise your right to vote, and make your voice heard.
Picture by www.kmov.com
