Maybe it’s the sympathy for Michael Brown of Ferguson that is turning MO to the left again.
Well, there was an attempt to replicate Ferguson in Columbia, MO. via MU.. but since we have a Republican controlled legislative body they started to pull MU funding. With NO source of income things have gone 'quiet'... at least on the surface... IF the evangelicals follow Cruz's 'conscience' voting requirements and will not vote Trump, Hillry could take the state.
In my memory MO has swung both ways depending on the race. They’ve elected a lot of Democrats that is for sure. Similar to Kentucky I think. Places you would expect to be conservative but are not always.