Free Republic

‘HB 1878 is the most comprehensive election integrity bill to come out of the [Missouri] General Assembly,’ said bill sponsor Rep. John Simmons.The Missouri General Assembly successfully passed legislation on Wednesday that restricts state and local election officials from receiving and using private funds to conduct elections. The bill now heads to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk for signature. Passed by the state House (97-47) and Senate (23-11), the measure (HB 1878) mandates that “neither the state of Missouri nor any political subdivision thereof that conducts elections shall receive or expend private moneys, excluding in-kind donations, for preparing, administering, or conducting...

Just seven weeks after he came from nowhere and declared, "I am in--no doubt," Downstate millionaire John Simmons again upended the U.S. Senate race Wednesday, folding his Democratic campaign and throwing his support to state Comptroller Dan Hynes. "Dan's the man," Simmons said. "He'll do great for us." The trial lawyer said he is pulling the plug to devote his energy to reopening a steel mill and to try to prevent a Democratic donnybrook from hurting the party's chances in 2004. "The Democrats do not need a bloodbath in March," Simmons said. "It's not going to help us win in...

Millionaire Senate candidate M. Blair Hull took to the airwaves Monday, running television and radio commercials introducing himself to voters--nearly nine months before the Democratic primary. The initial round of 60-second biographical ads will only appear in Downstate areas, but Chicagoans shouldn't feel left out. This early media buy is only a small slice of the $40 million Hull has pledged to spend on the race. He will soon be as easy to find on the TV dial as Emeril Lagasse. "You will hear from us consistently," said Mike Henry, Hull's campaign manager. Hull, 60, is believed to be launching...

John Simmons has no name recognition, no donor network and no government experience. The last office he held was student body president at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. But the 33-year-old Illinois Democrat, who late last month announced he's seeking his party's Senate nomination, has one possible edge over the five other Democratic contenders -- he's a trial lawyer. Like Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), a former trial lawyer now running for president, Simmons is quite familiar with many attorneys currently active in Democratic Party politics. But it still remains to be seen whether he can count on support from the legal community,...

Dealing a potential blow to Downstate Democrat John Simmons, former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Glenn Poshard said Tuesday he's leaning toward supporting rival U.S. Senate candidate Dan Hynes. "As far as endorsing anyone officially, I will wait until the candidates all declare, but certainly I would have to say that I'd be leaning toward Dan, if he officially decides to run," said Poshard, a former congressman from southern Illinois. "Dan has been a friend of mine for years and has been helpful to me, and I like what he has done as state comptroller." Simmons still has a shot at winning...

A millionaire Downstate lawyer jumped into the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Thursday--a move that could dramatically reshape the contest and make it the most expensive in the nation. "I am in--no doubt," said John Simmons, a personal injury lawyer and first-time candidate. "I am planning to put a lot of money in it. . . . And I'm going to have a blast doing it." Simmons, 35, lives in Edwardsville, near St. Louis. As the only Downstate Democrat, he could grab much of the Downstate vote, while the six Chicago candidates split the metropolitan area vote. Insiders believe the...