The influence of George Soros was just too strong for Air Force Veteran Saundra McDowell, a political newcomer and first time candidate. The Republican mom and Christian mounted a very strong grassroots campaign but failed in her effort against incumbent Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway.
McDowell received 1,060,066 votes or 44.5 percent to Galloway’s 1,197,020 votes or 50.7 percent, a 6-point margin. McDowell’s was out-spent by Galloway by a huge 20 to 1 margin. Galloway raised more than $2.1 million, much of it tied to liberal billionaire George Soros, while McDowell received less than $100,000 in campaign contributions.
McDowell was personally and relentlessly attacked on TV with negative campaign ads in addition to being outspent by a margin of more than 20 to 1. McDowell made the race close even though major campaign donors, who normally support candidates like McDowell, did not contribute big dollars to her campaign.
She appeared like a dream candidate for Republicans−an Air Force Veteran, mother of four, attractive, articulate and an Attorney who worked in both the Missouri State offices of the Attorney General and Secretary of State. Some personal financial issues made her vulnerable to personal and negative campaign attack ads, but could have probably been overcome had more donors contributed to her campaign.
Now Republicans in Missouri may pay a huge price for that oversight politically in the next decade. Galloway was appointed by former Democrat Governor, Jay Nixon, in 2015 after the death of former Republican State Auditor, Tom Schweich. She is currently the only Democrat statewide officeholder in Missouri.
Amendment 1, another Soros-backed measure, passed with nearly 62 percent of the vote. Galloway’s win assures her a full four-year term after serving as interim State Auditor since 2015 to finish out the four-year term of the late Tom Schweich. Because of the passage of Amendent 1, she will be in a position to have a powerful influence on future legislative redistricting.
Barring any potential court challenge to Amendment 1, Galloway is positioned to have dramatic partisan impact on the next round of legislative redistricting after the 2020 Census. Amendment 1 gives her the power to appoint a State Demographer. Because she is a Democrat, this could give Democrats an opportunity to cut into the Republican supermajorities, beginning with the 2022 election after the next round of legislative redistricting is completed.
See our opinion commentary on Amendment 1 and what it may mean for the future of Missouri: