Missouri Gov. Mike Parson now has more competition from his own party in his bid for a second term. Saundra McDowell, who ran for state auditor in 2018, has filed for the election.
“At the urging of people I respect, I filed to be your 58th and first female governor of Missouri,” she announced on social media. “I will bring strong and wise leadership for changing times.”
The addition to the field comes after Parson has received stiff criticism for what some voters see as over restrictive re-opening guidelines after the coronavirus outbreak. Parson had most recently extended the current phase by two additional weeks until June 15, in part after widespread media coverage of Memorial Day gatherings at the Lake of the Ozarks. State Health however have since released data that showed no increase in Covid-19 cases as a result of the lack of social distancing of those in attendance.
In her previous race, McDowell won 44.6 percent of the vote in a loss to George Soros-funded Democrat Nicole Galloway, who also is running for governor. McDowell has served in the Air Force and worked as a lawyer and political consultant.
READ: Health officials say no rise in cases after Memorial Day crowds at lake
McDowell joins the race against fellow Republicans Raleigh Ritter of Seneca and Rep. Jim Neely from Cameron. On the Democratic ticket are Galloway, Kansas City resident Eric Morrison, and St. Louis residents Antoin Johnson, Jimmie Matthews and Robin John Daniel van Quathem.
McDowell’s previous campaign was marred with controversy over past legal and financial matters, as well a question of residency. She does not have an active campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission as of Tuesday afternoon.
According to her campaign website, McDowell joined the Air Force as a medical technician after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 Following eight years of military service, McDowell pursued a career in law. After attending Drake University, studying at Oxford University and receiving her law degree from Regent Law, Saundra provided legal expertise to disabled Americans with their disability claims.
She was an assistant attorney general in the Missouri Labor Division, protecting Missouri’s Second Injury Fund and in the Financial Services Division, pursuing medical providers who were committing Medicaid fraud. As her career progressed, she was appointed as the director of enforcement for the Missouri Securities Division of the Secretary of State. She prosecuted investment fraud across Missouri.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice