JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 The shakeup in the Democratic race for president boosted the spirits of Missouri Democrats, with many of them quickly voicing support for Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
A growing number of Democrats had been calling on President Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race after his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.
Biden finally did drop out Sunday and quickly endorsed Harris, who would be the first Black woman president if elected.
State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. 亚洲无码, said he thought voter motivation was already going to be high this fall, especially with an abortion-rights question likely appearing on Missouri鈥檚 Nov. 5 ballot.
鈥淏ut I do think this energizes a lot of Democrats and even left-leaning folks who may not have been super excited about Biden. I think there鈥檚 a lot we can get excited about with Kamala,鈥澛爃e said.
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Merideth said 鈥淚 was a fan of Joe鈥 but 鈥淚鈥檓 also excited to tell my daughters that, you know, we鈥檝e got another chance at the first woman president, and she鈥檚 pretty awesome.鈥
State Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum, D-St. 亚洲无码 County, said Monday the news 鈥渄oes wonders for morale.鈥
鈥淛oe鈥檚 not going away. He鈥檚 still our president. And I think this is what the party needs,鈥 Appelbaum said. 鈥淚 am thrilled to support her.鈥
Missouri is no longer considered a battleground state at the national level; the last Democratic presidential candidate to win here was President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Harris, if she secures the Democratic nomination, and her eventual running mate, will likely focus resources on a number of swing states seen as crucial to Democrats in November 鈥 states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona.
Missouri Democrats could also nominate a woman for governor in the Aug. 6 primary: House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield is running against prominent businessman Michael Hamra in the Democratic primary.
鈥淚 think this is gonna help Crystal Quade in her primary,鈥 Appelbaum said. 鈥淚 think women are going to be so empowered that it's going to affect ... down the ticket.鈥
In the race to represent the 1st Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush quickly endorsed Harris.
So did St. 亚洲无码 County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, who is running against Bush in the Aug. 6 primary.
Peverill Squire, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said Harris' bid will likely make Democrats more competitive in Missouri, 鈥渢hough the odds are still stacked against them,鈥 he said Monday.
鈥淏ut she is a strong voice in support of abortion rights and having that issue on the ballot may help Democrats in the suburbs,鈥 Squire said. 鈥淗er candidacy may also help mobilize voters in the state's urban areas, which is critical for the Democrats.
鈥淎t a minimum, the Democrats will enjoy a burst of energy and enthusiasm which may carry through November,鈥 he said. 鈥淥verall, the election dynamics have changed, and the GOP will have to recalibrate their efforts in response.鈥
Stephen Webber, a former Democratic state representative running for the Columbia-based 19th Senate District, said he believed the change would help "the legislative races, the down-ticket races" in Missouri.
"I think Trump's gonna win Missouri," Webber said. "Not breaking any news on that. But I think it injects a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. And I think it will turn out a lot of voters."
Webber also predicted the change would help ballot measures to overturn the state's near-total abortion ban, and one to increase the state's minimum wage and guarantee paid sick time.