Chimene Schwach runs 'grassroots campaign' seeking 47th District Democratic nomination
Chimene Schwach's path to candidacy for the 47th District Missouri House seat has been interesting and complicated.
After first declaring herself a candidate for the 46th District, her address became part of the 47th District after redistricting. So the Columbia Democrat ran in her new district, which leans slightly Democratic but is more competitive than the new 46th District.
And she is facing a primary opponent in Democrat Adrian Plank.
The winner advances to the Nov. 8 general election to face Republican John Martin, who is unopposed on Aug. 2.
The new 47th District comprises northwest Boone County, including Harrisburg, Rocheport, and most of Columbia's Fourth Ward and a small part of its Fifth Ward.
The district's voting age population is nearly 50% Democratic and nearly 47% Republican.
"We call it light blue, not dark blue," Schwach said. "Whoever is state representative is going to have to reach out to folks from both parties."
The new district, though competitive, will be a benefit for Boone County, she said.
"We will flip this seat," Schwach said. "We will likely have four seats in Jefferson City. It will allow us to focus on Boone County."
Schwach, 52, is working full-time on her campaign. Her mom was a federal attorney who became a mayor later in life.
"She instilled in me serving country and Missouri," Schwach said of her mother.
Schwach ran for Boone County public administrator in 2016.
With the Supreme Court and Missouri law overturning abortion rights for Missouri women, Schwach said there's no easy fix to restoring those rights. It would require eliminating the Republican super majority in the state legislature, which would mean flipping eight seats from Republican to Democratic.
"What we can do is to continue to fight for the rights we do have," Schwach said.
She has spoken at abortion rights rallies in Columbia.
She was asked about efforts by Republicans, including term-limited Republican incumbent Chuck Basye, to accuse school districts of indoctrinating students with Critical Race Theory. Another issue has been efforts to ban transgender girls from girls sports.
"It think it's legislative overreach," Schwach said.
Critical Race Theory isn't taught in elementary, middle or high schools or even undergraduate university courses, she said.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association governs who participates in school sports, she said.
"We have had no issues with trans athletes," she said.
She expanded on her answer in a subsequent email.
"I wanted to clarify one thing — I am fully in support of transgender athletes," she wrote. "It has become such a dog whistle issue that I tread carefully not wanting to put Columbia Public Schools or any school district in the crosshairs of politicians like Chuck Basye."
How does she distinguish herself from her primary opponent while maintaining party unity?
"I have been very active in this community," Schwach said. "I lead lobbying teams in Jefferson City. I do that with Planned Parenthood and with ACLU. I volunteer for the organizations I support."
Other organizations she's involved with include Everytown for Gun Safety, the Kids Win Missouri Coalition, and she is vice president of the board of the Missouri Family Health Council.
If she doesn't win in the primary, she will support Plank in the general election, she said.
"It is important that the Democrats have a united front," she said.
So far, Schwach is trailing Plank in campaign donations and spending. She had $5,436 on hand eight days before the election. Receipts so far during the campaign have totaled $11,462.
She had no large donations.
"What we are is a grassroots campaign," Schwach said. "We have a lot of individual donors."
Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Schwach runs 'grassroots campaign' in seeking 47th District nomination
