Mike Hamra to run for governor, challenging Crystal Quade in the Democratic primary

After much speculation, Mike Hamra made it official — he’s running for Missouri governor in 2024.

His candidacy as a Democrat sets up a showdown between him and Crystal Quade to win the party’s primary in August.

"I believe I'm the best candidate to put our state on a path towards greater opportunity and prosperity," Hamra said. "I was born and raised in the state, and I live here. Missouri is a good place but could be a great place."

Whoever walks away the victor from that election will face the Republican nominee, which could be Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft or state Sen. Bill Eigel.

“I’m running for governor because our political leaders in Jefferson City seem out of ideas, with partisan food fights, ideological warfare and a rush to score points, instead of serving the people who elected them. It’s time we change things,” Hamra said in his campaign video.

Hamra is a born-and-raised Springfield native, who currently serves as CEO of Hamra Enterprises, a Springfield-based family-owned company that employs nearly 2,000 Missourians and more than 7,400 people nationwide.

Hamra Enterprises is best known for the various chain restaurants under its umbrella, such as Wendy’s, Panera Bread and Noodles and Co. Since Hamra took over the family business in 2011, it has grown from 26 locations to nearly 200.

Hamra attributes this success to a simple philosophy: “When you invest in your employees and your communities, your business will grow.”

"The experience I have in business has been, literally for 22 years, building programs and supporting people and making a difference for their families and also impacting the communities that we do business in," Hamra said.

He took over the business from his father, Sam Hamra, who was once active in political fundraising for candidates including Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

Hamra feels that his experience as a businessman taught him how to create jobs, lay out a vision and work with people who don’t always share his opinions, all skills he thinks will translate well to someone serving as the state’s top executive.

He plans to focus his campaign on a variety of issues affecting the lives of everyday working Missourians, such as creating a stronger workforce, growing small business and training skilled workers, while also refocusing education in the state to produce innovators who will shape the next generation.

"It excites me more than anything to have that opportunity to go and help Missouri be a state where people feel great about their futures," Hamra said. "It's a state where people can feel great about investing in the state and providing opportunities for people to have jobs with higher paid wages and better benefits. I know that I can bring all that to the state of Missouri as governor."

Hamra has experience working in the public sector, as he was appointed by President Clinton to help his administration connect schools, libraries, and healthcare organizations across America.

"I focused on lots of different things from a policy perspective and, obviously, when I was on Capitol Hill, I was working on legislation but I love those debates. I love those conversations. I love the dynamics of all of it," Hamra said.

Hamra particularly enjoyed working with people who, though they might have differing perspective, were able to work together towards the larger cause of improving communication policy and seeing that put into practice.

"That was really exciting for me, because that brought together a large telecommunications link and helped bring those organizations and those industries together to connect for better knowledge and faster paced communication," Hamra said.

As a family man, he hopes to lower the cost of raising a family and find new ways to make childcare and healthcare more affordable. Mike and his wife, Eileen, currently reside in Springfield with their four children and two rescue dogs.

An early-childhood experience shaped Hamra’s life and gave rise to a desire to give back to children’s charities. When Hamra was 8 years old, his best friend was diagnosed with cancer.

As Hamra grew his wealth and career, he engaged in fundraising for kids fighting childhood illnesses. Over the years, he said, he’s raised millions for children’s charities and helped kids with cancer get free health care through St Jude’s Hospital.

"I personally have a love and passion for supporting people and making a difference for them and their families," Hamra said. "And I know that I can put that expertise to work for the State of Missouri, to making a difference for people here in the state."

More: Kehoe outpaced Ashcroft, Eigel and Quade in 3rd quarter gubernatorial campaign fundraising

Hamra hopes to restore the right for women to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, a topic which is likely to dominate the 2024 gubernatorial race. There are currently 17 initiative petitions seeking to reinstate access to abortion that hope to find a place on the November 2024 ballot.

"We were one of the first states to implement a restriction around abortion when Roe vs. Wade was overturned and right now there's really nothing that allows a woman to make a choice around reproductive health care," Hamra said "So as governor, I would shift it to a place where women have that right."

Hamra’s competitors in the Republican camp have all taken an anti-abortion stance, with the exception of Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is open to restoring access to abortion in cases of rape or incest. Crystal Quade, Hamra’s Democratic competitor in the August primary, also advocates for restoring access to abortion in Missouri.

"As House Minority Leader I've proudly fought for Missourians across our state, championing workers' and women's rights," Quade said. "I've fought to make sure Missourians, not countries overseas, own our farmland and to restore abortion rights in Missouri."

Quade also hopes to address issues facing the education industry, if she is elected, among other campaign goals.

"Missourians need a governor who make decisive actions on Day 1 to reverse policies that have failed to keep rural hospitals open and allowed the worst state teacher pay in the country," Quade said. "I'm proud of my record fighting for Missourians against extremism. I'm proud of my working-class roots. And I'll be proud to fight for all Missourians as governor."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Mike Hamra will run for governor in 2024 as a Democrat