Missouri Democrat, advocate of gun reform and abortion rights, hints at run for governor

State Rep. Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, hinted Thursday that she might join the race for Missouri governor.

Her comments come as no Democrats have officially announced a campaign yet, but with some speculation that she or others could join the race.

“I think everyone’s considering a run for governor. Listen, the Democrats don’t have anyone at this moment,” Quade said. “Absolutely, I’m considering it. I’ve said that a few times.”

Quade, who is the House minority floor leader, is in her last term as a state representative. She will have served eight years as a state representative by the end of her term in 2024, which is the maximum allowed.

This session, she has been advocating for issues like gun reform, child care aid, abortion rights and against GOP-backed initiative petition reform, a corporate tax cut and crime packages that allow more state control over St. Louis.

She has also decried the bevy of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation moving through the legislature, which includes bills that would, among other things, ban gender affirming care for minors and transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports.

Outside of the legislature, she has a background in social work. She formerly worked for Care to Learn, a nonprofit addressing the health and hunger of children in Missouri, and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, according to her website. She is also a board member for Better Life in Recovery, a Springfield nonprofit helping those struggling with substance use and mental health issues.

Opposing Ashcroft, other GOP candidates

Quade’s hints at a potential candidacy come after Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced his campaign for the position last week, joining Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, another Republican who announced his campaign a year ago. Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican, is also publicly considering running, but has not officially announced a bid.

In response to Ashcroft’s announcement, Quade said it seems like he believes it is his birthright to hold office, and he has not put Missourians first.

Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016, and reelected in 2020. He is the son of John Ashcroft, a former Missouri governor, U.S. senator and attorney general under President George W. Bush.

“You could talk about the attempts to meddle in the federal government gay marriage situation, the defunding of our libraries, the banning of books,” Quade said.

Some Democrats observing the race said Quade has shown strong leadership during her time in the House, and has the ability to energize and excite more Missourians to vote blue. It is notable that she is able to succeed in Springfield and is not from one of the large border cities, and that can be a guide to winning support across the state, they said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat, said Quade is relatable, trustworthy and really cares about people.

Chuck Hatfield, an attorney and former chief of staff for Democrat Jay Nixon when he was the attorney general, said it can be difficult to run for governor from the position of a state representative because they don’t have a very broad platform, but Quade certainly has the insider contacts to put together a campaign.

Rep. Richard Brown, a Kansas City Democrat, said Quade would be an ideal candidate, especially as a woman, with the abortion rights messages that groups like Planned Parenthood are trying to spread across the state.

“She’s a social worker by profession, so she understands the needs of people in the state. When you work closely with poor and underserved people, you get to understand what their real needs are.” Brown said.

Other potential candidates

With Republicans holding all statewide offices and a supermajority, it is increasingly difficult for Democrats to be competitive. Then-Auditor Nicole Galloway was the last Democrat to win a statewide office back in 2018.

Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat, said there isn’t just one name in Democrat politics that might run, because they typically look to statewide offices for candidates, but Democrats hold none of those positions.

While he agreed Quade is the most likely candidate, he said some Democrat state senators or people from less political backgrounds, like nonprofit leaders, could step up to run.

Jason Kander, a former Democratic Missouri secretary of state who in 2016 narrowly lost the election for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Roy Blunt, said Stephen Webber, who is running for a Boone County-based seat in the Missouri Senate, is usually his first choice for everything. But whoever it is, Kander said, they have to be both aggressive and have a long term vision for the party in Missouri.

Stephen Webber did not immediately respond to a phone call for comment.

Hatfield, the attorney, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones could be well positioned to run too.

However, Lucas is running for reelection as mayor this year, and Jones has no plans to run for governor, Jones’s campaign strategist and manager Rosetta Okohson said.