The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has thrown its support to State Rep. Jeff Harris for Attorney General.
“Throughout my career, I have been honored to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of Missouri,” said Harris in a statement. “As the Democratic Leader in the Missouri House, I am proud to have fought against the Republican agenda pushed by Matt Blunt that has rolled back protections for Missouri’s working families.”
“When Republican special interests sued the state to get Governor Holden’s collective bargaining executive order rescinded, Jay Nixon turned to me as assistant attorney general to handle that case. I successfully defended that executive order in court and would do so again as attorney general.”
Harris has previously been endorsed by the Sheet Metal Workers, Operating Engineers Local 513 and Operating Engineers Local 148.
The Service Employees International Union, Local 2000 will be endorsing Chris Koster’s campaign for Attorney General.
Koster finally formally announced his bid for AG yesterday in Harrisonville, MO. He held another announcement today in Independence. And late yesterday, a third stop was added to his cross-state announcement tour — St. Louis City — or more specifically, the headquarters of SEIU Local 2000. That press event is scheduled for Monday at 10:30 AM.
PubDef.net is scheduling interviews with all four announced Attorney General candidates. Check back next week for our interviews with Senators Mike Gibbons (R) and Chris Koster (D), and State Reps Jeff Harris (D) and Margaret Donnelly (D).
Sources tell PubDef.net that State Senator Chris Koster is going to make it official this week. Koster, who rocked the state’s political scene when he switched from the Republican Party to become a Democrat back in August, announced today yet another labor endorsement for his still-unofficial bid for Attorney General.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local #1287, comprised mostly of Kansas City Area Transportation Authority workers, announced today they are supporting Koster for AG.
The Koster campaign was careful to remind the press in their release this morning that Koster now has the most labor endorsements and money of any of his opponents. But Koster’s opponents in the Democratic primary have targeted his campaign coffers — and one contributor, in particular — to discredit Koster’s independence.
The campaigns of both Jeff Harris and Margaret Donnelly have issued statements attacking millionaire Rex Sinquefield for his contributions to Koster. Sinquefield, a businessman and pro-school choice, pro-free market activist, has made no secrets about using his wealth and influence to change Missouri’s political landscape. In recent years, he has donated millions to candidates from both sides of the aisle who support one or more of his ideas about education and business.
Last week, the Harris campaign produced the following video mocking Sinquefield’s contributions to Koster:
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Koster has more cash on-hand than all three of his opponents — Democrat and Republican — combined.
Everyone knows the way to an alderman’s heart is through their stomach. So when the city’s legislative body meets this morning, breakfast will be provided by none other than Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris.
If he follows the usual menu, Harris, a Democratic state representative from Columbia, will be wining and dining aldermen, reporters and visitors on a spread of coffee (caff and decaf) and donuts. Or if he really splurges, bagels and pastries from the St. Louis Bread Company.
UPDATE: He splurged. Bagels, coffee — and orange juice! — from Bread Co.
At a fundraiser last week at McGurk’s bar in south St. Louis, Attorney General candidate Chris Koster* discussed the need for stem cell research and what the science could mean to people like his friend, State Sen. Chuck Graham.
“Throughout my career, I have been honored to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of Missouri,” said Harris in a statement. “As the Democratic Leader in the Missouri House, I am proud to have fought against the Republican agenda pushed by Matt Blunt that has rolled back protections for Missouri’s working families.”
