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First-Time Democratic Candidates Remain Hopeful after Lost Races in Central Missouri

Mimi Wright
/
KBIA

First-time Democratic candidates Nicole Thompson and Linda Greeson had a red, white and blue celebration cake that was cut into, but without the hope of celebration. Thompson lost to Republican candidate Mike Bernskoetter for the 6th district state Senate race. Steven Wilson, the libertarian candidate in this race, won 2 percent of the votes.

Greeson was defeated by Republican Rudy Veit for the 59th district state House race 24 percent to 76 percent.

“I have some news for you guys -- It’s time.” The crowd cheered as Greeson gave a speech to thank for the efforts put in by Democrats who campaigned hard for the candidates.

“The score would be even less than that if it hadn’t been for these folks. Some of them have worked it like a job, like a 40-plus-hour-a-week job in order to get the results that we have tonight and I think it’s an improvement and hopefully two years from now, whether it’s me or whether it’s someone else, the score goes a little bit higher.” said Greeson, a retired teacher who ran to oppose taxes on pensions.”

As results rolled in, Thompson said she’s looking ahead to what Democrats will achieve in Missouri.

“We didn’t win as we hoped,” Thompson said, “We are already talking about how we are going to move forward and continue to organize here as Democrats in central Missouri.”

Both Democrats said they were proud of the ground work in the campaign and hoped for increasing voter participation in the future.

Yanqi Xu is a graduate student focusing on computer-assisted reporting at the Missouri School of Journalism. She is originally from China and uses her international and cross-cultural experience as the supervising producer for Global Journalist, a news talk show broadcast on KBIA.
Mimi Wright is a junior studying magazine writing and German at the University of Missouri.