The Missouri Democratic Party’s new vice chair is Waynesville’s Yvonne Reeves-Chong. She spoke Saturday in Rolla at the Democratic Club of Phelps County annual stump picnic.
Rolla native Russ Carnahan took over as the chairmen of the Missouri Democratic Party in March. He was the keynote speaker Saturday at the Democratic Club of Phelps County annual stump picnic.
The Missouri Democratic Party’s new vice chair is Waynesville’s Yvonne Reeves-Chong. She spoke Saturday in Rolla at the Democratic Club of Phelps County annual stump picnic.
Photo by Andrew Sheeley
Rolla native Russ Carnahan took over as the chairmen of the Missouri Democratic Party in March. He was the keynote speaker Saturday at the Democratic Club of Phelps County annual stump picnic.
A cool partly cloudy summer day provided the setting for a contrasting scene Saturday at Rolla Lions Club Park as the Democratic Club of Phelps County hosted its annual stump picnic.
Democrats are sparse in Missouri’s statewide offices. Yet, at more than 80 people, the stump picnic’s attendance was the largest anyone present could remember. Such turnout is something the Missouri Democratic Party’s new chairman, Rolla native Russ Carnahan, said he’s seeing more and more since taking the position in March.“I've beenseeing this asI've been traveling around, unusually large crowds at theseDemocratic events,” Carnahan said. “I just think that's real concrete signofthe energythat’sout there.”
Carnahan served eight years in Congress representing the then St. Louis-based Third District. His father, Mel Carnahan, was a two-term governor of Missouri posthumously elected to the US Senate in 2000. Carnahan’s mother, Jean, completed the term of his father.
Joining Carnahan in leadership of the state party this year is another rural Democrat, Waynesville’s Yvonne Reeves-Chong, who takes over as vice chair.
“Our secretary lives down in the Bootheel and our treasurer is from Lafayette County, so we are very close to rural Missouri,” Reeves-Chong said. “I am retiring from my job this year and I will be campaigning full-time across this state, andespeciallyin rural Missouri.”
The pivot to rural Missouri by the Democrats is no coincidence, Carnahan said.
“For too long there haven’t been enough leaders from rural Missouri, and frankly it’s the area we have the biggest potential to gain,” Carnahan said. “Historically, going back to rural electrification or road building, Democrats championed those issues. When Harry Truman ran for Senate, his platform was good roads. The modern-day version of those thingsarebroadband internet and keeping rural hospitals going. Many of those same needs from when Democrats were strong in rural areas are back again.”
In terms of messaging to rural Missouri, Carnahan andReeves-Chongsaid Democrats will be campaigning on a platform of freedom. Specifically, freedom from government restrictions on abortions, library books and school curriculum. He added engaging with nonvoters on shared values is another key objective.
“We saw Georgia turn, andif Georgia had not organized,turned outand done what they didwe wouldn't have a Democratic president or Democratic Senate today,” Carnahan said. “You know how they did it?They worked cycle after cycle,and they got nonvoters on the playing field to make a difference.…We all know Donald Trump carriedMissouri by 15 points, but guess what folks, they're more nonvoting adults in Missouri than voted for Donald Trump.”
Two current office holders were present Saturday for the Democrats. St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell spoke to the attendees in asking for their support in seeking the party’s nomination to oppose Josh Hawley for US Senate next year. Columbia civil rights activist December Harmon also stumped Saturday for that nomination.
The other office holder wasRep.Deb LavendarofMissouri House District 98. She said she was there for moral support, and to also highlight her example of losing several races over the years but now holding office.
Taking heart in that notion was Phelps County’s RandiMcCallian, who for the second time will be seeking to unseat Rep. Jason Smith for Missouri Eighth District seat in Congress. Other candidates speaking Saturday wereElad Grossfor MissouriAttorneyGeneralandBernadette Holzerfor Missouri House District143.Kari Craun, the Democratic Club of Phelps County’s president, said there is no declared candidate for the Democrats for Phelps County’s District 122.
Carnahan ended Saturday by highlighting although things may look bad for the Democrats now, they’ve faced similar situations in the past. When his father, Mel Carnahan, was Missouri Lieutenant Governor in the 1980s he was the lone statewide elected Democrat. Then in 1992 the Democrats swept into the local, state and national offices.
“As a citizen, it’s sad to see no balance at the local level. I think people are seeing that imbalance in so many ways. Frankly, many of my traditional mainstream Republican friends say to me for this state to get better we need a stronger Democratic Party to help push out the extremists in the Republican Party,” Carnahan said, later concluding, “There's been way too much division and extremism in our politics. I always like to remind people the things that unite us as citizens are greater than our differences. To me, finding that common ground is the real opportunity. I know the common ground is still there. I am not giving up on it.”
