Democrats pick Hummel to run for Fourth District Senate seat in November

Missouri AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer and Missouri House Minority Leader Jake Hummel has been tapped by committee Democrats in the overwhelmingly Democratic Fourth Senate District to succeed Sen. Joe Keaveny who resigned to take a judgeship. A special election for the Fourth District seat will be held in November.

Hummel says his experience as minority floor leader in the House prompted him to seek the appointment, “I’ve enjoyed my time as minority leader in the House, and I’ve created some relationships on both sides of the aisle that I think have helped us stop some anti-worker proposals in the past,” Hummel told the Labor Tribune. “I think I can do a lot more for Organized Labor in the Missouri Senate.”

Hummel said if elected, he’ll continue to push for job growth, citing its importance in addressing some of the social issues and unrest in the region, “A lot of things could be solved by putting people to work making a good wage with benefits and insurance.”

The near universally admired Keaveny was complimentary of Hummel.

“Rep. Hummel possesses the skills necessary to represent St. Louis in the Senate and still accomplish his legislative agenda,” Keaveny said. “The Senate has a different demeanor than the House and I think Jake can make that transition seamlessly.”

(Some information for this report from KMOX and the Missouri Times.)