Missouri AFL-CIO endorses Crystal Quade for governor

Beck, Webber and Nurrenbern endorsed for Senate; Fogel for the House

Jefferson City – The Missouri AFL-CIO has endorsed Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) for governor in next year’s primary election.

Quade spoke recently at a United Auto Workers Local 2250 solidarity rally in Wentzville, Mo. ahead of the UAW’s Sept. 14 deadline to reach contract agreements with the Big Three automakers.

“In my time in Jefferson City, I’ve been in the State House since 2016, and the amount of corporate tax cuts is shameful,” Quade said.

“I’m running for governor, quite honestly, because I’m sick and tired of the way our state has been going. I’m sick and tired of elected officials not caring about workers, not caring about things like public education, not caring about things like access to affordable health care, and I’m tired of our governor not putting you all first. I’ve been with you since the beginning. I’m going to continue to be with you every step of the way. And if I’m elected governor I am going to put working families first and that is going to be the No. 1 priority of what I work on in my administration.”

Quade is seeking to unseat Gov. Mike Parson, who faces a crowded field of Republican challengers.

“We endorsed Crystal because she has always stood by us her entire time in the legislature,” said Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel. “She has been and will continue to fight for Missourians and their families.”

SENATE CANDIDATES
The Federation also endorsed the following State Senate candidates:

• Sen. Doug Beck (D-Affton), a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562) for re-election.

“We are proud to endorse card-carrying union member Doug Beck,” Hummel said. “Doug is a strong fighter for working people in the Senate. We are proud to endorse him for re-election. If you live in South St. Louis County, plan to vote and volunteer for Doug in 2024.”

• Stephen Webber, a former state representative from Columbia and the state Federation’s political director for election to the Senate.

“We need more union members in the Missouri State Senate,” Hummel said. “We have a chance to flip a State Senate seat from anti-worker to pro-worker this year in Boone County.”

• Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern (D-Kansas City) for election to the State Senate.
Nurrenbern was elected to the House in November 2020. Prior to her legislative duties, Nurrenbern taught at North Kansas City High School and at University Academy.

“State Representative Nurrenbern is a fighter for working families in the State House,” Hummel said. “We have an incredible opportunity to elect her to the State Senate in 2024. Maggie has our back and we have hers.”

Of all three candidates, Hummel said “They are card carrying union members, so we wanted to support our members and give them a leg up in the primary. We’ve asked union members to run for office, so we wanted to make sure that we’re supporting them early.”

MISSOURI HOUSE
The Missouri AFL-CIO has also endorsed Betsy Fogel (D-Springfield) for State House District 135 in Greene County.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Fogle spent her career in public health, serving as the director of Program Advancement for Jordan Valley Community Health Center. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2020.