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time: With in-person Election Day looming on Tuesday, it's not out of the question that you're waiting until this weekend to learn more about state and local races on your ballot. I wanted to give you some listening/reading material from the @stlpublicradio politics team.
The first place to start is the @stlpublicradio Voter Guide. It features short breakdowns of all the major contests and ballot items, along with more in-depth coverage: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-16/voters-guide-nov-2020
There's still time to vote absentee in Missouri, though there is a big difference between absentee ballots with an excuse and mail-in ballots that can be procured for any reason. Here's more information about the differences between the two systems: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-08-20/yes-there-is-a-difference-in-missouri-between-absentee-and-mail-in-voting
. @_kayladrake and @dkovaluk explained how absentee and mail-in ballots are counted: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-30/one-ballots-journey-how-absentee-and-mail-in-ballots-are-counted-in-missouri
Obviously the biggest race on the ballot is the Trump-Biden presidential contest. Trump is expected to win Missouri, but the big question is by how much. It's also an open question whether a smaller margin of victory hurts GOP candidates: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/politics-issues/2020-07-13/can-a-narrower-trump-win-help-galloway-outflank-parson
The most consequential downballot race by far is the governor's contest between @GovParsonMO and @nicolergalloway. You can read and listen to @DriscollNPR's profile of Parson here: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-28/parson-touts-his-record-in-bid-for-a-full-term-as-governor
And you can read a profile of @nicolergalloway that ran earlier this month by clicking here: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-13/galloway-takes-on-the-challenge-of-bringing-a-red-state-governorship-back-to-democrats
The other marquee race that's getting national attention is #MO2, which takes in parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties. The STL County part of the district's backlash against @realDonaldTrump could have big implications in the contest: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-21/trump-fatigue-could-spur-realignment-in-traditionally-republican-parts-of-st-louis-county
If you want to hear more from @JillSchupp and @AnnLWagner in their own words, listen to both candidates' Politically Speaking episodes. Here is Schupp's: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/podcast/politically-speaking/2020-09-28/sen-jill-schupp-on-her-high-stakes-race-with-congresswoman-ann-wagner
And here is @AnnLWagner's Politically Speaking episode: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/podcast/politically-speaking/2020-10-15/congresswoman-ann-wagner-on-her-nationally-watched-bid-for-re-election
There are also four statewide races on the ballot for treasurer, attorney general, secretary of state and lieutenant governor. We did Politically Speaking episodes with all eight candidates. Listen to them here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/politically-speaking/id775890522
We also did Politically Speaking episodes with candidates for three STL area state Senate seats: SD1 in South County, SD15 in southern and western STL County and SD23 in St. Charles County. Find those episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/politically-speaking/id775890522
We've also written extensively about statewide and local ballot initiatives. That includes Amendment 3, which would repeal and replace the Clean Missouri state legislative redistricting system: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-15/missouri-voters-will-again-decide-how-their-state-house-and-senate-maps-are-drawn
. @rlippmann has also written extensively about some of the STL City ballot items like Proposition D, which would make major changes to how some elections are done in the city: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-23/proposition-d-seeks-to-remake-st-louis-elections
And @rlippmann also breaks down Proposition 1, which would remove STL City's residency requirement: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-21/should-city-employees-have-to-live-in-st-louis-voters-will-decide-nov-3
If you have are steeped in Illinois Values, @EricDSchmid has a break down of the nationally-watched House race between @RodneyDavis and @BetsyforIL: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-27/illinois-13th-district-congressional-race-is-nearly-identical-to-2018
And @DriscollNPR and @EricDSchmid both hosted Politically Speaking episodes with @RodneyDavis and @BetsyforIL that can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/politically-speaking/id775890522
There are also Politically Speaking episodes with candidates for circuit attorney, STL County Council, STL County executive and proponents and opponents of Amendment 3 that can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/politically-speaking/id775890522
And be sure to check out @JonathanAhl's story about how Biden and Trump differ on agriculture policy, a huge issue in rural Missouri: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-16/trump-and-biden-differ-on-agriculture-policy-but-it-may-not-matter-in-the-election
And @JonathanAhl also looked into whether Phelps County is becoming more progressive after shifting toward the GOP in recent decades: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-29/republican-stronghold-of-phelps-county-is-showing-signs-of-progressive-life
So again, if you're looking to brush up on what's on your ballot this weekend, start at @stlpublicradio's Vote Guide. Read, listen and be informed about the candidates and issues that will impact your life: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-10-16/voters-guide-nov-2020
