2012 represents the first election in my life in which Missouri was not considered a swing state. In fact, up until 2008, it was a reliable bellwether state predicting every presidential electoral college winner in the twentieth century except 1900 and 1956. It was incredible close in 2008 and had Obama contested the state no doubt the result would have been closer. Missouri demographics are not changing as fast as the nation is and thus it is less representative of the nation, but I don't think it's fair yet to suggest Missouri is safe republican state. Democrats still dominate control of statewide offices. Of the 6 state level offices democrats hold 4 and republicans hold 2 and there was no change this election. Part of this could be explained by the weak candidates republicans put up, but still the democratic bench is much deeper and broad than in other deep red states.
We dodged some serious bullets in not electing former Gov. Blunt's Chief of Staff Ed Martin as Attorney General. Ed Martin you might recall came incredible close to unseating 3rd District Congressman Russ Carnahan in 2010. He originally was going to run again for the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District being vacated by Todd Akin, but changed course when Ann Wagner jumped in the race. Ed Martin ran his campaign less against incumbent Chris Koster, but against Obama and Obamacare.
Then Missouri voters went on to "legitimately rape" Mr. Akin's chance of ever getting elected to any position in Missouri again, let alone the US Senate. The McCaskill campaign deserves a lot of credit though for pushing Todd Akin through the republican primary going to the length of running this ad.
Missouri overwhelming returned control of the St. Louis Police Department to the city of St. Louis. State control of the Police Department dates back to the civil war. In 1861 the state motivated by confederate supporters including then Gov. Claiborne Jackson established a Police Board to oversee the St. Louis Police force, a city that was pro-Union. The move gave the Governor the ability to control the department and prevent the city from supplying Union forces. It also prevent the city from moving against Jeff City if they voted to join the confederation. None of this came to pass since the state through convention voted to remain neutral and Gov. Jackson was removed from office. St. Louis ended up supplying pro-Union forces. However, state control remained and many mayor have pushed for and failed to achieve local control. This decision gives the mayor, for the first time, the ability to appoint members to the Police Board versus having the Governor dictate it's composition. It's a much needed improvement to a city otherwise on the decline.
Everything wasn't rosy in Missouri. Aside from the presidential result, the state overwhelmingly voted to limit the governors ability to comply with the PPACA. Although, it has very little effect it was seen mostly as another referendum on "Obamacare." The state also failed to raise the lowest in the nation cigarette tax, but it was a very narrow margin. Also, our ethically challenged republican Lt. Gov. narrowly won re-election. I would never claim that Missouri is a progressive state, but labeling it a conservative and safe republican state is premature, especially without a fight.
