FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Missouri Democratic Party State Committee Endorses Abortion Rights Initiative Petition

January 27, 2024

On Saturday, January 27th, the Missouri Democratic Party convened a special meeting to consider a full endorsement of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom coalition’s initiative petition that would restore abortion rights for Missourians. Following the endorsement of the abortion rights initiative petition by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“With this unanimous endorsement by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, I am confident Missouri Democrats across the state will come together and advance this initiative petition and restore abortion rights stripped away by Donald Trump’s activist Supreme Court and the extremists in the state legislature,” Carnahan said. 

“The Democratic Party is joining groups across the political spectrum to say MO’s abortion ban goes too far and must be ended. This is a deeply personal issue around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not MAGA politicians in Jefferson City. We know the majority of Missouri voters, Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference. This initiative petition will provide an opportunity for Missouri voters to send the message loud and clear to stop these attacks on our most intimate freedoms.”

“The Missouri Democratic Party has been collaborating with other states where similar efforts have been recently successful to learn best practices and gain insight into where the MDP can be most helpful in supporting the coalition’s effort. We are looking at opportunities to support these efforts around our party-run presidential primary on March 23 and will announce an action plan in the coming weeks.” 

Missouri Democrats who want to get involved in the Missouri Democratic Party’s organizing efforts around this abortion initiative petition can sign up here.   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Missouri Democratic Party Announces 2024 Democratic Presidential Candidates To Appear On March Primary Ballot, Overviews Primary Election Process

January 23, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party, pursuant to our presidential selection process, is announcing that the period for presidential candidates to file to appear on the Missouri Democratic presidential primary ballot closed at 5 PM, January 22, 2024. The following candidates filed and will appear on the ballot for the presidential primary election scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024:

Joseph R Biden, Jr

Dean Phillips

Stephen P Lyons

Armando Perez-Serrato

Marianne Williamson

Jason Michael Palmer

Uncommitted

“Uncommitted” shall automatically appear on the ballot. Write-ins are not allowed per DNC Rules (Rule 11.C, Rule 14.A, Rule 14.C, Rule 14.D, Rule 14.E, & Rule 15.H)

On the Republican Legislature’s change requiring state parties to run their presidential preference primary election, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement: 

“After the Missouri Republicans eliminated our state-run presidential primary, the Missouri Democratic Party worked to design the best party-run process possible given the barriers of the new law. The old fashioned caucus-only election makes it hard to participate in our free and fair Democratic elections and disenfranchises too many senior citizens, military personnel, those with disabilities, and work or childcare obligations from exercising their right to vote.” Carnahan said. 

“Missouri Democrats sought to make lemonade with these lemons and maximize voter participation by offering a mail-in and an in-person voting option to Democratic presidential primary voters. It has long been the belief of the Democratic Party that greater participation in our Democratic elections is what is best for everyone, and the Missouri Democratic Party will continue to advocate for policies that expand access to voting and fight against these attacks on our Democratic process and restore Missouri’s state-run presidential primary for future elections.” 

Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the Democratic National Committee conditionally approved MDP’s plan for Missouri’s 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary. The following details are confirmed with more information available soon:

Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024. 

The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of the primary. 

Pending final availability, at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional sites in larger counties. 

Missourians registered to vote by February 21, 2024, with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office will be eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long as the voter is not registered as a Republican. 

Ballots will be available for request beginning February 1st via the Missouri Democratic Party’s Website, with distribution beginning Feb 17th. This request period will close on March 12. 

Ballots must be returned to the MDP by 10 AM on March 23, 2024. 

Votes will be counted by March 25, with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024.

Background: 

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This is another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. Nearly every Republican member supported the measure.