Summertime is in full effect- and so is campaign season!!!
I haven’t checked in in a while, but I’ve been really busy navigating this next chapter in my political and professional life.
First of all, I’ve been reinstated as State Committeeman representing Missouri’s 26th Senate District on the Missouri Democratic Party’s State Committee. I want to make sure that the Democrats in SD26 have a voice in the workings of the State Party and I try to make sure that I make information and resources available to the Democrats in our four rural counties and Eureka.
In addition, I once again served as a Biden delegate this year, and Michelle (who’s also a Biden delegate for 2024) and I both attended the Democratic State Convention in Columbia, MO on June 22. I was also elected to be the Chair for the Credentials Committee and I’m proud to say that everything went well! 242 delegates were present from around the state, we approved several resolutions, and we elected at-large national delegates and DNC members as well. We were also fortunate to hear a few words from a number of excellent statewide Democratic candidates.
Recently I’ve revisited an effort that I started back in 2021 called the Meramec Valley Democrats. My intention is to establish this group with the intention of engaging with, informing, and activating Democrats from South and West St. Louis County west down Highway 44 toward Rolla and in Senate District 26- which includes the counties of Franklin, Warren, Gasconade, and Osage, and ends 11 miles east of Jefferson City.
I believe that it’s essential that we connect the resources and support that we have in near St. Louis County and City with the areas outside of the Democratic stronghold so that we might work together to elect more Democrats in West St. Louis Co. and in the counties surrounding the St. Louis area. I’ve created a website for this effort at
MERAMECVALLEYDEMOCRATS.ORG and we have social media accounts set up on all the popular platforms. The year of the Presidential Election is the most engaged that voters will be for a while and we cannot afford to wait for someone else to step up and manage this effort.
I’ve posted a list of Democratic candidates that will appear on the August ballot in the St. Louis area on MERAMECVALLEYDEMOCRATS.ORG and I will continue to build out the site to provide information to help inform voters in the St. Louis area and east central Missouri about who and what will be on their ballots in August and beyond.
While I’m not running for office this cycle, I am going to be on the August ballot to serve as Democratic Committeeman for the Meramec Township in West St. Louis County. Meramec Township includes Eureka, Fenton, Valley Park, a bit of Wildwood, and parts of unincorporated Ballwin. Please tell your Democratic friends and family in Meramec Township to support me on the ballot as I’m challenging the current Committeeman- who unfortunately hasn’t organized or been active in our Township for the last four years of his tenure.
In St. Louis County the Township Committeepeople are responsible for organizing, meeting, informing, and proactively engaging with voters in their township on a regular basis. If elected, I will immediately begin to proactively execute the responsibilities of Township Committeeman as this is a critical year not only for Democrats but for the very future of our country, and I will continue to work into the off-year and beyond to help identify and support municipal candidates and identify, engage, and activate Democratic voters in Meramec Township.
IN THE NEWS...
Recent Supreme Court decisions have made historic- and some disturbing- changes to the way policy is interpreted in the United States.
While the decision regarding presidential immunity might be the most frightening and discussed issue recently, decisions regarding the function and effectiveness of Executive Branch agencies, the legality of sleeping in the open, how internet companies can moderate their content, and the availability of mifepristone are very impactful as well.
In the 2024 Regular Session, the Republican-dominated Missouri General Assembly presided over the least productive sessions in modern history. In a session dominated by legislative gridlock largely instigated by the far-right extremist Republican “Freedom Caucus” faction, the welfare of Missouri residents was once again sidelined by Republican infighting and the GOP’s habit of prioritizing grievance over governance. Democrats only need a few seats in the Missouri House and Senate to break the Republican supermajority- and 2024 could be the year to make that happen.
Also- to date- the Republican-dominated U.S. House has gridlocked progress in our U.S. Congress as well, and to date only 32 bills have been signed into law since the beginning of 2024 and only 66 for the 118th Congress overall since 2023. Typically Congress will pass about 300 laws in a 2-year span, but the number of bills being passed has declined significantly over the last few decades. The 118th Congress is on track to the most ineffective Congress in modern history.
LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON AUGUST PRIMARY BALLOT
Missouri State Senate
Doug Beck- Senate District 1 (South St. Louis County)
Joe Pereles- Senate District 15 (West St. Louis County)
Missouri State House
Kyle Luzynski- House District 88 (Eureka, Fenton, unincorporated Ballwin)
Sean Sparks- House District 42 (Warren County, Montgomery County)
Eric Morse- House District 89 (Kirkwood, Town and Country, Frontenac, Des Peres)
Mark Boyko- House District 90 (Kirkwood, Glendale)
Leslie Derrington- House District 96 (Fenton, Sunset Hills, Crestwood)
Jaclyn Zimmermann- House District 98 (Ballwin, Valley Park, Manchester)
Colin Lovett- House District 100 (Ballwin, Ellisville)
Jacqueline Cotton- House District 101 (Chesterfield)
Josh Thakston- House District 110 (Wildwood, Chesterfield)
Eleanor Maynard- House District 109 (Northern Franklin County)
Amy Thompson- House District 119 (mid and Southern Franklin County)
U.S. CONGRESS
Ray Hartmann- MO02
Chuck Summers- MO02
Randi McCallian- MO08
Franklin Delano Roth- MO08
Bethany Mann- MO03
IN CLOSING...
While I won’t be on the ballot running for office this year, I am running to be the Committeeman representing Meramec Township in St. Louis County. In St. Louis County this is a 4-year position and there’s an expectation for the Township Committee people to help organize and represent the Democratic Party in their respective Townships. Unfortunately, our present and past Committee members have been lax in executing their responsibilities to actively organize Democrats in our area and participate in voting responsibilities. I would like to see our portion of St. Louis County become the bridge to more Democratic successes outside of the core of the St. Louis area.
Since I’m taking this year off from campaigning I’ve also reclaimed my position as State Committeeman for Missouri’s 26th Senate District, as I believe that it’s very important for West St. Louis Co. and our rural communities to be represented and heard in the Missouri Democratic Party’s State Committee.
I’m opposing the current incumbent Committeeman for the Meramec Township Committeeman seat and I’m actively campaigning and organizing in our area to make people aware of the work that I’ve been doing out this way for the last 6+ years. This race will be decided in the August Primary Election on August 6.
As I talk to voters in Meramec Township talking about my race, I’m also informing Democratic voters about other Democratic candidates and issues appearing on the August and November ballots and providing information about how to participate with other Democrats in the area. If elected, I will restart the Meramec Valley Democrats Club and do the work to engage with and activate Democratic voters in Meramec Township. If you would like to contribute to my efforts you can donate at
KIEHNE2024.COM.
