Missouri Governor to Add Presidential Primary Bill to Special Session

According to a press release from his office, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) will include a "narrow" bill to address the timing of the Show Me state's presidential primary. The proposal would accomplish what the broader elections bill that included a provision to move the primary failed to after a gubernatorial veto: move the primary from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. The move would make the Missouri primary compliant with national party rules for delegate selection if passed and signed into law during the special session.

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Nixon press release:

Gov. Nixon to include presidential primary legislation during special session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that he will ask the General Assembly to take up and pass a narrow bill specifically to move the date of Missouri's presidential preference primary to March 6 during a special legislative session in September.

During the regular session, the General Assembly passed legislation (Senate Bill 282) that would move the date of Missouri's presidential primary to comply with the rules of both the national Republican and Democratic parties. Gov. Nixon supported that change. However, the bill also contained provisions that would have eliminated write-in candidates in many municipal elections and would have imposed unnecessary costs for taxpayers to hold special elections. Because of those additional provisions, Gov. Nixon vetoed the bill.

The Governor's office has continued to communicate with legislative and party leaders about the importance of moving Missouri's presidential primary to March 6.

"I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly during the special session to pass narrow, bi-partisan legislation to make this important change," Gov. Nixon said.

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