TERM LIMITS PUSHED MISSOURI'S LAST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OUT OF OFFICE IN 2016.

NOW WITH INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN MIKE PARSON FACING TERM LIMITS OF HIS OWN AND BALLOT QUESTIONS ASKING VOTERS TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING AND GUARANTEE PAID LEAVE TO DEMOCRATS, AN OPENING TO FLIP THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FROM RED BACK TO BLUE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CRYSTAL QUADE AND BUSINESSMAN MIKE HAMRE DEBATE ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF THE RECORD.

WELCOME TO THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEBATE IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

I'M MARK MAXWELL.

AND I'M RUTHIE ZELL.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CRYSTAL CRYSTAL QUAID AND BUSINESSMAN MIKE HAMMER ARE RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

NOW EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND THE MODERATOR IS DISCRETION.

WE MAY OFFER 30 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL OR CLARIFICATION.

BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE AGREED TO THESE RULES.

THEY'LL EACH GET A ONE MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT AT THE END WE DETERMINED WHO WOULD GO FIRST WITH A COIN TOSS FIRST.

WE BEGIN WITH MS..

BOTH OF YOU HAVE PROMISED TO RESTORE ABORTION RIGHTS BUT VOTERS COULD DO MUCH OF THAT HEAVY LIFTING AT THE BALLOT BOX THIS NOVEMBER IF.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS APPROVED.

IT MIGHT OPEN A FLOOD OF LAWSUITS OR LEGISLATIVE FIGHTS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHICH OLD LAWS OR NEW LAWS WOULD CONFLICT WITH THAT AMENDED CONSTITUTION.

SO WHAT ADDITIONAL WOULD YOU TAKE AS GOVERNOR TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS?

WELL, FIRST I WANT TO SAY RUTH AND MARK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND MIKE FOR HERE.

YOU KNOW, AS THE ONLY MOM AND WOMAN IN RACE, I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE POLITICIANS IN OUR DOCTORS OFFICES.

I'M REALLY PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE OTHER ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS HERE IN OUR STATE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN LEADING THE FIGHT IN THIS CONVERSATION.

I WAS IN JEFFERSON CITY WHEN REPUBLICANS PASSED THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST AND VERY LIMITED LIFE OF THE MOTHER PROVISIONS.

AND SO I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR FOLKS.

I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN NOVEMBER TO TAKE THOSE TAKE THE RIGHTS BACK THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE IN OUR STATE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY TO ENSURE MAKE SURE THAT AS GOVERNOR THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF MISSOURIANS AND THAT WHAT HAPPENS ON ELECTION DAY WILL BE UPHELD.

MR.. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

SURE.

NO, I WANT TO THANK YOU TWO AND THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE QUADE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TODAY TO DEBATE.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT TIME THAT WE RESTORE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO ABORTION THE STATE LUCKILY ACROSS THE STATE HAVE PUT THE INITIATIVE ON BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND VOTERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE WOMEN'S RIGHTS TO ABORTION IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

BUT AS GOVERNOR I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT BOTH WITH THE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE CAN AVAIL OURSELVES OF AS GOVERNOR.

NOW MR. HAMMER, YOU'RE RUNNING AN AD IT DESCRIBES WHAT YOU WON'T DO THAT YOU WON'T TAKE AWAY MISSOURIANS RIGHTS FOR THEIR FREEDOMS.

NOW SOME VOTERS JUST MIGHT INTERPRET THAT TO MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY THEIR RIGHT TO OWN WHATEVER TYPE OF GUN THEY WANT OR TO CARRY FIREARMS WHEREVER THEY WANT.

SO WHAT LIMITS REGULATIONS IF ANY WOULD YOU PUT ON THE SALE, THE POSSESSION OR CARRYING OF GUNS?

WELL, LOOK, I THINK IT'S EVIDENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF MISSOURIANS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI INCLUDING GUN OWNERS LIKE SEE THE NEED FOR A STRONGER BACKGROUND CHECKS AS WELL AS RED FLAG LAWS.

EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WANT STRONG RED FLAG LAWS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

THEY WALK INTO SITUATIONS ALL THE TIME UNPREPARED NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE WALKING INTO.

RED FLAG LAWS WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THE STREET EVERY DAY.

I DO HAVE A RESPONSE.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW AS MY TIME AS A DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN JEFFERSON CITY, I HAVE SPENT A LOT TIME WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND THE THING I HEAR THE MOST FROM THEM IS NOT ONLY DO THEY NEED ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND OF COURSE SALARIES AND TRAINING BUT THEY HEAR A LOT ABOUT PARTICULARLY JUVENILES HAVING ACCESS TO GUNS.

I AM A HUGE PROPONENT FOR LOCAL CONTROL AROUND THESE CONVERSATIONS.

LOOK, I GREW UP IN RURAL SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.

I WHEN A TEENAGER SOMETIMES NEEDS HAVE ACCESS TO A GUN TO PROTECT THEIR.

THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN HAVING A KID WALKING DOWN THE STREET HAVING A FIREARM, A BIG CITY.

NOW IT'S QUITE MISSOURI'S INCOME TAX BRACKET IT'S TECHNICALLY A GRADUATED ONE BUT EVERYBODY WHO WORKS A FULL TIME JOB OR IF THEY MAKE 80 $449 THEY WILL PAY JUST UNDER 5% IN STATE INCOME TAXES.

SO WHEN THESE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE COMPANIES REPORTING RECORD PROFITS WHILE THEIR WORKERS WATCH THE VALUE OF THEIR DOLLAR DIMINISH BECAUSE OF INFLATION, WOULD YOU THINK TO ADJUST RATES OR BRACKETS TO MAKE THE STATE'S INCOME TAX LESS REGRESSIVE?

YEAH, I THINK THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT FAIR TAXES LOOK LIKE IN OUR STATE.

LISTEN, EVERY YEAR I'VE SEEN IN JEFFERSON THE REPUBLICANS GIVE TAX BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST AND TO OUR CORPORATIONS OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THINGS THAT IMPACT FOLKS DAY TO DAY LIVES.

I'VE SPONSORED LEGISLATION ADDRESSING CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS AND ELDER CARE TAX CREDITS.

WE'VE EVEN HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND FOOD TAXES.

AND SO ABSOLUTELY I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BUT WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR EVERYDAY WORKING CLASS MISSOURIANS.

WE CAN MOVE ON HERE.

MR. HAMMER THE MISSOURI PROHIBITS THE USE OF PUBLIC AID FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING ANY FUNDING TO SUSTAIN PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTROLLED BY ANY RELIGIOUS CREED.

THAT'S FROM THE CONSTITUTION.

DO YOU THINK THE EXPANDED TAX BREAKS FOR DONORS TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM ARE CONSTITUTIONAL AND WOULD YOU OVERTURN THEM?

WELL, LOOK, HERE'S THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.

WE AREN'T SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC SYSTEMS THE WAY WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

I JUST RECEIVED A POLICY PLAN 42 PAGE POLICY PLAN YESTERDAY THAT DETAILS OUT SOME OF THE IDEAS AND INITIATIVES THAT I'LL TAKE ON AS GOVERNOR IN BRINGING BACK FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN THE STATE MISSOURI.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE KIDS IN THE STATE MISSOURI SHOULDN'T HAVE A GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION AND AS GOVERNOR I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE QUAID WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AS THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE FROM OUR EDUCATORS THE STATE, THEY KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I VOTED AGAINST THE EXPANSION TO TAKE YOUR PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS AND MOVE IT TO PRIVATE AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

I ABSOLUTELY WILL NEVER SUPPORT THAT.

WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SPACE.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST PAID TEACHERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO AND ABSOLUTELY I WOULD NOT SUPPORT PUBLIC TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

MS. QUADE THE AMERICAN EDUCATION EXPERIENCE IS DRIVEN LARGELY BY SOCIOECONOMICS SCHOOL FUNDING IS TIED TO PROPERTY VALUES AND NOT TO THE VALUE THAT WE MIGHT PLACE ON ANY GIVEN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT.

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE TO MISSOURI'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS IN URBAN AND RURAL SCHOOLS GET A QUALITY EDUCATION?

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW I AM THE VERY FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND SO I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE FOR EVERY CHILD REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND MY RECORD SHOWS THAT I HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN JEFFERSON CITY TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT KID HAS ACCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT FOR FOUNDATION FORMULA FIRST AND FOREMOST IS INCREASED FUNDING ACROSS THE BOARD.

FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE CHANGES MADE TO THAT FOUNDATION FORMULA SEVERAL AGO THAT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO SAY WE'RE FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE NOT BEEN.

WE NEED TO INCREASE TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND WE NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDDOS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THAT IS HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE GETTING THEIR FUNDING NOT JUST BASED ON ATTENDANCE.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT WORK AS GOVERNOR.

DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE, MR. HAMMER?

SO FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS I'VE BUILT AN ORGANIZATION BY INVESTING BACK IN PEOPLE VERSUS FOCUSING ON PROFIT ABOVE ELSE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PROUD THAT WE'VE DONE IS AN ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO GET SOME FORM OF EDUCATION.

WE REIMBURSE OUR EMPLOYEES TUITION IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE SUPPORT OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE EMPLOYEES TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK IN OUR STORES.

WE PAY THEM TO DO THAT AND THEN WE COMPENSATE FOR GOOD GRADES.

I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LEAN TO SUPPORT THE KIDS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO GET A GREAT PUBLIC EDUCATION.

MR. HAMMER A 2022 SURVEY FOUND THAT 65% OF MISSOURI ADULTS EARNING LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR SKIPPED MEDICAL CARE.

39% OF THEM RATIONED MEDICINE.

WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE TO LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MISSOURI WORKERS?

WELL, I APPRECIATE QUESTION BECAUSE IN THE PLAN THAT I JUST RELEASED YESTERDAY WE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

ONE THING WE CAN DO IS GO AFTER LOWERING INSURANCE COSTS.

THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IS PROVIDING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG OPPORTUNITY SO MANY STATES HAVE PUT IN PLACE A BOARD, A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BOARD THAT ACTUALLY LOWERS THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE STATE.

AS GOVERNOR I WILL GO TO WORKING IMMEDIATELY.

I'M PUTTING IN PLACE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BOARD THAT WILL WORK ON LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS HERE IN THE STATE AS WELL AS HELPING PEOPLE ARE BURDENED WITH MEDICAL DEBT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI WHICH I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE BURDENED WITH MEDICAL DEBT RIGHT NOW.

REPRESENTATIVE QUAID, WOULD YOU DO WHAT WOULD DO IN THIS INSTANCE?

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THIS QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, AS I'VE BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE THE THING THAT I HEAR THE MOST FROM FOLKS IS THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE.

AND EXACTLY TO YOUR POINT, WE KNOW FOLKS ARE SKIPPING ON CARE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WE'VE HAD OVER 18 RURAL HOSPITALS CLOSED IN THE LAST DECADE IN OUR STATE AND THAT IS CATASTROPHIC FOR PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A HEALTH CRISIS IF YOU CAN'T GET TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN A TIMELY WAY.

IT IS TRULY LIFE AND DEATH.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS SPACE AROUND.

JUST TO JUST TODAY THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH THE 340 B PROGRAM WHICH WILL HELP WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AS GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THESE INITIATIVES LET'S DO A QUICK YES OR NO LIGHTNING ROUND CANDIDATES FOR THE NEXT FEW QUESTIONS RAISE YOUR HAND TO SIGNAL YES AND KEEP YOUR HAND DOWN FOR NO.

WOULD YOU COMMIT TO ALLOWING KANSAS CITY AND SAINT LOUIS TO CONTROL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

BOTH SAY YES.

OKAY.

SHOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN STEP ASIDE AND LET DEMOCRAT RUN?

WELL, NEITHER BOTH HAS CONGRESSWOMAN CORI BUSH EARNED A THIRD TERM IN CONGRESS.

UP TO THE VOTERS UP TO THE VOTERS, YES WE HAVE.

WAS THAT A YES, MIKE?

IT'S A TOUGH.

IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS AND THAT WAS A MAYBE THAT WASN'T UP TO THE VOTERS.

I DON'T LIVE IN SAINT LOUIS.

SHE'S NOT A VOTER.

WILL YOU BOTH COMMIT RELEASING YOUR FULL TAX RETURNS BEFORE THE ELECTION?

WE HAVE ONE YES THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

A LITTLE LIGHTNING ROUND THERE .

MISS QUADE, WE'LL START WITH YOU ON THESE QUESTIONS.

A FULL 60 SECONDS FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

FENTANYL IS KILLING YOUNG MISSOURIANS AT AN ALARMING RATE.

RECENT PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SHOWS THAT DRUG OVERDOSE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG MISSOURI ADULTS AGES 18 TO 44.

AND THE DEA TELLS US MOST OF THOSE DEADLY DRUGS COME ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO.

DOES MISSOURI HAVE AN INTEREST IN SENDING SUPPORT TO SECURE THE BORDER AND WHAT OTHER STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE TO STOP FENTANYL FROM KILLING MISSOURIANS IN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE OF THEIR LIVES?

YEAH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS QUESTION MARK.

I LIKE SO MANY FAMILIES IN MISSOURI HAVE HAD PERSONAL LOSS DUE TO ADDICTION AND I KNOW HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF FOLKS THIS IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND SO WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE DRUG CRISIS IN OUR STATE.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND IMMIGRATION AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK THAT.

BUT AS GOVERNOR WHERE MY ENERGY WILL BE FOCUSED IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE NECESSARY NECESSARY RESOURCES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO GIVE FOLKS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE ADDICTION SPACE.

WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING GROUPS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE IN THE ADDICTION SPACE FOR HOUSING AND RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT AND FUNDING SO THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION THEY HAVE ACCESS TO GET OUT OF THIS TERRIBLE CYCLE THAT THEY'RE STUCK IN.

AND AS GOVERNOR THAT'S WHERE MY WILL BE.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT THE BORDER IS A CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S TOP OF MIND FOR SO MANY FOLKS AND OF COURSE AS GOVERNOR I WILL WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING NECESSARY RESOURCES.

MR. HAMMER HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THE FEDERAL CRISIS?

SO FIRST OFF, LET ME JUST ADDRESS THE BORDER SITUATION.

AS GOVERNOR I WOULD NEVER SEND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD DOWN TO PROTECT BORDER.

THAT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE AND IS UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH THAT NOT THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

SECONDLY, WITH REGARD TO FENTANYL IN MY PLAN I PROPOSE TREATMENT CENTERS WILL SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT ARE ADDICTED AND NONVIOLENT CRIMINALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THINGS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI NOT PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT AREN'T SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

THANK YOU, MR. HAMMER.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA FOUND RACIAL VARIANCES IN MISSOURI'S USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

HOMICIDES INVOLVING WHITE VICTIMS WERE ALMOST SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN EXECUTIONS THAN HOMICIDES INVOLVING BLACK VICTIMS AND HOMICIDES.

WHITE FEMALE VICTIMS WERE NEARLY 14 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN EXECUTIONS THAN THOSE INVOLVING VICTIMS WHO WERE BLACK.

DO YOU BELIEVE SYSTEMIC RACISM IS PRESENT TODAY'S MISSOURI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND WOULD YOU ALLOW THE STATE TO EXECUTE ANYBODY?

WELL, LOOK, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IT'S THE LAW OF THE LAND RIGHT NOW.

AS GOVERNOR WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOOK TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

BUT TRUTH IS MOST OF OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY HAS A SUPERMAJORITY NOW.

IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO OVERTURN THAT.

AND AS GOVERNOR I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LOOK AT EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL CASE THAT COMES BEFORE MY OFFICE.

AND HE COME ON THIS QUITE.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND JUSTICE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING NOT ONLY THOSE STATS YOU MENTIONED BUT IF WE LOOK AT JUST SIMPLY OUR PULL OVER IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, OF COURSE AFRICAN-AMERICAN NUMBERS ARE SKYROCKETING ABOVE WHITE MISSOURIANS WHO ARE GETTING PULLED OVER.

THERE IS SO MUCH WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS SPACE.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AROUND THE DEATH PENALTY, I DO NOT SUPPORT IT AND MY RECORD SHOWS THAT WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING IS HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND SUPPORTING OUR JURORS WHO MORE OFTEN THAN NOT NOT SAY THAT FOLKS NEED THE DEATH PENALTY AND OUR AND OUR JUDGES ARE OVERRULING THAT AND THAT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WE COULD MISS QUADE, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST FOR TWO CHILDREN IN A DAYCARE CENTER ROUGHLY DOUBLE THAT OF ONE YEAR OF PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION AND THAT'S ONLY IF YOU CAN EVEN LOCATE A SUITABLE FACILITY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SOME REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SAYS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FOOT THE FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD CARE.

SO WHY ARE THEY WRONG?

YEAH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE IS A HUGE CRISIS AND I KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND AS A WORKING MOM.

IT'S A THING THAT THAT I HAD TO DEBATE.

DO I EVEN GO TO WORK AT ALL BECAUSE WILL I MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO SURVIVE?

I'LL TELL YOU THE VERY FIRST BILL THAT I FILED IN JEFFERSON CITY HAD DO WITH CHILD CARE BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I TALKED TO IN MY DISTRICT SAID TO ME ACCESS TO CHILD CARE THAT'S AFFORDABLE IS ME FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THAT SPACE TO TRY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY GETTING THE REPUBLICANS AND FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY.

GOVERNOR PARSON PUT FORWARD AS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES SOME TAX CREDITS IN THIS SPACE AND SO REALLY PROUD THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT MISSOURI AND STILL ARE IN THIS CRISIS WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND ANY HELP.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND INCREASING PAY FOR THESE WORKERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET SOMETIMES EXTRA JOBS.

WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND FULLY FUNDING THE CLIFF AFFECT SUBSIDY PROGRAMS AND WE NEED TO HAVE JOB TRAININGS AND WE CAN DO INCENTIVES.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT COULD BE IN THIS SPACE BEYOND JUST TAX CREDITS.

BUT THIS IS ONE THAT I DEEPLY AND PASSIONATE ABOUT.

THANK YOU.

WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

WE'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS HERE BUT WE HAVE TO START WITH CLOSING STATEMENTS WITH THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT SO EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR THEIR CLOSING STATEMENT AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH QUITE.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

YOU KNOW, AS THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE LAST ALMOST SIX YEARS I HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO PEOPLE WHETHER IT WAS EXPANDING CHILDCARE ACCESS OR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES FIGHTING AGAINST THIS DRACONIAN ABORTION BAN THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE.

AGAIN, AS THE ONLY WIFE AND MOTHER IN THIS RACE, I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE POLITICIANS IN OUR DOCTORS OFFICES.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PHONE CALLS I'VE PERSONALLY RECEIVED FROM WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN AN ACTIVE MISCARRIAGE AND TOLD TO BE SENT HOME AND TOLD TO BLEED OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO DEATH YET.

THIS IS WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE IN MISSOURI.

I AM SO PROUD OF THE RELATIONSHIPS I'VE BUILT ACROSS THE AISLE.

AM SO DEEPLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE ENDORSEMENTS THAT I HAVE IN THIS RACE FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE OTHER ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS TO THE SIERRA CLUB TO THE MISSOURI AFL-CIO AND THEY'RE OVER 500 MILLION OR 500,000 MEMBERS IN OUR STATE OUR TEACHERS, OUR ELECTRICIANS, OUR LABORERS AND THE LIST GOES ON.

I'VE BUILT A WINNING COALITION THAT WE KNOW CAN WIN IN NOVEMBER AND I KNOW WE CAN BEAT THE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING IT MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND MR. HAMMER TO YOU.

YEAH.

FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR WATCHING THE DEBATE.

BUT EXTREMISTS THE REALITY IS EXTREMISTS IN JEFFERSON CITY HAVE OUTLAWED ABORTION IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND WE NEED A GOVERNOR GOING TO FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS TO ABORTION.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ALSO TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL NOT STAND FOR AS GOVERNOR IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

BUT FOR THE TRUTH OF MATTER IS I'VE WORKED FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND GROWING IN THEIR CAREERS SUPPORTING THEM IN THEIR LIFE FOR EXAMPLE, SUPPORTING WHO NEED DAYCARE TO UNLEASH THEIR POTENTIAL TO GROW THEIR CAREERS.

I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A KEY MATTER FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE'S MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AROUND THE ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING AND STRUGGLING FAMILIES BOTH AROUND EDUCATION AND ABOUT HEALTH.

AND I'M GOING TO WORK LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE THE PEOPLE LIVES OF MISSOURI BETTER.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

AND THANK YOU BOTH.

THAT'S ALL OF OUR TIME.

THANKS TO BOTH CANDIDATES FOR JOINING US IN DEBATING HERE.

THANKS TO YOU, RUTHIE ZELL, FOR HELPING US MODERATE THIS THE MISSOURI IS AUGUST SIX.

DO MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE WELCOME BACK ANITA MANNION JOINS US NOW SHE'S A POLITICAL EXPERT WITH HER PH.D.

IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND IN THE STUDIO WATCHING THE CANDIDATES DEBATE FIRST REACTIONS HOW DID IT GO?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL KUDOS TO THE MODERATORS AND THE CANDIDATES FOR A DEBATE THAT WAS CIVIL AND SUBSTANTIVE THAT WAS VERY REFRESHING FOR A CHANGE.

BUT OVERALL I THOUGHT WE GOT INTO SOME REAL ISSUES THAT MATTER TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND THAT THE CANDIDATES ACTUALLY RESPONDED DIRECTLY TO THOSE ISSUES.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS GOING BE INFORMATIVE FOR MISSOURI VOTERS.

HOW DO YOU SEE THEIR RESPECTIVE CANDIDATES STRENGTHS?

I THINK QUADE WAS CLEARLY THE MORE EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN AND SHE TRIED TO LEAN INTO THAT TALKING ABOUT BILLS THAT SHE SPONSORED, ENDORSEMENTS SHE HAS.

AND SO THAT WAS VERY CLEAR.

I THOUGHT THAT HAMRE ALSO DID A GOOD JOB OF RESPONDING TO THE ISSUES AND REFERRING TO A POLICY PLATFORM HE RECENTLY PUT OUT.

HE DIDN'T GET INTO HIS MUCH SPECIFICS AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND IN POLITICS.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HEAR HIM MAYBE LEAN IN A LITTLE MORE INTO HIS EXPERIENCE HOW THAT CONNECTS TO THE JOB OF GOVERNOR .

I THINK HE REALLY WANTS PEOPLE TO GO READ HIS PLAN.

HE KEPT REFERRING TO THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN IF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSES, HE SEEMED TO SUGGEST THERE COULD BE A CONTINUING FIGHT TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL OR TO OTHER THINGS AROUND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

HOW HEAVY DOES THAT WEIGH ON VOTERS MINDS DO YOU THINK, IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CONTEST?

YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT THE THE ISSUES AROUND ABORTION REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE DEFINITELY SOMETHING ALL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN MISSOURI ARE GOING TO BE LEANING INTO THIS YEAR AND A VERY MOTIVATING ISSUE FOR VOTERS.

THE LIGHTNING ROUND WAS INTERESTING SOME OF THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS HERE.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THERE?

WELL, I THINK THE TWO THAT THEY SEEMED A LITTLE HESITANT ON THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT BIDEN AND BUSH.

RIGHT.

AND YOU EVEN GET I THINK FROM KRYSTAL QUADE.

BUT I THOUGHT I THOUGHT THOSE WERE GOOD QUESTIONS.

THAT WAS A FUN WAY TO SEE HOW THEY STACKED UP ON THE ISSUES I SEE IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY YOU THINK THESE CANDIDATES SHOULD FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION AS THEY CONTINUE CAMPAIGN AROUND THE STATE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSING?

YEAH, I THINK FROM HAMRE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SINCE HE DOESN'T A POLICY OR POLITICAL RECORD HE TALKS ABOUT THAT POLICY PLAN BUT MAYBE GETTING INTO SOME MORE OF THE SPECIFICS.

ONE THING HE DID DO THAT I LIKED IS SO OFTEN WHETHER IT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OR THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN CANDIDATES MAKE ALL THESE ASSERTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

BUT THOSE ARE REALLY THINGS THE LEGISLATURE DOES AND.

THE EXECUTIVE DOES HAVE POWER OVER THOSE AND HE DID KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD NEED TO DO AND WHAT HE COULD DO.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS USEFUL WITH KRYSTAL QUADE.

I THINK SHE REALLY DID TRY TO LEAN IN TO THE FACT THAT SHE IS A WOMAN, A MOTHER AND HER ENDORSEMENTS AND HER RURAL BACKGROUND.

YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A LITTLE MORE MAYBE STERN ABOUT THE BORDER ISSUE CALLING IT A CRISIS WHICH COULD BE APPEALING TO MORE RURAL VOTERS IN MISSOURI.

AND SHE ALSO INTO BEING FROM SPRINGFIELD A WORKING CLASS BACKGROUND.

THE FIRST PERSON IN HER FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I THINK THAT NARRATIVE HOPEFULLY FROM HER STANDPOINT HELP HER CONNECT WITH VOTERS ACROSS STATE.

WE HEARD MIKE HAMMER REALLY DEPART FROM GOVERNOR PARSON AND THERE'S BEEN SOME DEMOCRATS IN JEFFERSON CITY SUPPORT THIS IDEA OF SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TO THE SOUTHERN.

IT'S BEEN BIPARTISAN.

HE SAID NO, THAT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE.

BUT OUTSIDE THAT THERE WASN'T REALLY ANY MOMENT WHERE EITHER CANDIDATE CHALLENGED THE OTHER ONE, THEY REALLY KIND OF JUST STAYED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT?

HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO?

WE IN PREPARED TO HAVE TO LOOK OKAY, YOU TWO STAND APART, GO BACK TO YOUR CORNERS AND WE DIDN'T GET ANY OF IT?

NO, IT WAS VERY CIVIL.

THEY EACH SORT OF SET THEIR POINT BUT REALLY DIDN'T ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER AND WE'RE ONLY, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN A MONTH OUT FROM ELECTION.

SO PERHAPS THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY THIS KEEPING IT CIVIL WHICH FOR A LOT OF US IS REFRESHING AFTER SEEING SO MUCH SO MANY DEBATES DEVOLVE INTO THOSE FIGHTS.

SO IT WAS NICE TO JUST HEAR ACTUAL ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU THINK VOTER TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

GENERALLY IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS IT'S VERY LOW MAYBE AROUND 20% BUT WE HAVE SOME BIG RACES THIS TIME IN OPEN SEATS AND COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES WITH SOME PRIMARY RACES WITH EIGHT CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT AND SO I THINK THAT FOLKS ARE REALLY GOING TO TRY TO BE WHIPPING UP VOTER TURNOUT AND MAYBE SOME BALLOT INITIATIVES TOO, WHICH CAN ALSO HELP DRIVE VOTER TURNOUT.

UNLIKE MISSOURI DECOUPLES ITS PRIMARY ELECTION FOR STATEWIDE RACES FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN ILLINOIS, IT'S ALL FOR YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALL OUT THERE.

THERE'S A BIGGER TURNOUT HERE.

I WONDER HOW MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE MIKE HAMRE BECAUSE HE HAS DEEP POCKETS HE CAN FUND HIS OWN ADS WHERE CRYSTAL IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CANDIDATE.

SHE'S KNOWN AMONG DEMOCRATIC PARTY FAITHFUL THE ACTIVISTS, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE LAWMAKERS.

BUT HOW DO YOU STACK THOSE TWO UP?

I MEAN THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT BASES OF SUPPORT IN HOW THEIR CAMPAIGNS ARE CONSTRUCTED.

YEAH.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, HAMRE, WHILE HE'S CAMPAIGNING IN THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, CAN REALLY LEAN INTO BEING BUSINESS OWNER AND USE THAT TO APPEAL TO VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING THAT CRYSTAL, TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE REALLY ENGAGED IN POLITICS AND MISSOURI POLITICS, SHE'S KNOWN COMMODITY BUT I THINK TO MOST VOTERS SHE MAY NOT BE SO I THINK BOTH OF THEM ARE INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO VOTERS.

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

OH SHOOT.

WHO WON THE DEBATE?

OH GOSH.

I DON'T LIKE TO REALLY SAY THAT BUT I WILL SAY CRYSTAL QUADE DID COME ACROSS IS THE MORE EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN SO YOU TAKE THAT AS YOU WILL IF YOU'RE GIVING NOTES TO MR. HAMRE ON HOW HE CAN IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY I THINK THAT LIKE I SAID, HE COULD LEAN INTO HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND AND REALLY CONNECT THAT TO POLICIES AND WHAT HE WILL DO AS GOVERNOR.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE RUTH EZELL AND ANITA MARION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

AND AGAIN, DON'T FORGET TO MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE AUGUST SIX.

THAT'S THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

WE'LL SEE YOU AROUND