Politically Speaking

Former Missouri state Rep. Hannah Kelly, who is running for the Rolla-based 16th Senate District seat, is strongly opposed to legalizing and regulating video gaming machines that are often found in gas stations, convenience stores and fraternal organizations.

“I do not want these machines in our gas stations easily accessible to our children,” she said.

Kelly decided to initially run for office because she felt there was a great disconnect between her generation and people serving in the legislature.

On a special edition of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum previews the upcoming August 4th Missouri primary with STLPR reporters Rachel Lippmann and Sarah Kellogg. The journotrio talk about the impact of Amendments 4 and 5 on state legislative elections; the St. Louis County executive contest; and the impact of a redistricting referendum on upcoming elections.

State Rep. Don Mayhew is one of three major Republican candidates running for the 16th Senatorial District seat. The Crocker Republican joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum and Jonathan Ahl on the latest episode of Politically Speaking to talk about his campaign and why voters of the Rolla area district should elect him over Bill Hardwick and Hannah Kelly.

For years, the Missouri Senate has been ground zero for some of the fiercest battles – often driven by personal animosity between legislators.

For state Rep. Bill Hardwick, being able to bring consensus to difficult policy fights is a big reason why he says Republican voters in Missouri’s 16th Senate District should choose him on Aug. 4.

“I can just really drill down and analyze these subjects in detail, really complex, really abstract problems,” Hardwick said on the “Politically Speaking” podcast. “I can deal with people, help them solve problems, and try to apply these ethereal concepts to real people's lives. That's my kind of draw to politics.”

Joan VonDras believes that if Democrats are going to beat Congresswoman Ann Wagner in the fall, they’ll have to stretch past their comfort zone.

VonDras, a former educator at the Clayton and Parkway School districts, and Fred Wellman are the major contenders in the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary.

VonDras has been holding town halls throughout the 2nd District, which includes a number of GOP-leaning areas like Jefferson, Franklin and Gasconade counties. She said the winner of the Aug. 4 primary Democratic primary can’t win in November without appealing to Republicans and independents.

“There are plenty of people that want to put country above party, and those are the people we need to tap into,” VonDras said during an appearance on the “Politically Speaking” podcast.