U.S. News & World Report Shifts Rankings to Make Missouri Governor’s Race More Competitive

U.S. News & World Report downgraded the GOP advantage in the Missouri gubernatorial race and ranked it as more competitive. The report attributes the shift to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s “middling support among independents” and Democratic candidate Nicole Galloway’s impressive credentials and “strong fundraising quarters.”

This is the latest in a pattern of troubling news for Parson. Recent polling shows Galloway has cut Parson’s initial lead in half, and gives Vice President Joe Biden a two-point lead in the state over President Trump. Galloway closed out Q2 with over $1 million raised. She also outraised Parson nearly 2:1 in Q1. And in a May SurveyMonkey poll, Parson had the third-lowest approval rating of any governor, a reflection of his poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cook Political Report also moved the 2020 Missouri gubernatorial race to be more competitive back in April.

“The ratings change in the Missouri governor’s race is a reflection of Nicole Galloway’s momentum and Mike Parson’s dwindling lead,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Christina Amestoy. “Parson has failed to lead during his entire time in office. He has used Missourians’ health care as a political football, given preferential treatment to his rich friends, and tried to shirk responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic. Missouri deserves a leader like Nicole Galloway who will fight for all Missourians and put public health first.”