Voters Give a Resounding "No" to Proposition A

Missourians rejected a measure on August 7th which would have upheld the contested legislation making Missouri a “right to work” state.

Missouri became a right-to-work state when the legislature passed Senate Bill 19 in 2017. This legislation directed that no person can be required to join a labor union or pay dues to a labor union as a condition of employment.

The road for this bill to become law gained steam with the 2016 election of former Republican Governor Eric Greitens. He replaced sitting Democrat Jay Nixon, and

Nixon had opposed and vetoed a previous attempt to pass right-towork legislation in Missouri.

Greitens election along with the Republican majority in both the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives led to the Show-Me -State becoming the 28 th right-towork state in the union. The current issue was presented to voters as part of the referendum process in Missouri.

With 37.7% of registered voters in Jackson County casting ballots, a resounding “no” was heard, with 70.58% of voters in Jackson County

voting against Proposition A.

In addition to Proposition A, local voters cast primary ballots to narrow the field in a number of races.

In Missouri Senate District 8, Mike Cierpiot defeated Leonard Hughes IV, a former Missouri House Representative, in the Republican primary. Cierpiot will face Democrat Hillary Shields of Lee’s Summit in the November election. Senate terms are four years.

For the Missouri House District 32 seat, Democrat Janice Bill will face Republican Jeff Coleman. District 33

has been narrowed down to Republican Donna Pfautsch and Democrat Pat Williams.

Other local House districts include District 20, in which Democrat Jessica Merrick will face Republican Bill Kidd, and District 53, in which voters will choose between Republican Glen Kolkmeyer and Democrat Connie Simmons.

The general election will be held November 6, 2018.