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What you should keep your eye on for Missouri’s August 2 primary

Jo Mannies, Rachel Lippman and Dave Robertson discussed Missouri's Aug. 2 primary and answered listener questons on July 26.
Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio
Jo Mannies, Rachel Lippman and Dave Robertson discussed Missouri's Aug. 2 primary and answered listener questons on July 26.

Next week, Missourians will go to the polls in their Aug. 2 primaries.  A week before the primaries, three guests joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh to discuss what issues and positions you should keep an eye on.

St. Louis Public Radio reporters Rachel Lippmann, who is covering the city primary, and Jo Mannies, who is covering the statewide primary, broke down what you need to know with the help of UMSL political science professor David Robertson.

“I think the big toss-ups are going to be on the Republican side for Secretary of State … and on the Lieutenant Governor,” said Mannies. “Those races haven’t gotten as much attention as the Attorney General’s race and the one that’s blocking out all the sun, the Republican contest for governor, but I think those have more potential for surprises.”

There’s one thing that Mannies wants listeners to keep in mind between now and then, however.

“Polls in primaries are so unreliable, you have to be really careful,” Mannies said. “In 2012, there were a whole bunch of polls…John Brunner looked like he was going to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in a walk and he actually ended up losing. Primaries hinge so much on who is going to turn out. There’s no major ballot initiatives to turn out the vote this time. It is going to be strange because you could have low turnout next Tuesday and that affects everything.”

Here’s what they discussed:

Missouri Attorney General race

Missouri GOP gubernatorial contest

Campaign donations ahead of the primary

The Democratic Central Committee race in St. Louis

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney race

Attack ad funding

Listen to the full discussion here:

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

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Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.