Another Republican jumping ship
Chris Benjamin, who until recently was a top Republican aide in the Missouri House, is expected to announce next week that he will run for the state Senate – as a Democrat.
Benjamin will make an announcement on Monday, according to state Sen. Chris Koster, who will accompany Benjamin on a campaign swing. Koster said Benjamin will seek the 31st District seat in western Missouri that Koster is vacating to run for attorney general.
Benjamin, a lawyer, was chief of staff to House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, until late last year. Neither Benjamin nor Jetton could be reached Thursday.
In switching parties, Benjamin would follow a path set by Koster, who became a Democrat in August.
Benjamin “comes from a labor family, has working class roots,” Koster said. “And I think he believes that the right wing of the Republican Party has shifted too far and has lost its ability to center itself.”
The 31st District is often viewed as a swing district. It was represented for years by conservative Democrat Harold Caskey.
Rep. David Pearce of Warrensburg is expected to seek the Republican nomination for the seat.
Rockslide’s post is highly inaccurate in many ways.
First, Benjamin hates all things Roe. Benjamin used to be a part of the Roe machine but finally figured out what a piece work Roe is and separated himself. Pearce is locked in with Roe. Roe supported Ron Richard and Benjamin was totally dismayed when Richard won. The anti-Roe factor has more to do with Benjamin’s decision than anything else.
Second, Benjamin would not be a pawn of Senate leadership. Shield’s and others alliance with Roe will pretty much insure Benjamin doesn’t fall in lockstep with Senate leadership. If he were to be elected, Koster’s assistance in raising money will help him and no viable democrat is stepping up in the district is helpful, his “beliefs” are far more aligned with those of the House than the Senate. It is more likely that Crowell will have more influence, party switch not withstanding, than Senate Leadership except for maybe Goodman.
Third, democrats are running scared. They and their “kermit the frogs” try to conjure up a Republican party scism that doesn’t exist. This may in the long run hurt Benjamin running as a democrat.