GOP Hopes to Overcome Cash and Time to In Search of Metro East Upset
Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) faces a challenge from Republican former Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven.
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) has clearly done this before.
She’s standing in a union hall after talking to a group of volunteers as they headed out to knock on doors the Saturday before the election.
In a hooded sweatshirt bearing her campaign logo and her signature blue rimmed glasses, she appears comfortable and confident to hold off a Republican challenge for the fourth time.
“People are energized. They’re excited to vote for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot,” Stuart said. “Around here, we kind of get dwarfed by St. Louis and hear so much more about Missouri races more than we hear about local races here. So, we always try to talk to people about the difference in the national level and the state level and the things that we can bring to the region and investments that I’ve brought here.”
Stuart was a target of Republican ire when Democrats forced through a bill in May that attempted to prevent the GOP from slating Stuart’s opponent, even coining it the “Katie Stuart Protection Act.” He made it on the ballot anyway, and Stuart says she hasn’t had any problems as a result.
“No one at the door has ever asked about it,” Stuart said. “It was a chance to fix an ethical problem where party bosses were slating people behind closed doors, playing games, waiting out a primary, and then hand selecting whoever they thought was the best candidate. It was a tactic [former Speaker Michael] Madigan used all the time. We finally got rid of it.”
Meanwhile, her Republican opponent, former Edwardsville Police Chief and Troy City Manager Jay Keeven is pounding the pavement in O’Fallon in St. Clair County Saturday morning, trying to find every undecided voter he can.
“People want change,” Keeven said. “They want an improved cost of living. They want lower property taxes. Those are things we can work on.”
Keeven says people want independent representation who isn’t beholden to party leadership.
“I would call myself a compassionate conservative,” Keeven said, borrowing the phrase from George W. Bush in his first term in office. “Fiscally, I’m conservative. We have to spend money to do things, but we have to spend money smartly. But I also realize we need to help people.”
Stuart and Democrats have a significant financial edge over Republican Keeven, but he doesn’t think money sways the race.
“Money doesn’t always carry the day all the time,” Keeven said. “It’s helpful, but it doesn’t always carry the day.
“If they were hearing at the door what I’m hearing at the door, I don’t think [Democrats] would be as confident right now,” Keeven said. “I’m hearing good things from people at the door. We think we’re going to flip this district back to Republicans.”
Stuart is considered the favorite in the race and says she’s been taking it seriously, knocking on doors 8 to 10 hours a day since August.
“I’m gonna be out talking to voters,” Stuart said. People just need to vote.”
