2018 Missouri State Auditor election explained

On November 6, 2018, a general election in the U.S. state of Missouri was held for the post of State Auditor of Missouri. The election for Missouri State Auditor coincided with the U.S. federal midterm elections that were held throughout all 50 states, as well with other state legislative and local races in Missouri. Missouri's Class 1 United States Senate seat was also up for election on November 6, 2018.^[1]

The primary elections for this race were held on August 7, 2018. The Democrats nominated incumbent Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway, while the Republicans nominated attorney Saundra McDowell.^{[2] [3]}

Galloway won election to a full term.^{[4] [5]} Prior to this, Galloway had been appointed to the post by former Governor Jay Nixon in 2015, following the death of Tom Schweich.^[6]

Following the Republican victories in the elections on November 8, 2016, for Governor of Missouri, U.S. Senate, Lieutenant Governor, Missouri State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, Galloway and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill became the only two remaining Democratic statewide officeholders in Missouri.^[7] McCaskill's failed re-election campaign in 2018 made Galloway the state's only Democratic statewide officeholder and only female statewide elected official. Her victory also marks the only Democratic win in a statewide election in the state since 2012.^[8] As of, this was the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Missouri.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Nicole Galloway, incumbent state auditor^[9]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Paul Curtman, state representative^[4]
• Saundra McDowell, former director of enforcement in the Missouri Securities Division^[10]
• Kevin Roach, Ballwin city alderman and accountant^[11]
• David Wasinger, attorney^[4]

Results

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nicole Galloway (D)	Saundra McDowell (R)	Other	Undecided
Remington Research Group[12]	November 1–2, 2018	1,424	± 2.6%		49%	38%	6%	7%
Remington Research Group[13]	October 24–25, 2018	1,376	± 2.6%		48%	38%	7%	7%
Remington Research Group[14]	October 17–18, 2018	1,215	± 2.7%		46%	42%	–	12%
Remington Research Group[15]	September 26–27, 2018	1,555	± 2.5%	43%		44%	–	13%
Remington Research Group[16]	August 8–9, 2018	1,785	± 2.3%	42%		47%	–	11%

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kamisar. Ben. 7 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2018. The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.. March 6, 2018. August 22, 2017.
2. News: Missouri Primary Election Results . The New York Times . 9 August 2018. August 7, 2018 . Almukhtar . Sarah . Bloch . Matthew . Lee . Jasmine C. .
3. Web site: McDowell . Saundra . Saundra McDowell for State Auditor: Meet Saundra . Saundra McDowell for State Auditor . McDowell Campaign . 9 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090933/https://www.saundramcdowellformissouri.com/meet-saundra . August 9, 2018 . dead .
4. Web site: Erickson. Kurt. Democrat holds fundraising lead in race for state auditor post. www.stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 6, 2018.
5. Web site: Williams . Mara Rose . Missouri auditor Nicole Galloway defends her post against Saundra McDowell — barely .
6. Web site: Reischman. Collin. Nixon names Nicole Galloway to state auditor post. The Missouri Times. The Missouri Times. March 6, 2018. April 14, 2015.
7. Web site: Nelson. Alisa. Missouri political scientist: McCaskill, Galloway 'vulnerable' if they seek re-election. MissouriNet. Learfield News & Ag, LLC. March 6, 2018. November 14, 2016.
8. Web site: Fenske . Sarah . Nicole Galloway Wins Missouri Auditor Race, a Lone Democrat in a Red State . RiverFront Times . RiverFront Times . 20 November 2018 . November 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221609/https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/11/07/nicole-galloway-wins-missouri-auditor-race-a-lone-democrat-in-an-red-state . dead .
9. Web site: Mannies. Jo. Missouri auditor takes nonpartisan approach ahead of 2018 election, when she'll be targeted by GOP. St. Louis Public Radio. University of Missouri - St. Louis. March 6, 2018.
10. News: Lawyer with Springfield ties announces Republican run for state auditor. Springfield News-Leader. 2018-06-13. en.
11. Web site: Schmitt. Will. Auditor Galloway, Greene County saga becomes campaign issue for GOP candidates. Springfield News Leader. Springfield News Leader. June 19, 2018.
12. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bdd858aaa4a99c185e72f11/1541244300045/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+11.3.pdf Remington Research Group
13. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bd44a031905f4f40ea61c1c/1540639237597/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+10.26.18.pdf Remington Research Group
14. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bcb2413b208fc5920b41578/1540039701680/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+-+10.19.18.pdf Remington Research Group
15. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5baf9aecec212d33699b7e51/1538235118297/MOScout+Weekly+Poll-+Statewide+9.29.pdf Remington Research Group
16. https://www.scribd.com/document/386096380/MO-Sen-TJP-Strategies-D-for-Missouri-Scout-August-2018 Remington Research Group