Understanding the Missouri Political System
It can be daunting to begin to unravel and understand the Missouri political system, which whether by design or accident actively discourages outsiders and working class people from meaningful participation or running for office. We are working to compile straightforward information to help you understand the structures and functions of the Missouri state and Federal systems and how to navigate them successfully. This is a large undertaking so please be patient. Also, please feel free to contact us with corrections, clarifications, or additions.
Democratic Party
How the party is structured, what it does and does not do, are often a mystery even to those involved with the party. We hope that this guide will make it easier to understand and allow you to effectively participate and push the party in a progressive direction.
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MO Political System
How does the Missouri government function(or fail to function)? What is the structure of the different branches and committees, what do they do, and how can you influence them to get policy changes.
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Running for Office
What's involved in running for office? When do you need to file? What are MEC reports?
We try to answer the basic information that all candidates running in Missouri should know.
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External Resources
There are many great resources for running grassroots political campaigns. Here are some that we recommend:
Wellstone
Non-profit founded in memory of Paul Wellstone, a great progressive Senator from Minnesota. They offer trainings for candidates, campaign managers, and grassroots organizers. They also provide a large amount of free training materials online.
National Democratic Training Committee
Free online campaign training for Democrats running for office. Learn about campaign management, field operations, media & messaging, and fundraising.
Emily's List
Emily's List is a national organization that trains, endorses, and supports pro-choice female candidates across the nation. Their trainings are available in-person and via webinar.