JEFFERSON CITY — House Minority Leader Crystal Quade could face competition from within her party as she campaigns for Missouri governor in 2024.
Springfield businessman Mike Hamra on Tuesday formed a campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission to run as a Democrat for governor in 2024.
Hamra, 55, said Wednesday that he has been considering a run for governor and that forming a committee was “the next step in that process.â€
“I’ve been encouraged by the positive feedback and support I’ve received during this exploration,†he said in a statement, adding that he would likely share his final decision by the end of the month.
Hamra, according to his LinkedIn profile, is president and CEO of Springfield-based Hamra Enterprises, which operates nearly 200 restaurants under the Wendy’s, Panera Bread, Noodles and Co., and Caribou brands.
People are also reading…
His profile also says he has worked to “reduce the affordable housing crunch†and says he has been involved in developing more than 600 low-income and senior housing units in Missouri.
Hamra’s father is , founder of Hamra Enterprises and longtime Democratic politico from Springfield.
Quade, in a statement, took an early swing at Mike Hamra, charging he had “a record of paying low wages and denying sick leave.â€
“I’m proud of my record of standing up for workers’ rights,†she said.
Hamra said in an email that during his tenure as CEO, “treating our team well has been a key part of our company’s growth.
“We take pride in the innovative ways we take care of our people at Hamra Enterprises, often leading the industry in employee compensation and benefits,†he said.
Candidate filing for next November’s election opens in February, but candidates are required to form a campaign committee once they spend more than $500.
Quade, a Springfield Democrat first elected to the House in 2016, announced her gubernatorial bid in July.
She has landed a series of high-profile endorsements, including from the Missouri AFL-CIO, Missouri Sierra Club and state lawmakers.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the GOP primary, which features Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.
Missouri Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election since 2012, when former Gov. Jay Nixon secured a second term.
Rep. Donna Baringer, a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Democrat who has endorsed Quade, said a competitive Democratic primary “hurts the party.â€
“Being a party that’s in the minority and is struggling to win seats, the actual party cannot afford to have primaries,†Baringer said.
“The purpose of a primary is to ensure that the Democrats put forward the best possible candidate to win the general election,†Hamra said.
He said he shares frustrations Missourians have with Jefferson City “bickering and infighting.â€
Hamra said that he had built a business and created jobs, working “with people I don’t always agree with to get things done throughout my career.â€
“I’d bring that experience to work for Missouri if I choose to run,†he said.