In Kansas City, Missouri Republicans look to rebound from a year of losses
After Missouri Republicans faced a series of crushing defeats in the midterm elections, the party’s incoming class of senators met near downtown Kansas City to discuss their priorities moving forward. The three-day retreat began on Monday with a reception in the evening, a full day of meetings on Tuesday that included a visit from the governor and a quick breakfast on Wednesday before senators returned to their home districts. Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Marshall Republican, left the event with a feeling that senate Republicans were broadly aligned in their goals for the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 6. “Let’s say united for the most part,” Gregory said. “We all want to do certain things and we all have our ideas. It’s going to be a matter of figuring a way to make all of those mesh.” Republicans are seeking to regain their footing after Democratic wins chipped away at their supermajority – a two-thirds hold on both chambers of the General Assembly. However, the party still holds firm majorities in both chambers and every statewide office. Republicans also had a disastrous year for ballot measures as voters shot down a plan to eliminate the income tax with Amendment
