2018 Missouri State Auditor election

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]

2018 Missouri State Auditor election

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Nominee Nicole Galloway Saundra McDowell
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,209,881 1,070,701
Percentage 50.41% 44.61%

Galloway:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
McDowell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

State Auditor before election

Nicole Galloway
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Nicole Galloway
Democratic

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 2024, this was the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Missouri.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Results

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Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nicole Galloway (incumbent) 515,398 100.0
Total votes 515,398 100.0

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Results

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Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Saundra McDowell 192,814 32.6
Republican David Wasinger 158,071 26.7
Republican Kevin Roach 143,745 24.3
Republican Paul Curtman 97,055 16.4
Total votes 591,685 100.0

General election

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Polling

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

Results

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2018 Missouri State Auditor election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Nicole Galloway (incumbent) 1,209,881 50.41% +50.41%
Republican Saundra McDowell 1,070,701 44.61% −28.72%
Libertarian Sean O'Toole 51,304 2.14% −17.58%
Constitution Jacob Luetkemeyer 50,951 2.12% −4.84%
Green Don Fitz 17,106 0.72% N/A
Independent Arnie C. AC Dienoff (write-in) 4 0.00% N/A
Total votes 2,399,947 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Notes

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  1. ^ Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) with 2%, and Sean O'Toole (L) with 1%
  2. ^ Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) and Sean O'Toole (L) each with 2%

Partisan clients

  1. ^ a b c d e Poll sponsored by the Missouri Scout

References

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  1. ^ Kamisar, Ben (August 22, 2017). "7 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2018". The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah; Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine C. (August 7, 2018). "Missouri Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. ^ McDowell, Saundra. "Saundra McDowell for State Auditor: Meet Saundra". Saundra McDowell for State Auditor. McDowell Campaign. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Erickson, Kurt. "Democrat holds fundraising lead in race for state auditor post". www.stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Williams, Mara Rose. "Missouri auditor Nicole Galloway defends her post against Saundra McDowell — barely".
  6. ^ Reischman, Collin (April 14, 2015). "Nixon names Nicole Galloway to state auditor post". The Missouri Times. The Missouri Times. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  7. ^ Nelson, Alisa (November 14, 2016). "Missouri political scientist: McCaskill, Galloway 'vulnerable' if they seek re-election". MissouriNet. Learfield News & Ag, LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  8. ^ Fenske, Sarah. "Nicole Galloway Wins Missouri Auditor Race, a Lone Democrat in a Red State". RiverFront Times. RiverFront Times. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  9. ^ 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. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Ashcroft, John R. "State of Missouri - State of Missouri - Primary Election, August 07, 2018: Unofficial Results". Missouri Secretary of State. Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  11. ^ "Lawyer with Springfield ties announces Republican run for state auditor". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Schmitt, Will. "Auditor Galloway, Greene County saga becomes campaign issue for GOP candidates". Springfield News Leader. Springfield News Leader. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  13. ^ Remington Research Group
  14. ^ Remington Research Group
  15. ^ Remington Research Group
  16. ^ Remington Research Group
  17. ^ Remington Research Group
  18. ^ "State of Missouri - Election Night Results". enr.sos.mo.gov.