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

November 6, 2018

Nominee Nicole Galloway Saundra McDowell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,209,881 1,070,701 Percentage 50.4% 44.6%

County results Galloway:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% McDowell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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 Missouri since 2012. [8]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Nicole Galloway, incumbent State Auditor of Missouri[9]

Results

Democratic primary results[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nicole Galloway (incumbent)	515,398	100.0
Total votes			515,398	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Kevin M. Roach, Ballwin city alderman and accountant[11]
• Saundra McDowell, attorney and former State Director of Enforcement of Securities Division[12][13]
• Paul Curtman, state representative[4]
• David Wasinger, attorney[4]

Results

Republican primary results[10]

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

General election

Polling

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

Results

2018 Missouri State Auditor election[16]

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

References

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. The New York Times Company. 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. 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. 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. 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. Schmitt, Will. "Auditor Galloway, Greene County saga becomes campaign issue for GOP candidates". Springfield News Leader. Springfield News Leader. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
12. "Lawyer with Springfield ties announces Republican run for state auditor". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
13. "Saundra McDowell | Saundra McDowell For Missouri Auditor". Saundra McDowell | Saundra McDowell For Missouri Auditor. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
14. Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) with 2%, and Sean O'Toole (L) with 1%
15. Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) and Sean O'Toole (L) each with 2%
16. "State of Missouri - Election Night Results". enr.sos.mo.gov.