Super Tuesday – Missouri Matters:
Capitol Report from State Representative Bob Onder, District 13
Throughout our history, millions of Americans have gone to polls to cast ballots for their local,
state, and federal leaders. And almost all of these votes have been cast on a Tuesday.
The tradition of voting on Tuesdays began with early Americans who wanted to vote early in the week, but had to travel a whole day to the polling place. Mondays were not practical as citizens did not want to leave on Sunday, a day of worship. Today, Tuesdays obviously don’t have the same practical importance, but last Tuesday was very significant in this year’s presidential election.
Last Tuesday – Super Tuesday – Missouri and 23 other states held primaries and caucuses with more than 40 percent of the Republican delegates and half the delegates to the Democratic convention up for grabs. I think most of us can agree this was one of the most important primary dates in recent history.
The phrase Super Tuesday goes back to the early 1980s, and refers to the date on which the most presidential primaries are held in an election year. In the 1980s, Super Tuesdays were often held in March and during many years there were several Super Tuesdays throughout the primary season.
In one of the first coordinated Super Tuesdays, Southern Democrats held a regional primary in 1988 in an effort to nominate a moderate candidate who would more closely represent their interests. However, the idea did not work out quite as planned as the three candidates still split the primaries. Over the years, we have seen more and more states move up their primaries, usually with a desire to have more influence in deciding the presidential nominees.
Missouri held its first Super Tuesday primary along with ten other states on March 7, 2000. Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush won the most delegates. In 2004, Missourians voted about a month before Super Tuesday took place, with our primary held on February 3. Senator John Kerry and incumbent President George Bush won in Missouri. With many states moving their primaries up, this year Missourians voted once again on Super Tuesday.
Even though 24 states held primaries or caucuses last week, many eyes were on Missouri because of our bellwether status, which we have earned because we are a good indicator of which candidate the country will end up electing. Many news stories, both statewide and nationally, are already reminding us that Missouri has voted for the winner in every U.S. Presidential election beginning in 1904, except in 1956.
Missouri’s balance of urban and rural, our central position in the country and a demographic makeup that closely mirrors the country as a whole make us an important victory for the candidates. Winning in Missouri indicates national electability, a factor that many are considering when they vote for candidates in this primary season.
Missourians took this role seriously this year, with more than 1.4 million voters, about 30 percent of registered voters, casting a ballot in the primary. I think our high voter turnout is strong evidence of how much Missourians care about the future of our state and our country.
I do want to note that both the candidates who won in Missouri this week had a margin of victory just over one percent, showing just how much every vote matters. I hope you all took the opportunity to have your voice heard and I encourage you to continue making a difference in our state through the power of your vote.
Brief history of MO Presidential Primaries -
• Until 1998, Missouri used a caucus system (A caucus is a state convention that provides a
public place for party members to meet and vote for delegates to represent candidates at
the national convention).
• In 1998, legislation was enacted that set a presidential primary amid rumors that Sen.
John Ashcroft would run.
• Missouri and 10 other states held presidential preference primaries on March 7, 2000, the
Super Tuesday of the year. In Missouri, Democrat Al Gore and Republican George Bush
won the most delegates.
• A 2002 election-reform bill moved Missouri’s primary to February, in an attempt to draw
more presidential candidates to the state.
• Missouri held its primary on February 3 in 2004, about a month before that year’s Super
Tuesday. Senator John Kerry and incumbent President George Bush won in Missouri.
• On February 5, 2008, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain won Missouri’s
primaries.
•
Again, it is an honor to serve as your representative in Jefferson City. Thank you for
participating in the democratic process by voting last Tuesday.
Sincerely,
Robert F. “Dr. Bob” Onder
State Representative, District 13
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town