2018 Missouri State Auditor election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2018 Missouri State Auditor election

| country = Missouri

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2014 Missouri State Auditor election

| previous_year = 2014

| next_election = 2022 Missouri State Auditor election

| next_year = 2022

| election_date = November 6, 2018

| turnout =

| image1 = File:Nicole Galloway Photo (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Nicole Galloway

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 1,209,881

| percentage1 = 50.41%

| image2 = File:3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Saundra McDowell

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 1,070,701

| percentage2 = 44.61%

| map_image = {{switcher |275px |County results |275px|Congressional district results |275px |Precinct results |default=1}}

| map_size = 275px

| map_caption = Galloway: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
McDowell: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#d2b1d9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#ae8bb1|50%}} {{legend0|#808080|No votes}}

| title = State Auditor

| before_election = Nicole Galloway

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Nicole Galloway

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Kamisar|first1=Ben|title=7 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2018|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/347394-the-7-most-vulnerable-senators-in-2018/|website=The Hill|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=August 22, 2017}}

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.{{cite news |title=Missouri Primary Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/07/us/elections/results-missouri-primary-elections.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=9 August 2018|date=August 7, 2018 |last1=Almukhtar |first1=Sarah |last2=Bloch |first2=Matthew |last3=Lee |first3=Jasmine C. }}{{cite web |last1=McDowell |first1=Saundra |title=Saundra McDowell for State Auditor: Meet Saundra |url=https://www.saundramcdowellformissouri.com/meet-saundra |website=Saundra McDowell for State Auditor |publisher=McDowell Campaign |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090933/https://www.saundramcdowellformissouri.com/meet-saundra |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

Galloway won election to a full term.{{cite web|last1=Erickson|first1=Kurt|title=Democrat holds fundraising lead in race for state auditor post|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/democrat-holds-fundraising-lead-in-race-for-state-auditor-post/article_81868f2d-bc04-57b1-bff5-eebc239e5ed5.html|website=www.stltoday.com|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=March 6, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Mara Rose |title=Missouri auditor Nicole Galloway defends her post against Saundra McDowell — barely |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article221157640.html}} Prior to this, Galloway had been appointed to the post by former Governor Jay Nixon in 2015, following the death of Tom Schweich.{{cite web|last1=Reischman|first1=Collin|title=Nixon names Nicole Galloway to state auditor post|url=https://themissouritimes.com/17497/nixon-names-nicole-galloway-to-state-auditor-post/|website=The Missouri Times|publisher=The Missouri Times|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=April 14, 2015}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Nelson|first1=Alisa|title=Missouri political scientist: McCaskill, Galloway 'vulnerable' if they seek re-election|url=https://www.missourinet.com/2016/11/14/missouri-political-scientist-mccaskill-galloway-vulnerable-if-they-seek-re-election/|website=MissouriNet|publisher=Learfield News & Ag, LLC|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=November 14, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Fenske |first1=Sarah |title=Nicole Galloway Wins Missouri Auditor Race, a Lone Democrat in a Red State |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/11/07/nicole-galloway-wins-missouri-auditor-race-a-lone-democrat-in-an-red-state |website=RiverFront Times |publisher=RiverFront Times |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221609/https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/11/07/nicole-galloway-wins-missouri-auditor-race-a-lone-democrat-in-an-red-state |url-status=dead }} As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, this was the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Missouri.

Democratic primary

=Candidates=

==Declared==

Nicole Galloway, incumbent state auditor{{cite web|last1=Mannies|first1=Jo|title=Missouri auditor takes nonpartisan approach ahead of 2018 election, when she'll be targeted by GOP|url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-auditor-takes-nonpartisan-approach-ahead-2018-election-when-she-ll-be-targeted-gop#stream/0|website=St. Louis Public Radio|publisher=University of Missouri - St. Louis|access-date=March 6, 2018}}

=Results=

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web |last1=Ashcroft |first1=John R. |title=State of Missouri - State of Missouri - Primary Election, August 07, 2018: Unofficial Results |url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/ |website=Missouri Secretary of State |publisher=Missouri Secretary of State |access-date=9 August 2018}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Nicole Galloway (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 515,398

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 515,398

| percentage=100.0

}}

Republican primary

=Candidates=

==Declared==

Paul Curtman, state representative
Saundra McDowell, former director of enforcement in the Missouri Securities Division{{Cite news|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/02/springfield-attorney-saundra-mcdowell-announces-republican-run-state-auditor/301009002/|title=Lawyer with Springfield ties announces Republican run for state auditor|work=Springfield News-Leader|access-date=2018-06-13|language=en}}
Kevin Roach, Ballwin city alderman and accountant{{cite web|last1=Schmitt|first1=Will|title=Auditor Galloway, Greene County saga becomes campaign issue for GOP candidates|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/24/auditor-galloway-greene-county-saga-becomes-campaign-issue-gop-candidates/455685002/|website=Springfield News Leader|publisher=Springfield News Leader|access-date=June 19, 2018}}
David Wasinger, attorney

=Results=

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Saundra McDowell

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 192,814

| percentage = 32.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = David Wasinger

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 158,071

| percentage = 26.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kevin Roach

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 143,745

| percentage = 24.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Paul Curtman

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 97,055

| percentage = 16.4

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 591,685

| percentage=100.0

}}

General election

=Polling=

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

|- valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size

! Margin
of error

! style="width:100px;"| Nicole
Galloway (D)

! style="width:100px;"| Saundra
McDowell (R)

! Other

! Undecided

| align=left|Remington Research Group[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bdd858aaa4a99c185e72f11/1541244300045/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+11.3.pdf Remington Research Group]{{efn-ua|name=scout}}

| November 1–2, 2018

| 1,424

| ± 2.6%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49%

| 38%

| 6%{{efn|Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) with 2%, and Sean O'Toole (L) with 1%}}

| 7%

| align=left|Remington Research Group[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bd44a031905f4f40ea61c1c/1540639237597/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+10.26.18.pdf Remington Research Group]{{efn-ua|name=scout}}

| October 24–25, 2018

| 1,376

| ± 2.6%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 48%

| 38%

| 7%{{efn|Jacob Luetkemeyer (C) with 3%, Don Fitz (G) and Sean O'Toole (L) each with 2%}}

| 7%

| align=left|Remington Research Group[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5bcb2413b208fc5920b41578/1540039701680/MOScout+Weekly+Poll+-+10.19.18.pdf Remington Research Group]{{efn-ua|name=scout}}

| October 17–18, 2018

| 1,215

| ± 2.7%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 46%

| 42%

| –

| 12%

| align=left|Remington Research Group[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59015f4b37c581b2ce01e5b3/t/5baf9aecec212d33699b7e51/1538235118297/MOScout+Weekly+Poll-+Statewide+9.29.pdf Remington Research Group]{{efn-ua|name=scout}}

| September 26–27, 2018

| 1,555

| ± 2.5%

| 43%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 44%

| –

| 13%

| align=left|Remington Research Group[https://www.scribd.com/document/386096380/MO-Sen-TJP-Strategies-D-for-Missouri-Scout-August-2018 Remington Research Group]{{efn-ua|name=scout|Poll sponsored by the Missouri Scout}}

| August 8–9, 2018

| 1,785

| ± 2.3%

| 42%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 47%

| –

| 11%

=Results=

{{Election box begin | title=2018 Missouri State Auditor election{{Cite web|url=https://enr.sos.mo.gov/|title=State of Missouri - Election Night Results|website=enr.sos.mo.gov}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Nicole Galloway (incumbent)

| votes = 1,209,881

| percentage = 50.41%

| change = +50.41%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Saundra McDowell

| votes = 1,070,701

| percentage = 44.61%

| change = -28.72%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Sean O'Toole

| votes = 51,304

| percentage = 2.14%

| change = -17.58%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Constitution Party (United States)

| candidate = Jacob Luetkemeyer

| votes = 50,951

| percentage = 2.12%

| change = -4.84%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Green Party (United States)

| candidate = Don Fitz

| votes = 17,106

| percentage = 0.72%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Arnie C. AC Dienoff (write-in)

| votes = 4

| percentage = 0.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 2,399,947

| percentage = 100.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

==By congressional district==

Despite losing the state, McDowell won five of eight congressional districts, with the remaining three going to Galloway, including one that elected a Republican.{{Cite web|url=https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::e39cf7d4-f655-4f39-a7ff-178ca55673fa|title=DRA 2020|website=Daves Redistricting}}

class=wikitable

! District

! Galloway

! McDowell

! Representative

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Missouri|1|1st}}

| 83%

| 14%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Lacy Clay

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Missouri|2|2nd}}

| 54%

| 41%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Ann Wagner

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Missouri|3|3rd}}

| 44%

| 49%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Blaine Luetkemeyer

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Missouri|4|4th}}

| 45%

| 50%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Vicky Hartzler

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Missouri|5|5th}}

| 64%

| 31%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Emanuel Cleaver

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Missouri|6|6th}}

| 43%

| 51%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Sam Graves

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Missouri|7|7th}}

| 39%

| 57%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Billy Long

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Missouri|8|8th}}

| 32%

| 64%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Jason Smith

align=center

Notes

Partisan clients

References

Auditor

Category:Missouri State Auditor elections

Category:November 2018 in the United States

Missouri