The General Elections of 2022 are behind us. I say to every person and every organization that endorsed my campaign, made contributions, answered a helpful phone-call, provided a forum: Thank You.

The future doesn’t look as bleak to me as it did a year ago, even up til November of the elections. In Boone County, we are buoyed as David Tyson-Smith returns to the Missouri Legislature, pointing the way for newcomers Kathy Steinhoff, Doug Mann, and Adrian Plank.

I am not, however, sanguine. Avoiding the more worse harms on the ballot is a relief, but not grounds to halt.

Consequently, I and other Democrats ponder the question: What’s to be done about Boone County’s 44th Missouri House District? Should anyone try again? Should I try again, as I am encouraged, regardless losing 9 to 5? What’s to be gained from running in a district that most people agree cannot be won by a Democrat?

Over the next few weeks, into spring, I and others will be figuring what to do. I entertain a coalition of Boone County voters who have, over successive elections, voted for increased minimum wages and against “Right to Work”; who voted to expand Medicaid; who voted for election reform with Clean; who voted to legalize marijuana – twice.

I contend those voters are not election deniers or conspiracy fans. Those voters want better roads and reliable broad-band. Those voters want reliable and better funding for their schools and school buses. Those voters are fine with their school boards and parent committees setting curricula. Those voters are fine having their library boards decide what books to shelve and who can get them when. Those voters want public officials they can trust to tell the truth, so they can trust their local health boards.

We know the paradox: Voters elect people who thwart what the voters say they want. The voters are placated with tax cuts, drippings of a few dollars for the mass of them.

The sources of the paradox, we also know: A woman’s dominion over her body; the Public’s need to regulate firearms.

It’s a conundrum.

Interested persons are welcomed to drop me a note with their thoughts on what to do, either below (email) or over at my Facebook candidate page.

Once again, thanks to everyone for the help and support.

-Dave Raithel

I will file to run for the Mo House 44th District, Boone County, 2024

a Democrat for the 44th Missouri House District.

In 2024, Boone County voters of the 44th House District will be asked again to affirm the United States is a Republic; the property of no persons, in which no person is ungoverned by law; and to affirm again that through democracy, Citizens give agents of the Republic powers to act; and by representation, or by direction from electors, form the laws by which the Citizens of the Republic govern themselves, and establish Courts to judge that the laws are followed.

For that end, I re-affirm the following facts and values:
• I am a 67+ year old veteran, husband, father, and grandfather; a life-long Missourian in Boone County four decades.
• I’ve been a truck driver, a farm hand, a musician, a teacher.
• I am a pro-choice gun owner who believes in Red Flag laws and Universal Background Checks for all gun sales.
• I believe in public non-sectarian schools, the authority of local schools boards, the direction of county boards of health, and the reasonableness of librarians.
• Your intimate affairs, and your children’s, are none of my business.
• No one owes anyone an explanation or apology for the body which God or Nature has given them.
• I believe in labor unions, and that no one who will work should go without a living wage.
• I believe no one should go without health care, and that Science, not Faith, directs that care.

The new District 44 is contained entirely within Boone County, Missouri and covers many of the smaller communities including Centralia, Hallsville, Ashland, and Hartsburg. 

The new 44th is nearly all of Boone County outside Columbia city limits, south of I-70 from county line to county line and east of MO Route 124 north of I-70. 

Make Checks Payable to:

Raithel for the 44th

Paid for by Raithel for the 44th, Dave Raithel, Treasurer

Raithel for the 44th © 2023