Missouri Republicans Put Focus on Negative Campaigning Against Kansas City and St. Louis | KCUR

In the lead up to Missouri’s August primary, Republican candidates for state office have been targeting the state’s largest cities, portraying them as crime-ridden and lawless. This rhetoric has become standard fare for Missouri Republicans, who use fearmongering about crime in urban areas to push their law and order policies as the only solution. These attacks on cities are also seen as a way to appeal to voters in more conservative areas of the state, as the cities are typically Democratic strongholds. Once in office, Republicans further restrict cities by passing laws that limit their ability to address local issues. This tactic of preemption has been on the rise in Republican-controlled states like Missouri, where state lawmakers block progressive policies and impose their own agenda on cities. This dynamic has led to a power struggle between state and local governments, with local officials feeling increasingly impotent in the face of state interference. Critics argue that these state-level restrictions are punitive and undemocratic, undermining the autonomy of cities and suppressing local voices. Looking ahead, the battle between state and local government is set to continue, with Republicans in Missouri pushing for more control over cities like St. Louis and Kansas City.

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