Brandom considering running for Crowell's Senate seat next year

State Rep. Ellen Brandom, R-Sikeston, is mulling a run for Jason Crowell's seat in the Missouri Senate next year, when term limits will force the Cape Girardeau Republican from office.

"I am strongly considering at this time running for the Senate, and I will make an official announcement sometime this summer," Brandom said.

When asked about what would factor into her decision, she said: "I think that's all I'm prepared to say right now."

Missouri's 27th senatorial district includes Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry and Scott counties.

Brandom was elected to the Missouri House in 2006 as a political newcomer, where she has represented the 160th District, covering western Scott County and a small portion of southern Cape Girardeau County. Brandom is not term-limited out of her House seat until 2014.

The Friends of Ellen Brandom campaign committee filed a disclosure report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15 that lists the state senate as the office Brandom is seeking.

The quarterly report shows that Brandom raised $31,722 in cash from Nov. 28 through March 31, giving her $71,287 cash on hand as of April 15. But Brandom downplayed any fundraising she's doing as an indicator she will run for state senate.

"That's just a required part of politics," she said.

Brandom said she is focusing on her job in the Missouri House right now, with the legislature attempting to redraw the congressional map based on new data released this year by the U.S. Census.

"That is maybe the priority of the session," she said.

The election is more than a year away, with the primary Aug. 7, 2012, followed by the general election Nov. 6.

Evan Trump, Cape Girardeau County's GOP chairman, said he's heard rumblings about others who are interested in Crowell's seat, but he categorized them as rumors. But he doesn't think Brandom will run unopposed in the primary.

"But Ellen Brandom is obviously a very strong state rep," Trump said. "I know she cares very deeply for her constituents and I think she would do a great job representing the 27th senatorial district. But there's a lot of time yet for other people to come out."

Mark Baker, a member and past president of the Cape Girardeau County Democrats, said he hasn't heard of any fellow Democrats talking about running for the seat. But he thinks Democrats may be reluctant, pointing to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's easy defeat of Democrat Tommy Sowers, who was considered a strong candidate.

"Realistically, how do you think you're going to get elected?" Baker said. "I think that's part of the hesitation for a good strong candidate to step up."

But he thinks there will be a Democratic candidate for the seat once it's all said and done. He thinks a strong Democratic candidate would have beat Brandom in 2010, but she ran unopposed.

"I think the right type of Democratic candidate can carry Crowell's senatorial seat," Baker said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Jefferson City, MO