In competitive Springfield district, Fogle and Hasty both want to do right by constituents
Democratic incumbent Rep. Betsy Fogle is seeking a third two-year term to represent District 135 in the Missouri House of Representatives. As one of three Democratic incumbents in the Ozarks, Fogle's seat in northeast Springfield is in a highly competitive district.
In the Nov. 5 general election, she faces Republican challenger Michael Hasty, who previously ran for Springfield City Council in 2022.
While her first election was narrow — she won against then-incumbent Steve Helms by less than one percentage point — the gap widened in her second election, which she won by more than 12 percentage points. It's not clear what this third election will bring, but Fogle is keeping her campaign the same: Talking to people at their doors or on the phone about what is most important to them.
"The first question we ask at the door isn’t 'Are you going to vote for Betsy or not?'" Fogle said. "It’s 'What’s your No. 1 issue?' and those issues are then taken with me to Jefferson City."
Hasty, who previously ran for City Council in 2021, is running his campaign in a similar way.
"I’m running my campaign on what I feel and what has been said to me at the door (by constituents)," Hasty said. "A lot of people are concerned about the economy, and a lot of people are concerned about education, that’s always at the forefront because the kids are the future and we need to properly invest and use the money that we have going to education."
Fogle has heard similar things from voters: Access to quality and affordable health care and "a strong public education system that serves the needs of all kids are always the top two" issues.
More: Missouri Election Guide: Key races and issues on the Nov. 5 ballot
Campaigns focused on why they are the best fit for district
Neither candidate is running a campaign against the other, with both saying their focus is on why they're the best fit for House District 135.
Between foster care and his time in the armed services, Hasty moved around a lot before settling down in his current job as a sales marketer in Branson. He describes himself as "just an everyday guy" who believes in hard work and listening to constituents in order to be a good leader.
While he stepped back in order to run for the District 135 seat, Hasty founded Queen City Watchdog with his wife, Heather Hasty. The organization posts often on Facebook about Springfield Public Schools and previously called for Springfield School Board member Shurita Thomas-Tate to step down due to allegations of ethics violations.
"I want to do what is best for our little piece of Springfield and Springfield as a whole. Springfield is my home; I’m not a hometown boy but Springfield is where I’ve laid my roots down with my wife. We chose Springfield," Hasty said.
He also feels his experience in sales will serve him well in the House and help him do what is right for the people of District 135.
"I believe that my background in sales and marketing coupled with my education will give me an upper hand if elected to the House because my job is making deals and finding what deals best benefit individuals," Hasty said. "Even though it is a Republican supermajority, you still have to work with Democrats to get things done that benefit the people of Missouri. I think my background in sales will lend me a hand in being able to work with the opposing party to garner deals that benefit the people, not the parties."
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Fogle previously worked as director of program advancement at Jordan Valley Community Health Center and has been with United Way since 2023 as the AFL-CIO community service labor liaison. She says she considers herself a Springfieldian first and a Democrat second, and that guides how she works in Jefferson City.
"I think I’m a good fit for House District 135 because I’m able to stand up for the things my constituents believe in when they’re in opposition to the majority party but also work across the aisle to bring commonsense solutions to the problems all Springfieldians face," Fogle said. "I think that I am uniquely positioned to be the right fit for a district like 135, where half of my constituents vote for me and half of them don’t."
Fogle thinks the Missouri General Assembly lacks balance currently, with Republicans in a supermajority, and that "the conversations that we have when one party is so big are not just serving the needs of Springfieldians or Missourians."
"No matter what your political beliefs are, no matter how you vote on Nov. 5, you should have an elected official that’s working on your behalf in Jefferson City and we should live in a place where we can talk about politics without wishing ill on other people," Fogle said. "If we all maintain we’re members of our city first and members of our political party second, we’d all be better off."
More: At Drury panel, experts offer tips for engaging in civil discourse amid political turmoil
Who is raising the most money? Where is it coming from?
In a mostly Republican state, it can sometimes be difficult for Democratic Party candidates to raise money. This doesn't seem to be the case in this District 135 race.
According to her Missouri Ethics Commission October quarterly report, Fogle has raised $146,887.96 this election. That is nearly seven times more than Hasty, who has raised $21,611.59 so far, according to his October quarterly report.
According to MEC filings, Hasty did not start fundraising until he filed in April. For context, from April to October, Fogle raised $93,717.30.
Those who have contributed the most to Hasty's campaign are individuals. School board member Maryam Mohammadkhani contributed $2,000 in May and another $2,000 in August.
Lori Rook contributed $2,000 to Hasty's campaign in September. Rook is a managing partner with an elder law firm and ran for secretary of state in the Republican primary.
No committees are listed as having donated to Hasty's campaign.
Looking for more election info? The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of SW MO Voters Guide is online now, in print with your Oct. 27 News-Leader
One individual has contributed $2,000 at once in Fogle's filings, Jorden Rutledge of Chicago. Rutledge is an associate for Locke Lord LLP.
Committees are among those who have contributed the largest single donations to Fogle's campaign in the past two quarters:
Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC: $2,000 in September;
MSCEW PAC Federal Committee: $2,000 in September;
Political Action Committee for Health (HEALTHPAC): $2,000 in September;
Builders Association Political Action Committee: $2,000 in September;
Greene County Democratic Central Committee: $2,000 in April;
Teamsters 245 PAF: $2,000 in May and $2,000 in August.
Fogle also has multiple individuals who donate the same amount each month, ranging from $10 to $50.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield's District 135 candidates want to benefit residents