Leslie Jones, right, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 130, talks with attendees at Green County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks. (Photo by Jym Wilson)
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Springfield-area Democrats had a chance to meet their party’s candidates at the annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks.
Democratic candidates for the Missouri state legislature speak with attendees at the Greene County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks event in Springfield, MO on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Jym Wilson)
While hosted by the Greene County Democratic Party, the annual fundraiser and conference welcomes Democrats from surrounding counties to meet candidates, support their local Democratic party and hear from keynote speakers.
The two-day event kicked off on Friday, April 5 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, where voters had the opportunity to meet a host of candidates running for a variety of offices.
Representative Stephanie Hein, incumbent candidate for the Missouri House seat for District 136, talks with attendees at Green County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks. Photographed in Springfield, MO on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Jym Wilson)
Incumbent and first-term hopefuls vying to represent Springfield-area House and Senate districts in the Missouri General Assembly were joined by Democrats Missi Hesketh, candidate for the 7th Congressional District, and Tim McGrady, running for a seat on the Greene County Commission.
On Saturday, the conference featured breakout sessions as well as ticketed events featuring Democratic candidates running for statewide offices and keynote speakers Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women, and David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party.
Ashley Cossins, standing, left, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 131, and Jeremy Dean, standing second from right, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 132, attend the Greene County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks event in Springfield, MO on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Jym Wilson)
The Springfield conference is typically the largest Democratic event of its kind in the lower Midwest, according to Greene County Democratic Party Executive Director Sam Smith, garnering an average of 1,000 attendees across Friday and Saturday.
Derrick Nowlin, left, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 133, talks with a member of his campaign team, Zach Johnson. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Missi Hesketh, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, MO-7th District. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Nancy Dornan, left, and Maggie Castrey look at items up for auction at Green County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Ron Monning, Democratic candidate for Missouri state Senate District 29. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Jacqueline Farr, left, a member of the Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus, talks with Bryce F. Lockwood, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 137, at the Green County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks event in Springfield, MO on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Jeremy Dean, Democratic candidate for state representative, House District 132. (Photo by Jym Wilson)Dr. Bobby Vaught looks at items up for auction at Green County (MO) Democrat Days of the Ozarks. (Photo by Jym Wilson)
Jack McGee is the government affairs reporter at the Hauxeda. He previously covered politics and business for the Daily Citizen. He’s an MSU graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a minor political science. Reach him at jmcgee@hauxeda.com or (417) 837-3663. More by Jack McGee
