Missouri's Hulshof Wins GOP Nod to Defend Vulnerable Governor's Seat (CQPolitics.com)

By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff 1 hour, 12 minutes ago Missouri Rep. Kenny Hulshof won the state's Republican primary for governor on Tuesday. That victory, though, is a prelude to a tough fall contest with Democratic state Attorney General Jay Nixon, in a tossup race that presents the Democrats with their best chance to win a Republican-held governorship this year. Hulshof, who has served in Congress since 1997, and Nixon, who is in his 16th year as Missouri's attorney general, are vying to succeed Republican Matt Blunt, who announced to much surprise in January that he would not seek a second term as governor. Hulshof -- who left open his seat in northeastern Missouri's 9th Congressional District to stage his statewide bid -- had 49 percent of the vote to top state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who had 45 percent as the other... [read full story]