Missouri Democrats on Tuesday refused to accept state Rep. Sarah Unsicker’s filing fee to run for governor this year.
“Based on your public statements, it was anticipated that you may attempt to run for office as a Democrat,” the counsel for the Missouri Democratic Party wrote in a memo obtained by Spectrum News.
“We have prepared this statement to inform you the Missouri Democratic Party will not accept your filing fee as a Democrat in our primary. Having been removed from the House Democratic Caucus by your peers, the Missouri Democratic Party does not wish to associate with you as a candidate,” the statement said.
Unsicker, who represents Shrewsbury, was removed from her committee assignments in December amid criticism over her use of social media and her association with an accused Holocaust denier. House Democrats then voted to expel Unsicker from their caucus.
Unsicker shared a photo on X of her and Eric Garland, a local political commentator known for promoting conspiracy theories, and Charles Johnson, who the Anti-Defamation League lists as a Holocaust denier, which he denied in 2018.
“I’m an adult and capable of choosing my friendships,” Unsicker captioned the photo.
Prior to launching her bid for governor this year, Unsicker launched a run last year for attorney general before dropping out in mid-December.
Several other candidates are expected to run for governor, with filing for the August primary in Missouri open as of Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade announced her intention to run as a Democrat for governor in January, hoping to replace Gov. Mike Parson (R-MO), who can’t run again due to term limits. When choosing to remove Unsicker from her committee assignments, Quade called the lawmaker “a strong advocate for society’s vulnerable, especially children,” but blasted her recent use of social media.
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“Recently, however, she has chosen to use social media to promote individuals who espouse baseless conspiracies and racist and anti-Semitic ideologies that are antithetical to the values of inclusiveness, tolerance and respect House Democrats are dedicated to upholding,” Quade said of Unsicker in December, according to the Associated Press.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Unsicker, Quade, and the Missouri Democratic Party for comment.