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Libertarian Donald Rainwater announces 2024 bid for governor

Donald Rainwater hopes to capitalize on a 2020 gubernatorial campaign that netted 11.4 percent of the vote, a record for a Libertarian candidate.
Donald Rainwater hopes to capitalize on a 2020 gubernatorial campaign that netted 11.4 percent of the vote, a record for a Libertarian candidate.

Libertarian Donald Rainwater announced recently he will make another bid for governor in 2024 after a record-setting  run three years ago.

In a statement, Rainwater said his campaign will focus on education, tax and administrative reform. The libertarian said he wants to lower taxes through “responsibly” reducing government services. And he argues parents “deserve to make the choice” where their children go to school.

Virtually universal school choice is already included in the new state budget.

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Rainwater is looking to capitalize on the momentum of his 2020 campaign, which earned more than 11 percent of the gubernatorial vote. That’s a record for Libertarian candidates, fueled by a weak Democratic candidate and dissatisfaction among some conservatives with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Holcomb is term-limited, meaning the 2024 governor’s race will be an open one.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.