SPRINGFIELD — Southwest Missouri native and House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade won her party’s nomination for governor Tuesday in a primary race she said shows the power of grassroots campaigning.

Quade, who has represented Springfield in the Missouri House for eight years, defeated Mike Hamra, a businessman also from Springfield. She’ll face Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe in the general election in November in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2018.

The crowd at Quade’s watch party at Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar let out a cheer just before 9:45 p.m. when the Associated Press called the race in her favor. She took the stage as her supporters chanted, “Crystal.” 

“Tonight’s results show us that, regardless of party, regardless of where folks live in the state of Missouri, they want something different,” Quade said.

She added: “We are ready for a governor who gets rid of partisan politics and stops the infighting and the flamethrowers and the disgusting TV ads and puts Missouri people first,” Quade said.

As “a kid who grew up in rural southwest Missouri,” winning the Democratic nomination for governor meant a lot, Quade told supporters. In an interview, she said her humble background as the daughter of a waitress and a factory worker in rural southwest Missouri made her an ideal candidate for Missouri governor.

Quade was the first in her family to graduate high school and graduated from Missouri State University in 2008 with a degree in social work. She worked for former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill as a legislative aid as her first foray into politics. 

She said it’s important to have elected leaders who “understand the debate between paying your mortgage or your utility bill” or who have struggled to afford childcare. 

“These are real issues that are deeply impacting every Missourian regardless of where they’re from,” Quade said, “and I think it’s so deeply important that we elect leaders who understand that.”

If Quade wins in November, she said she would put issues like affordable child care and health care at the forefront along with “making sure that every single person in this state — regardless of who they are or where they’re from — can thrive and live and be happy to live in the state of Missouri.”

And in November, Quade said Missouri voters will “take our rights back,” referring to the proposed constitutional amendment legalizing abortion that will likely appear on voters’ general election ballots. 

Quade believes the ballot question on abortion will help her campaign overcome Missouri’s tilt toward the Republican Party over the last two decades.

Since June 2022, nearly every abortion has been illegal in the state with the exception of medical emergencies.

Hamra released a statement endorsing Quade shortly after the race was called. He said Missouri has a bright future “but we must move beyond the dysfunctional politics in Jefferson City.”

“This doesn’t end with one campaign or one election,” he said. “Missouri’s future is on the line in November, and we must all work together to restore abortion rights and make sure Crystal Quade is Missouri’s next governor.”

Quade’s distaste for divisive politics was echoed by Grant Haverly, 40, who voted for her Tuesday evening at Woodland Heights Presbyterian Church in Springfield. He said fiery messaging and advertising weren’t helpful in politics. He had stopped paying attention to the onslaught of political ads as the primary election drew near.

“It’s like noise in the background that you don’t even hear anymore,” he said. 

Haverly said Quade’s service as a Missouri House member from Springfield drew him to her campaign. He said she’s “someone I can relate to and know a little bit more about.” 

Rebecca Yang, 28, cast her vote at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy Tuesday. Before she voted, Yang made a list of candidates’ positions on health care access, education and community health.

A few months ago, Yang, who is a medical resident in the area, went to the Missouri Capitol with her colleagues to sit in on committee hearings and meet with lawmakers. 

“What was very surprising to us was that a lot of them didn’t seem to be informed on a lot of the issues, especially health care issues.”

She said it was eye-opening how politics can affect her industry and communities she serves.

“When it comes to women’s rights, especially when it comes to abortion issues, I think there are a lot of misunderstandings.”

Nina Hampton of Columbia took a Democratic ballot at American Legion Post 202 and voted for Quade for governor.

Abortion rights is an important issue for Hampton.

“I am in favor of women’s rights to decide what to do with their own bodies,” she said. 

John Elder of Columbia also voted for Quade.

“I just felt she had the overall experience,” Elder said, “and the qualifications.”

The Independent’s Rebecca Rivas contributed to this story.