Jay Nixon Officially Files to Run for Governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Today Attorney General Jay Nixon officially filed to be a candidate for Governor, pledging to offer new, fresh ideas to bring Missourians together so the state can start moving forward again. 

After filing with the Secretary of State's Office, Jay Nixon released the following statement:

"Missouri is a great state that has been held back by bad decisions and misplaced priorities.  Families in every region of the state are having a harder time making ends meet. Our state's health care system is broken, college is unaffordable for too many families, and our economy is quickly moving in the wrong direction.  But at a time when Missourians need change so badly, my opponents have embraced the same policies that have moved our state backwards these past few years.  Four more years of the same failed policies won't work.  I'm running for Governor because I know we can do better. We must come together and offer new, fresh ideas to get Missouri moving forward again. 

"I come from De Soto, a small town in Jefferson County.  Those small town values, along with my family and faith, have guided me throughout my career in public service.  I'm proud of my record of standing up for consumers, locking up the worst criminals and running a fiscally responsible agency that gets results.  We brought Republicans and Democrats together to implement programs, like No Call, that have directly helped Missouri families.  But bigger challenges lie ahead, and we must continue working together to bring about the changes Missourians need and deserve.

"Missouri can once again be a place where every child, parent and senior citizen can get quality, affordable health care.  We can once again be a state where middle-class families can afford to send their children to college.  And we can once again focus on helping regular Missourians get ahead, rather than helping the same old wealthy insiders stay ahead.

"Missouri is at a crossroad. We can continue the same failed policies that have moved our state backwards, or we can change direction and begin moving forward.  But we will only change course if we elect a Governor with fundamentally different priorities."