In University City, Maria Chapelle-Nadal was celebrating her win of Days' vacated 14th District Senate seat.
This race was the most closely contested state Senate primary race, with unofficial final votes tallying: Chapelle-Nadal with 3,987; Ted Hoskins with 3,734 votes; Calloway with 3,468 votes; Joe Adams with 1,734.
Chapelle-Nadal said she is committed to public education and job creation.
"People here are hemorrhaging," Chapelle-Nadal said, noting that many are still without jobs.
"That's what I experienced walking door to door. I'm disappointed to see Proposition C pass. People who really need health care are not getting it."
Proposition C, approved by 71 percent of statewide voters, would undermine key, controversial provisions in President Obama's health reform legislation. It is unlikely to be implemented, given that the U.S. Constituion states that federal laws preempt state laws.
It was a hot day at the polls on Tuesday, but Shirley Day, who was at the Dellwood Recreation Center poll station campaigning for Chapelle-Nadal, felt that it was worth it.
"This is a woman I can get excited about," Day said, "and that was the reason I stood out there in the hot sun. She is the best person for the 14th District."
State Sen. Robin Wright-Jones said she supported Chapelle-Nadal, who did not accept $30,000 from billionaire financier Rex Sinquefield like her opponents Ted Hoskins and Don Calloway did.
"The money that Sinquefield throws around like confetti," Wright-Jones said.
"We make $36,000. When you're giving close to that salary, you have bought yourself a politician. No one wants to say the hard stuff; they'd rather take the money and run."
In other races
In the District 24 state Senate race, covering a neighboring area of St. Louis County, Barbara Fraser beat Sam Page, a resounding 8,961 to 5,124 votes.
Michael Jones, senior policy advisor for County Executive Charlie A. Dooley (who won a marginally contested primary on Tuesday), noted that this primary marked a new era of young black leaders.
"When I think about some of the young people we have going to the House, it's a cadre of solid young black representatives," Jones said. "If we can find a way to keep them in the game, they will be important players."
Jones pointed to Chris Carter, Steve Webb and Tishuara Jones, all of whom have served one term in the state House. Carter and Jones ran unopposed in the primary. Now Smith is joining them.
Jones said these leaders are about the same age as he was when he got into politics around 1979 with a similar close-knit group, including Virvus Jones, Elbert Walton, Mike Roberts Sr. and Steve Roberts.
"All of us came to politics within three or four years of each other," Mike Jones said. "This looks the same to me."
Carter said he would add Alderpersons Kacie Starr Triplett and Antonio D. French to the list. Carter grew up with politics. His uncle is Alderman Greg Carter and his grandmother, political pioneering icon Paula Carter, held his seat long ago. However, he never thought that he would be in politics, he said.
"When I came back from college, I saw what was once a thriving neighborhood filled with empty buildings," he said. "I wanted to change that."
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