Mid-Missouri senator calls for investigation into weekend text hoax

By Matt Ragsdale

Published October 19, 2020 7:32 AM

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Republican Missouri state senator called for an investigation looking into a weekend text hoax claiming he dropped out of a Mid-Missouri senate race.

His Democratic opponent backed the senator requesting law enforcement to review the fake text.

Incumbent state Sen. Caleb Rowden (R - Columbia) tweeted Sunday morning rebuking a text sent out to voters saying he was dropping out of the Missouri Senate District 19 race because of "family matters."

This is the brokenness of our politics on full display, and we believe it is an intentional effort to interfere in the integrity of this election. To clarify, I remain in this race and committed to serving the great people of the 19th Senate District. #MOLeg #MidMO https://t.co/gGJlHhykfC
— Caleb Rowden (@calebrowden) October 18, 2020

The hoax text said Rowden would be "stepping away from politics for the foreseeable future."

"This is the brokenness of our politics on full display, and we believe it is an intentional effort to interfere in the integrity of this election," Rowden said.

I'm incredibly disturbed by the texts sent last night targeting SD19, and am concerned about the nature & origin of this disinformation campaign. I join Caleb Rowden in calling on law enforcement to investigate this attempt at malicious election interference in the SD19 race.
— Judy Baker (@Baker4MO) October 18, 2020

Democratic state senate candidate Judy Baker tweeted she was concerned by the deceptive text.

"I join Caleb Rowden in calling on law enforcement to investigate this attempt at malicious election interference," Baker said.

As of Monday morning, it's unclear if investigators have started looking into the situation.

Article Topic Follows: Missouri Politics

Jump to comments ↓