JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Senate Democrats filibustered Wednesday to stall a vote on gubernatorial appointments, continuing a tactic that they began last week.

The gubernatorial appointments were called to the floor by Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelby, before Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, began a filibuster that would last hours.

Missouri Senate Democrats also filibustered for over two hours last Thursday, before the Senate adjourned without a vote.

This tactic, designed to slow down legislation, comes after Missouri Senate Republicans shut down Democratic filibustering with the “previous question” motion four times in the past year. The rarely used motion allowed Senate Republicans to use their supermajority to pass measures on abortion and paid sick leave, while ending debate on the bills.

In September, Senate Republicans again used the motion to pass newly gerrymandered congressional maps and limits on voters’ ability to amend the state constitution.

Because Republicans hold a supermajority with 24 seats in the Senate, Democrats have limited options, besides filibustering, to block Republican-supported legislation. The Senate has until Feb. 6 to approve the appointments as required by a statutory deadline. It is unclear if Republicans would once again resort to using the previous question motion to push the appointees through, or if an alternative could be negotiated with Democrats.

During the filibuster, Beck called for the Senate to work collaboratively for better legislation.

“I know (compromise) is a dirty word sometimes for folks, but at the end of the day, you get a better piece of legislation that comes out of that,” he said.

Beck, who currently serves on the Committee on Gubernatorial Appointments, said he wants to bring back a thorough vetting process to the committee and the Senate as a whole.

“It’s important that we take all of these appointments seriously,” Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, added. “Our constitutional duty here in the Missouri Senate is advise and consent, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re taking our job seriously and I certainly hope our colleagues will do the same.”

The filibuster continued as Beck called on Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, citing him as “probably the most knowledgeable elected person in this Capitol when it comes to appropriations and the budget.”

Hough was previously removed from his post as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee in September 2025 after he voted against Republican redistricting and initiative petition changes during the special session in the same month.

“I voted against those previous question motions in the last special session because ... we didn’t talk about it at all,” Hough said. “I think when you come out and you don’t even introduce the bill, you just cut off debate before it starts, I think we’ve devolved into something that I’m not proud of.”

“If we don’t serve a role to even bring something up and have a conversation, what are we doing here?” he added.

The filibuster began at 1 p.m. and continued into the evening until the Senate adjourned for the day.