JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Candidates and party insiders say they’re hopeful the Missouri governor’s race will be positive.

But tensions recently flared between two Republican candidates, and some political scientists say a four-way Republican primary makes negative campaigning likely.

Truman State University political scientist Randy Hagerty says it’s likely to get nasty.

Candidates say they won’t participate in negative campaigning, but that ignores reality, Hagerty said. He said more vicious personal attacks and negative campaigning is a growing trend, and not just in Missouri.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is barred from seeking re-election because of term limits. The Republican primary is in August and the general election is in November.