Meet the leading candidates in the Republican and Democrat primary elections to be held Aug. 2 in Missouri. Winners of the primary elections will face off, with added Libertarian and Constitution Party candidates, in the general election on Nov. 8.
The winner replaces U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, who chose not to run for reelection after serving two six-year terms.
Check out more news about the campaign in our latest Senate Campaign Digest.
Leading Republican contenders
Eric Greitens
In their words: A former Navy seal who earned his master’s and Ph.D. at Oxford, Eric Greitens is a conservative and a political outsider who was elected Governor of Missouri in 2016. He resigned in June 2018 in what he describes as a corrupt political takedown. Full website bio
Slogan: America First Candidate for U.S. Senate
Themes/key issues: Border security and cracking down on illegal drug and human smuggling; ending out-of-control federal spending; making America energy independent; taking election integrity seriously by acknowledging that the 2020 election was fraudulent; exposing the leftist threat to the U.S.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $1,869,078.12
Cash on hand as of March 31: $345,162.57
Vicky Hartzler
In their words: Vicky Hartzler is a Missouri farm girl making a difference in Washington. A former high school teacher and track coach in public schools, Vicky lives on a family farm with her husband Lowell and daughter Tiffany. Full website bio
Slogan: Join me to take back America
Themes/key issues: Focus on protecting freedoms and preserving America’s greatness with a vision that puts our country first; strong support for President Trump's border security efforts; worked to secure his vision of a more robust and stronger military; consistently defended 2nd Amendment rights; cosponsored Balanced Budget Amendment and Line-Item Veto; fighting to protect American jobs by working to expand markets for American products, including Missouri agricultural products.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $2,431,638.16
Cash on hand as of March 31: $1,526,540.22
Billy Long
In their words: Billy Long was an auctioneer and real estate broker for 31 years before being sworn in as the Congressman from Missouri’s 7th District in 2011. “I was 55 years old when I was sworn into Congress… I’m not a politician.” Full Congressional bio
Slogan: Fighting for Missouri
Themes/key issues: America First agenda, including encouraging American companies to expand in America to benefit our workforce and economy; securing the border; restore election integrity; end out-of-control federal spending; support farmers; preserve the 2nd Amendment; protect the unborn.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $1,527,708.24
Cash on hand as of March 31: $500,216.18
Mark McCloskey
In their words: Mark McCloskey was born and raised in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves and is a lifelong Republican. He attended St. Louis Country Day School and received his law degree from Southern Methodist University. Mark has been married to his wife Patty for 36 years and they have one adult daughter. Full website bio
Slogan: I Will Never Back Down
Themes/key issues: Restore election integrity; advance pro-life policies; more funding, resources and training for law enforcement; preserve 2nd Amendment rights; fight cancel culture and critical race theory; break up big tech companies.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $1,015,660.98
Cash on hand as of March 31: $38,195.57
Dave Schatz
In their words: Dave Schatz grew up a blue-collar kid in rural Missouri. He spent long days working in his family’s construction business, where the values of honesty, integrity and hard work were instilled in him as a young man. He served four years in the Missouri House and eight years in the state Senate. Full website bio
Slogan: A real Missourian, with real-world experience and a real record of results
Themes/key issues: Bring the “Missouri Way” to Washington by “trusting Americans to know best how to run their own lives and God to direct our steps;” balanced federal budget; cut taxes for working families and small businesses; strongest, best-equipped, and most agile military; secure the border; defend the unborn; protect the 2nd Amendment.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $2,256,850.44
Cash on hand as of March 31: $2,134,509.43
Eric Schmitt
In their words: Eric Schmitt is Missouri’s 43rd Attorney General and chief legal and law enforcement official. A lifelong, sixth-generation Missourian, Eric is driven by his constitutional conservative beliefs, which he applies every day as the lawyer for all six million Missourians. Eric and his wife Jaime have three children: Stephen, Sophia and Olivia. Full website bio
Slogan: Join our fight to save America
Themes/key issues: Hold China accountable; take on big tech companies; improve election integrity; protect America first; save jobs from Democratic efforts that will destroy the energy, manufacturing, and agriculture industries; support religious liberties; fight cancel culture.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $2,924,218.83
Cash on hand as of March 31: $1,301,574.11
Leading Democrat contenders
Trudy Busch Valentine
In their words: Trudy Busch Valentine is a mother, nurse, supporter of children’s causes, and a fourth-generation Missourian; daughter of Gertrude Buholzer Busch and August (Gussie) Anheuser Busch Jr., who grew the Anheuser-Busch companies into the largest brewery in the world. Full website bio
Slogan: “I’m running to put politics aside and to put people first.”
Themes/key issues: Gun violence; voting rights; affordability and the middle class; health care access; children and families; accountability and values; public safety; opioids and addiction.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $894.00 (she entered the race in late March)
Cash on hand as of March 31: $0
Lucas Kunce
In their words: Lucas Kunce is a Marine veteran, Missourian, antitrust advocate, and kid from the working-class neighborhoods of Jefferson City. Full website bio
Slogan: Missouri Populist running for US Senate
Themes/key issues: Break up corporate monopolies; abolish corporate PACs; enact a “Marshall plan” for forgotten towns and cities; legalize weed and confront opioid epidemic; achieve universal health care; keep promises to veterans; equality for everyday Missourians; invest in education; defend Social Security.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $3,325,684.81
Cash on hand as of March 31: $942,035.36
Spencer Toder
In their words: Spencer Toder, CEO of a startup medical device company, and a real estate broker, has lived in Missouri his entire life. He and his wife and son spend weekdays in St. Louis and most weekends at his family’s farm outside of Washington, MO. Full website bio
Slogan: Your Voice, Our Future
Themes/key issues: Climate – fight for environmental justice, transition to a green economy, and invest in renewable energy infrastructure; universal health care; improve funding for infant-care, early childhood education, public colleges, and trade schools; reevaluate and reprioritize how we fund the military, and bring troops back from abroad; invest heavily in technology and innovation; strengthen locally owned farms.
Total campaign finance receipts as of March 31: $434,868.00
Cash on hand as of March 31: $23,392.44
The Daily Citizen Senate Campaign Digest is compiled by David Stoeffler, CEO of the Daily Citizen. Stoeffler has more than 30 years of experience in covering politics in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Missouri. If you have tips or suggestions for the Senate campaign coverage, you may email him at dstoeffler@hauxeda.com.