State Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the Republican nomination for Senate in Missouri, a repudiation of ex-Gov. Eric Greitens.
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Greitens’s primary loss ends a comeback attempt by the former governor, who resigned in disgrace in 2018 following a scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct, an extramarital affair, blackmail, and campaign finance violations.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday issued an eleventh-hour endorsement for “Eric,” telling supporters he trusts “the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds.” The statement, which came less than 24 hours before polls opened on Tuesday, was embraced by both Greitens and Schmitt, who each claimed it for themselves.
The race also included Mark McCloskey, a St. Louis attorney who went viral when he was pictured alongside his wife brandishing a gun at Black Lives Matter protesters near his home, and Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long.
Long took the endorsement in stride, writing on Twitter that the former president meant to endorse him.
I just ran #Trump‘s #MOSen statement through my Covfefe filter and what he meant to say was ‘Don’t Vote Wrong – Vote Long and Don’t Be Silly – Vote For Billy.’ I really would appreciate your vote tomorrow and one other thing – #TRUMP2024 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/iJ1bJB0SsQ
— Billy Long (@auctnr1) August 2, 2022
Some Republicans argued the scandal-ridden Greitens would fare worse in the general election than other Republicans in the primary, leaving the party with worse chances of maintaining a Senate seat crucial to their efforts to win a majority in November.
Greitens’s ex-wife, Sheena, alleged earlier this year that Greitens physically abused both her and their children during their marriage and threatened to use his political connections to hurt her career. Greitens has denied the allegations and has sought to paint the allegation as a conspiracy organized by Karl Rove and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Prominent Republicans, including both of the state’s current senators, Josh Hawley and the retiring Roy Blunt, called for Greitens to drop out of the race. An ongoing custody battle between the former couple played out in court and spilled into the press as the campaign went on, with a controversial ad Greitens released even factoring in.
The ad depicted the candidate going “RINO hunting” with a gun and a tactical team to seek out so-called Republicans in name only. Schmitt started to see gains in polling in the final stretch of the race in the wake of the ad.
Greitens also said he would not back McConnell for majority leader as a senator, arguing he would instead support Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Although his endorsement was sought by multiple candidates in the primary, Trump waited until the day before the election to make his selection, with reports that he was wavering as to which candidate he would support. He recently said he would not select Hartzler and was critical of Schmitt on his social media platform, Truth Social. Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancee, is Greitens’s campaign co-chairwoman.
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In March, Trump issued a statement asking if “the great people of Missouri [have] been considering the big, loud and proud personality of Congressman Billy Long” for Senate.
“This is not an endorsement, but I’m just askin’?” the statement said.
Schmitt will go on to face Trudy Busch Valentine, a nurse and heiress to the Busch beer fortune, as the Democratic nominee in November.
