Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt takes the stage to thank his supporters and declare victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate during his election night party at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet in Maryland Heights on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Democratic senate nominee Trudy Busch Valentine gives her victory speech at her watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall, in St. Louis. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com
Hillary Levin
Eric Greitens supporters Robin Simpson of Monroe City, right, and Beverly Ortego, of Foristell, embrace after the former Missouri governor conceded the U.S. Senate Republican primary at his watch party at the Epic Empowerment Campus in Chesterfield on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Jack Myer, Post-Dispatch
Family members join Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt as he takes the stage to thank his supporters and declare victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate during his election night party at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet in Maryland Heights on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
JEFFERSON CITY — Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine will face off in the November general election contest for U.S. Senate, Missouri voters decided Tuesday.
Schmitt handily won Missouri’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating a scandal-plagued former governor and a six-term congresswoman on his way to the nomination.
Schmitt was winning about 46% of the Republican primary vote in the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. His closest competitors, former Gov. Eric Greitens and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, were trailing, with Hartzler taking 22% and Greitens winning 19% of the vote with 77% of the expected vote in, .
The Associated Press called the race for Schmitt at about 9 p.m.
About 300 people had come out to Schmitt’s election watch party at the Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights on Tuesday night. Schmitt declared victory shortly before 9:30 p.m.
“I don’t come from billions; I come from Bridgeton,†the Bridgeton native said, shooting a verbal jab at Valentine, who won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. She is the daughter of beer baron August “Gussie†Busch.
Schmitt labeled himself as a fighter and promised he would square off against Democrats, especially the “radical progressives ... because the Democrats aren’t playing small ball, they’re playing for keeps.â€
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt addresses a crowd of supporters at his campaign party where he announced his victory in the Republican …
Valentine, who had secured the backing of many in the Democratic Party establishment, was leading her closest rival, Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, who on Monday received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
With nearly 90% of expected votes in, Valentine was winning 43% of the Democratic vote while Kunce had captured 38%, according to Politico.
Valentine, in her acceptance speech to supporters gathered at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union hall, focused on bridging political divides in the general election.
“I'm going to approach politics the same way I approach nursing and my life,†she said late Tuesday. “I'm going to treat everyone with compassion, respect and integrity. I'm going to put our differences aside and embrace what unites us.â€
Trudy Busch Valentine accepts Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
While Valentine held a large advantage in St. Louis, St. Louis County and in surrounding metro counties, Kunce was leading in parts of mid-Missouri, including Boone and Cole counties, as well as in parts of southeast and northeast Missouri.
Greitens, after sharing the Trump endorsement with Schmitt, characterized his rival as a “RINO,†or Republican in name only, and a “career politician.â€
In brief remarks to supporters in Chesterfield on Tuesday, after results showed him losing by a wide margin, an upbeat Greitens thanked them and said, “God has a plan. It doesn’t always work on our timeline.â€
Greitens resigned in 2018 after admitting to an affair with his hairdresser and being indicted on an invasion of privacy charge in St. Louis. He also faced a felony charge connected to a charity donor list his 2016 campaign received. Both cases were eventually dropped.
Schmitt, who dismissed Greitens as a quitter, cast himself as a conservative fighter, pointing to his list of lawsuits against President Joe Biden’s administration and actions against local governments and school districts.
The attorney general’s actions appealed to Joel Gilson, 40, of Jefferson City, who said he voted for Schmitt in the primary. “He actually is doing his job,†Gilson said. “He went against the mask mandates.â€
At 7:30 p.m. at the EPIC Empowerment campus in Chesterfield, Greitens supporters were gathered amid a slew of reporters and cameramen awaiting results.
Even though Greitens has lost key supporters — including his wife and former campaign manager — during his years of scandal, at least one former cabinet member from his administration showed up at the ex-governor’s watch party.
“He’s the same Eric I went to work for,†said Drew Juden, 65, who served as director of the Department of Public Safety under Greitens. “What you see is what you get. It’s a shame that some people have chosen to attack him unjustly.â€
Steve Nickel, 67, of the Sappington area of south St. Louis County, was among the crowd who showed up Tuesday for Greitens’ election night party.
“I think he’s going to take it,†Nickel said. “I am really not worried.â€
Nickel, a retired small business owner and Eagle Scout who voted for Barack Obama and Donald Trump, said he volunteered for the Greitens campaign, the first time he’d put his own shoulder to the political wheel since Ross Perot ran for president.
“Grassroots,†Nickel said from under a black cowboy hat. “I don’t care for these politicians who are in it for themselves.â€
On the Democratic side, Zachary Stickann, 43, of Jefferson City, cast his vote for Lucas Kunce, about a mile away from where Kunce grew up in . His wife, Laura Stickann, 43, voted for Spencer Toder.
“I’m not going to vote for an heiress if that’s one of their main claims to fame,†he said, referring to Valentine.
“She also didn’t do hardly any campaigning,†said Laura Stickann, also 43.
“I think he’s a breath of fresh air,†Stickann said of Toder. “It would be wonderful if he would win the primary; I don’t know if he will. I don’t know that enough people know about him.â€
Erin Heffernan of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Photos: Eric Schmitt, Trudy Busch Valentine celebrate U.S. Senate primary victories in St. Louis as Greitens concedes
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Eric Greitens Senate Primary Watch Party
Eric Greitens Senate Primary Watch Party
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Watch party for Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine
Eric Greitens Senate Primary Watch Party
Eric Greitens Senate Primary Watch Party
Eric Greitens Senate Primary Watch Party
Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate election night
Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine and independent candidate John Wood also are on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt takes the stage to thank his supporters and declare victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate during his election night party at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet in Maryland Heights on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Democratic senate nominee Trudy Busch Valentine gives her victory speech at her watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall, in St. Louis. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Trudy Busch Valentine hugs her husband John Fries after giving a victory speech at her watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall in St. Louis.
Eric Greitens supporters Robin Simpson of Monroe City, right, and Beverly Ortego, of Foristell, embrace after the former Missouri governor conceded the U.S. Senate Republican primary at his watch party at the Epic Empowerment Campus in Chesterfield on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Family members join Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt as he takes the stage to thank his supporters and declare victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate during his election night party at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet in Maryland Heights on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens concedes the U.S. Senate Republican primary at his watch party in at the Epic Empowerment Campus in Chesterfield on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jack Myer, jmyer@post-dispatch.com.