JEFFERSON CITY — A roster of current and former statewide officials is backing Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt in his bid for the U.S. Senate.
The list includes the man Schmitt wants to replace — retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt — as well as U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, who had backed U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler in the Aug. 2 primary election.
It does not include former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, who is supporting independent candidate John Wood, a former U.S. attorney for Missouri who previously served on the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Wood has accused Schmitt of being too divisive, citing a court challenge to the results of the 2020 presidential election.
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Danforth earlier said his Missouri Stands United PAC has already spent $5 million on Wood’s campaign and will spend more heading toward the Nov. 8 general election.
Despite the rift, Schmitt said the GOP is coalescing behind him.
“Missouri’s Republican Party is united, and this fall, we will ensure a strong conservative majority goes to D.C. to fight inflation, curb energy prices, and defend our freedoms,” Schmitt said.
The announcement came four days after Schmitt greeted Democratic candidate Trudy Busch Valentine at the Missouri State Fair. He said it was their first meeting.
Along with Blunt and Hawley, former U.S. Sens. John Ashcroft, Kit Bond and Jim Talent joined Team Schmitt, the announcement said.
Also weighing in were Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick.
Hawley called Schmitt a strong candidate after he garnered 45% of the GOP vote. Hartzler was second with 22%, and former Gov. Eric Greitens received 19% in a failed comeback bid.
“He’s going to unify our party, he’s going to reach out to independent voters, and he’s going to win this thing,” Hawley said in a statement.
Blunt, who stayed on the sidelines during the primary campaign, said Schmitt will be an advocate for Missouri families.
“The D.C. Democrats who control Washington have sunk our economy into a recession and left Americans struggling with higher costs and more uncertainty about the future,” Blunt said, echoing a line of attack being used by Republicans heading into the midterm elections.
The trio of former U.S. senators who are backing him praised Schmitt as a strong leader at a time when control of the Senate is at stake.
“Eric will keep Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat in Republicans hands, which is important to Missouri and to taking back the Senate in November,” Bond said.