JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Trudy Busch Valentine, a nurse and philanthropist who entered Missouri’s Democratic primary in the U.S. Senate race late, will move on to November after defeating Marine veteran Lucas Kunce and nine others on Tuesday.
Valentine, who so far has largely self-funded her campaign, will be the underdog against Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt in November in red-state Missouri.
Republican Sen. Roy Blunt’s announcement last year that he would not seek a third term set off a frenzy for his job, with nearly three dozen people in the two major parties filing to run.
The Democratic race drew only a scant portion of the attention of the Republican side, largely because of the presence of Greitens, whose political career seemed over after he resigned four years ago in the midst of a sex scandal, criminal accusations and the very real risk of impeachment.
Trudy Busch Valentine
This is Trudy Busch Valentine's first bid for elected office. She's a nurse by trade. She's also a multi-millionaire heiress to a portion of the Anheuser-Busch fortune. There have been questions about her 1977 involvement in an exclusively white "Veiled Prophet" ball. She has apologized for her participation.
Lucas Kunce
Lucas Kunce is also looking for his first elected office position. He is a Marine veteran. His messaging has sought to connect with the struggles of poverty, painting a contrast against leisurely lifestyles of privilege.
Spencer Toder
Spencer Toder is a political newcomer who is a real estate broker and medical device company owner. He’s courted Democratic primary voters by working alongside them in niche advocacy areas, attempting to earn their trust by working in the trenches with them.
Ron Harris
The Air Force veteran and former Republican Ward Committeeman now works as a truck driver. The Kansas City native has run for political office in both GOP and Democratic primaries over the years.
Jewel Kelly
The Air Force veteran from Festus describes himself as a moderate Democrat. He has called for raising police wages, reducing military spending, investing in veteran services, and raising the top tax brackets on the wealthiest Americans.
Pat Kelly
The environmental engineer is running on a campaign devoted to climate science awareness. He describes global warming as “by far, the worst, most severe, and most dire threat America faces today.”
Lewis Rolen
The former St. Louis public school teacher is campaigning on a promise to improve public education and slash military spending. He has called to end private for-profit prisons.
Gena Ross
The evangelist from Platte City ran for Congress in Missouri’s 6th Congressional district against incumbent Republican Sam Graves in 2020. Ross supports abolishing the Senate filibuster and adapting the nation’s health care system to Medicare for All.
Joshua Shipp
The health educator and citizen activist is calling for an end to qualified immunity and to the bail bond system. Shipp unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2018.
Clay Taylor
The member of the People’s Party of Christ runs a transitional home to shelter unhoused people for the ‘Federation of Christ Jesus.’ His campaign slogan is to “Make America Great for Everyone.”
Carla Wright
The former child care center director who runs a medical testing company is calling for greater Black representation in elected office, free college education, amnesty for non-violent offenders, reparations for slavery, and the abolition of the Electoral College. Carla “Coffee” Wright has also called for canceling medical and student loan debts.
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