The 2022 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 8, 2022, concurrently with elections for all other Class 3 U.S. senators and elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, to select a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Missouri. Incumbent senator Roy Blunt, a Republican, did not seek a third term in office. Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the open seat, defeating Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine.
Republican primary In March 2021, incumbent Republican Senator Roy Blunt announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022.
Republican candidates for Blunt's Senate seat included former Gov. Eric Greitens, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Rep. Billy Long, and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
Schmitt's candidacy was backed by Missouri mega-donor Rex Sinquefield. In the speech announcing his candidacy, Schmitt tied himself to Donald Trump and spoke against "the radical left". He pledged to vote against Mitch McConnell for the Senate Republican party leadership position.
In February 2022, Hartzler's campaign released a 30-second ad criticizing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer on the University of Pennsylvania women's team. In the ad, Hartzler said, "Women's sports are for women, not men pretending to be women", adding that, as Missouri's senator, she would not "look away while woke liberals destroy women's sports."
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley endorsed Hartzler in February 2022. On July 8, 2022, Donald Trump refused to endorse Hartzler, saying, "I don't think she has what it takes to take on the Radical Left Democrats."Trump says he won't endorse Vicky Hartzler, calls Eric Greitens 'smart' and 'tough', Yahoo News, Jason Hancock, July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
Greitens was endorsed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle, the latter joining his campaign as a national chair.
Many Republican officials, strategists, and donors maneuvered to stymie Greitens's attempted comeback, believing that the scandal surrounding his resignation as governor, his extramarital affair, and the sexual assault accusation against him would make him a weak general election candidate and lead to the loss of the Senate seat to a Democrat.Alex Isenstadt, Inside the secret, yearlong campaign to torpedo Eric Greitens' attempted comeback, Politico (august 2, 2022). Notable Republican opponents of Greitens's candidacy included Karl Rove, Johnny DeStefano, and Senator Rick Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.David Weigel, Trump endorses 'ERIC' in Missouri primary, a name shared by rivals, Washington Post (August 1, 2022). After Greitens's ex-wife filed an affidavit against him in March 2022 accusing him of physical abuse, Senator Josh Hawley (who had endorsed Vicky Hartzler the previous month) called upon Greitens to drop out.
Republican megadonor Richard Uihlein funded a pro-Greitens super PAC ("Team PAC"), contributing $2.5 million to it. Other Republican megadonors, including Rex Sinquefield and August Busch, aligned against Greitens. A Republican-funded anti-Greitens super PAC ("Show Me Values PAC") was created in June 2022 and ran $6.2 million in ads through late July 2022.
Republican officials, including Rick Scott, waged a campaign to persuade Donald Trump not to endorse Greitens. On the eve of the primary election, Trump issued a statement endorsing "ERIC" in the primary, leaving it unclear which "Eric" he was endorsing.Martin Pengelly, Donald Trump endorses 'Eric' in Missouri primary – but which one?, The Guardian (August 2, 2022).
In the primary election, Schmitt prevailed with 45.7% of the vote; Hartzler received 22.1%, Greitens 18.9%, and Long 5%.
Candidates Nominee Eric Schmitt, Missouri attorney general (2019–2023) and former Missouri state treasurer (2017–2019)
Eliminated in primary Robert Allen Russel Pealer Breyfogle Jr., retired social worker Dennis Lee Chilton, 2018 Missouri House of Representatives candidate C. W. Gardner, doorman and former broadcaster Eric Greitens, former governor of Missouri (2017–2018) Vicky Hartzler, U.S. representative from (2011–2023) Rickey Joiner, barber and business owner Patrick A. Lewis, union construction laborer Billy Long, U.S. representative from (2011–2023) Darrell Leon McClanahan III, political activist, KKK member Mark McCloskey, attorney and 2020 Republican National Convention speaker known for his involvement in the St. Louis gun-toting controversy Eric McElroy, comedian and U.S. Navy veteran Bernie Mowinsk, retired U.S. Air Force sergeant and perennial candidate Robert Olson Deshon Porter, host of The Big D Zone Dave Schatz, president pro tempore of the Missouri Senate (2019–2023), state senator (2015–2023) Kevin C. Schepers Dave Sims, Monett public works employee and former radio host Hartford Tunnell, college professor Curtis D. Vaughn, valet parking attendant and liquor salesman
Missed filing deadline John Brinkmann, insurance agency owner and financial consultant Rik Combs, retired U.S. Air Force officer and Libertarian nominee for governor of Missouri in 2020 Jeremy Gundel, farmer and write-in candidate for lieutenant governor of Missouri in 2020
Withdrawn Roy Blunt, incumbent U.S. senator (2011–2023) and chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (2019–2023) Dan McQueen, former mayor of Corpus Christi, Texas (2016–2017) (ran for the U.S. House)
Declined Jay Ashcroft, Missouri secretary of state (2017–present) Scott Fitzpatrick, Missouri state treasurer (2019–2023) (ran for state auditor) Timothy A. Garrison, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri (2018–2021) Mike Kehoe, lieutenant governor of Missouri (2018–present) (ran for governor) Peter Kinder, former lieutenant governor of Missouri (2005–2017) Blaine Luetkemeyer, U.S. representative from (2013–present) and (2009–2013) (ran for re-election) Mike Parson, governor of Missouri (2018–present) Jason Smith, U.S. representative from (2013–present) (ran for re-election) Kathy Swan, former state representative (2012–2021) Ann Wagner, U.S. representative from (2013–present) (ran for re-election)
Endorsements The day before the primary, former president Donald Trump released a statement endorsing "ERIC". There were three candidates with the first name Eric running in the Republican primary: Eric Greitens, Eric McElroy, and Eric Schmitt. Trump's statement did not offer any clarification on whether this was an endorsement for one or multiple candidates, and when reached for comment by NBC News, Trump's office declined to clarify the endorsement.
Debates DateHost ModeratorLink(s)ParticipantsKey: Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee WithdrawnEricGreitensVickyHartzlerBillyLongMarkMcCloskeyDaveSchatzEricSchmittMay 31, 2022Greene County RepublicansGinger GoochDarrell Moore
Polling Graphical summary
Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated EricGreitens VickyHartzler BillyLong MarkMcCloskey DaveSchatz EricSchmitt OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsJuly 21 – 24, 2022July 26, 202219.0%24.5%7.0%5.0%2.5%33.0%9.0%Schmitt +8.5 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EricGreitens VickyHartzler BillyLong MarkMcCloskey DaveSchatz EricSchmitt Other UndecidedThe Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)July 31 – August 1, 20221,078 (LV)± 2.9%21%18%5%5%3%34%–15%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutJuly 27–28, 2022818 (LV)± 3.4%18%22%6%5%5%34%2%8%co/efficient (R)July 27, 2022891 (LV)± 3.3%17%16%–––28%––SurveyUSASurveyUSAJuly 24–27, 2022787 (LV)± 4.2%20%13%8%4%3%28%4%21%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJuly 21–23, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%16%21%5%4%2%33%1%17%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutJuly 23–24, 2022802 (LV)± 3.4%18%25%8%4%3%32%–10%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)July 22–24, 20221,059 (LV)± 2.9%20%24%7%5%2%27%–16%The Tarrance Group (R)July 5–7, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%16%24%6%4%4%28%–18%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)June 28–30, 20221,072 (LV)± 2.9%24%24%6%3%4%23%–17%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutJune 22–23, 2022911 (LV)± 3.1%20%19%8%5%2%25%–21%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJune 2–5, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%26%16%8%4%0%20%1%27%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)May 16–18, 20221,065 (LV)± 2.9%26%23%9%3%3%19%–17%SurveyUSASurveyUSAMay 11–15, 2022642 (LV)± 5.0%26%11%7%2%2%17%7%28%Remington Research (R)Remington Research (R)May 11–12, 2022945 (LV)± 3.0%21%23%–––29%10%17%co/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)May 2–4, 2022806 (LV)± 3.5%26%19%7%5%2%14%–27%NMB Research (R)April 6–7, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%23%20%7%3%2%25%20%–OnMessage Inc. (R)OnMessage Inc. (R)April 4–6, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%22%23%11%5%2%16%–21%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)March 24–29, 20221,079 (LV)± 3.0%24%25%8%2%3%22%–16%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutMarch 22–23, 2022941 (LV)± 3.1%21%19%9%5%3%24%–19%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)February 22–24, 20221,026 (LV)± 3.0%31%17%6%5%2%23%3%15%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutFebruary 16–17, 2022917 (LV)± 3.1%25%18%8%5%2%22%–20%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutJanuary 26–27, 2022902 (LV)± 3.1%28%19%7%5%1%23%–17%OnMessage Inc. (R)January 2022– (LV)–30%16%9%6%1%16%–23%CMA Strategies (R)CMA Strategies (R)January 2022400 (LV)± 5.0%27%12%6%4%1%15%–36%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutDecember 1–2, 2021744 (LV)± 3.4%27%16%7%4%3%24%–19%NMB Research (R)December 2021– (LV)–34%––––17%49%–Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutOctober 20–21, 2021806 (LV)± 3.2%27%19%8%4%–25%–17%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)October 3–5, 2021400 (LV)± 4.9%36%10%6%4%–17%1%25%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutSeptember 8–9, 2021847 (LV)± 3.2%27%17%8%5%–28%–15%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutAugust 4–5, 2021911 (LV)± 3.0%27%13%12%9%–24%–15%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutJune 9–10, 20211,011 (LV)± 3.0%34%14%–7%–25%–20%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutMarch 24–25, 20211,041 (LV)± 3.0%36%–14%––30%–20%40%––––39%–21%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RoyBlunt JohnBrunner EricGreitens VickyHartzler BillyLong EricSchmitt JasonSmith AnnWagner UndecidedRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutMarch 24–25, 20211,041 (LV)± 3.0%–2%31%8%6%18%9%12%14%–10%38%––30%––22%––36%––29%16%–19%––38%––26%–18%18%Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)March 23–25, 2021400 (LV)± 4.9%––48%––11%7%9%26%Remington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research (R)/Missouri ScoutDecember 2–3, 2020840 (LV)± 3.4%43%–32%–––––25%
Results
Democratic primary
As the Democratic primary season progressed, three main contenders emerged: Lucas Kunce, director of national security at the American Economic Liberties Project; Spencer Toder, a businessman; and Trudy Busch Valentine, heiress of the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. Kunce and Toder both campaigned as anti-establishment populists, whereas Valentine campaigned in a staid manner with few public appearances.
Candidates
Nominee Trudy Busch Valentine, retired nurse, businesswoman, activist, and daughter of beer magnate August Busch Jr.
Eliminated in primary Ron Harris, truck driver, U.S. Air Force veteran, and perennial candidate Jewel Kelly, real estate agent and U.S. Air Force veteran Pat Kelly, environmental engineer and patent attorney Lucas Kunce, national security director of the American Economic Liberties Project and retired U.S. Marine Corps officer Lewis Rolen, medical operational assistant