Schmitt Trounces Disgraced Former Guv Greitens In Missouri’s Battle Of Erics

INNSBROOK, MISSOURI - AUGUST 02: Former Missouri Gov. and Missouri Senate Candidate Eric Greitens speaks with reporters after voting during Primary Election day at the Village Hall on August 02, 2022 in Innsbrook, Mi... INNSBROOK, MISSOURI - AUGUST 02: Former Missouri Gov. and Missouri Senate Candidate Eric Greitens speaks with reporters after voting during Primary Election day at the Village Hall on August 02, 2022 in Innsbrook, Missouri. Greitens was quick to claim the endorsement of Former President Donald Trump yesterday and he made a confusing last minute endorsement of the Missouri's Senate primary on Tuesday by endorsing "ERIC" in a Monday night statement, but not clarifying if it was the former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens or State Attorney General Eric Schmitt in the race to replace Republican Roy Blunt after his retirement. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt easily triumphed over the state’s disgraced former governor, Eric Greitens, and a collection of other challengers Wednesday, winning the Republican Party’s nomination for U.S. senator and closing another dark chapter in Greitens’ political career.

Trump had made a trolling non-endorsement in the race, announcing his support Monday for “Eric” without making clear whether he meant Greitens or Schmitt. 

When the Associated Press called the race just after 10 p.m. ET, Schmitt led the field with 45 percent of the vote. Greitens, in third, had 19 percent; second-place finisher Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) had 23 percent. An estimated 41 percent of votes had been tallied.

Also among the two Erics’ 19 opponents for the Senate nomination was the lawyer Mark McCloskey, who infamously menaced Black Lives Matter protesters with a rifle.

Schmitt served as Missouri’s treasurer before becoming state attorney general. In the past year, Schmitt has waged a series of lawsuits against the Biden administration over issues ranging from COVID vaccine mandates to LGBTQ school guidance.

Greitens resigned as Missouri’s governor in 2018, following allegations of blackmail and an alleged assault. His hairdresser, with whom he had been having an affair, said that he had slapped her, coerced her into a sexual encounter and tried to blackmail her with nude photos, TPM reported. Greitens acknowledged having an extramarital affair but denied the allegations of assault and blackmail.

After the woman testified before the state legislative investigative committee detailing the sexual assault, Greitens resigned. He reached a deal with the St. Louis prosecutor’s office, saying that he would step down if the office dropped unrelated campaign finance charges against him.

In March of this year, his ex-wife alleged domestic violence in court records. Sheena Greitens detailed allegations of physical abuse by her ex-husband, including what she described as “unstable and coercive behavior” that allegedly took place toward the end of their marriage, in a sworn affidavit filed as part of an ongoing child custody dispute in Missouri state court. She alleged that his violent behavior extended to their children as well. Greitens denied the claims, which he sought to cast as politically motivated.

Greitens had been considered a frontrunner in the race to replace retiring Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) until the allegations emerged. 

Greitens’ campaign has been incendiary from the beginning. In June, he released a campaign ad advertising a “hunting permit” for his political opponents — so-called “RINOs,” or “Republicans in Name Only.” The ad opens with Greitens holding a shotgun and strolling past a mailbox labeled “The RINO’s Den.” Greitens’ ad prompted Missouri state Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R) to report him to law enforcement.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. TFG’s endorsement of Eric got Eric over the line.

  2. The best of a bad bunch….

  3. Looks like it’s back to the dungeon, but this time all by his lonesome.

  4. Fabulous news, but not as good as reading Josh’s post that the anti-choice referendum is going to be defeated in Kansas.

    Nothing is wrong with Kansas tonight. Well done!

  5. Per WaPo, 64.2% “No” with 56% votes counted.

    :fireworks:

    Hats off to all our Kansas TPMers.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

59 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for runfastandwin Avatar for ajm Avatar for ghost Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for becca656 Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for lastroth Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for benthere Avatar for jinnj Avatar for Ken_a_roni Avatar for rickjones Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for coimmigrant Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for flug Avatar for ivh Avatar for dicktater Avatar for Scoutmom Avatar for Remohted

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: