Jay Nixon, former Missouri governor, won’t enter 2022 US Senate race
Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said he would not run for U.S. Senate on Thursday, opting to “choose a different path” and leaving the 2022 Democratic nomination open for the taking.
Nixon, who left office in 2017 as the most recent Democrat to lead the Show-Me State, expressed a desire to remain focused on his law practice at Dowd Bennett, teaching at Washington University Law School and policy priorities, including conservation.
“I always thrived on policy more than politics,” Nixon said in a statement posted to Twitter. “My post-governor involvement on a myriad of matters is not filtered through a partisan lens — that is liberating and I want it to continue.”
The statement marks the withdrawal of Missouri’s highest-profile Democrat to not yet weigh in on the race to replace Sen. Roy Blunt, who announced he would not run for re-election. News earlier this month that Nixon was headlining a regional Democratic Party event and speaking to friends and aides fueled speculation that he would enter the fray.
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“The people of Missouri honored me with their trust and confidence many times and for that opportunity to serve, I am eternally grateful,” Nixon said. “I am very proud of the work we accomplished. Our team worked diligently to provide opportunities and changed lives in many positive ways, with a granite foundation of strong Missouri values.”
An array of candidates will vie for the Democratic nomination in a race that will be an uphill battle in a state turning increasingly red.
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Lucas Kunce, a Marine veteran whose viral ads have grabbed social media attention, leads fundraising in the lane thus far. He’ll compete with former state Sen. Scott Sifton, startup owner Spencer Toder and LGBTQ+ rights activist Tim Shepard.
That nominee will face the winner of a competitive Republican primary that includes names such as Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Gov. Eric Greitens, St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey and Rep. Vicky Hartzler. Both sides of the aisle could grow in the weeks and months to come.
Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at [email protected], (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.
Read More: Jay Nixon, former Missouri governor, won’t enter 2022 US Senate race