JEFFERSON CITY — One Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Missouri unveiled a list of endorsements on Thursday that includes some of the state party’s best-known figures.
Trudy Busch Valentine announced the backing of U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City, state Sen. Jill Schupp of Creve Coeur, former U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt and 20 other politicians in a news release.
The officials were lining up behind Valentine, who has been a fundraiser for Democrats, rather than Lucas Kunce, a populist who has raised the most money so far in the U.S. Senate race.
Nine other candidates, including Spencer Toder, an entrepreneur from Olivette, also are vying for Democratic votes. The primary is Aug. 2.
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Valentine’s list of endorsements followed pushback from some fellow Democrats earlier this week that Grant’s Farm was set to host an NRA fundraiser later this year. Valentine is part owner of the property.
After the article was published, Valentine said she convinced the board of Grant’s Farm to cancel the fundraiser.
“Trudy shares the Missouri values which we need representing us in the U.S. Senate. She will be a partner I will work with to benefit our state,†Cleaver said in a news release issued by Valentine’s campaign.
Valentine entered the race at the close of candidate filing in March as former state Sen. Scott Sifton, D-south ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, ended his campaign for U.S. Senate. Sifton is backing Valentine.
Kunce, a Marine veteran, has his own list of endorsements, including from ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Tommie Pierson Sr. and state Rep. Michael Johnson of Kansas City.
The Democratic nominee will face the winner of a crowded Republican primary in the November general election.
Former Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned in disgrace in 2018 amid fallout from his extramarital affair and alleged campaign finance violations, has led polling in that race.
Aldridge predicted Kunce, a veteran like Greitens, would be “a perfect candidate†to compete against the former governor.
“Lucas is the direction that our party is heading in and needs to head in,†Aldridge said, “and he gets people motivated.
“I just don’t see that from the other candidates that are running,†he said.
During the campaign, Valentine has emphasized her experience as a nurse and a focus of her campaign has been combating the opioid epidemic. Her son, Matt Valentine, died of an overdose in 2020.
“Trudy has used her real life experiences as a point of connection for reaching out and helping others,†Schupp said. “She is smart, capable, down-to-earth and has stepped up to run because she believes she can serve Missourians best as senator. I agree with her!â€
Other Democrats running include Lewis Rolen of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Gena Ross of Platte City, Carla Coffee Wright of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Josh Shipp of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Jewel Kelly of Festus, Clarence Taylor of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Pat Kelly of ºüÀêÊÓƵ and Ronald William Harris of Kansas City.
Posted at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, June 2.