SEDALIA, Mo. — After a one-year break due to the pandemic, Missouri’s political class was back at the state fairgrounds Thursday, rubbing shoulders with supporters and testing out the campaign themes for next year’s election.
Gathered for the Governor’s Ham Breakfast, candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Roy Blunt circulated through the crowd.
“I’ve been coming to the fair for years. It’s a great way to reconnect with friends,†said Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is among a potentially growing field of GOP candidates for the Senate in the 2022 election.
Candidates for state auditor also were on hand. Republican Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is expected to face off against Rep. David Gregory, R-Sunset Hills, for the post being vacated by Democratic Auditor Nicole Galloway, who is not seeking reelection.
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Gregory said the ham breakfast is a prime opportunity to meet with state and local officials.
“I want to learn what’s important to Missouri,†Gregory said.
For Gov. Mike Parson, the event served as a showcase of his rural roots. The Republican runs a cattle operation at his Bolivar farm 88 miles to the south of the fairgrounds.
“It’s great to be back at the state fair,†Parson told the crowd.
He said the past 18 months were the most difficult he’s faced because of the pandemic.
Among the casualties was last year’s fair, which was turned into a slimmed-down youth livestock show.
But, despite the ongoing threat of a summer surge of the delta variant, he added, “We’re on the right track in this state.â€
Parson took a moment during his speech to ask for a moment of silence in honor of Steve Walsh, who died Thursday morning from complications related to COVID-19.
Walsh, who served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, is married to Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland. Neither were vaccinated.
Speaking to the maskless crowd, Parson repeated his belief that government shouldn’t mandate face coverings or vaccinations that could temper the spread of a deadly respiratory virus.
“You don’t need the governor of Missouri to tell you what you need to do,†Parson said.
Other Senate candidates in attendance included U.S. Reps. Billy Long of Springfield and Hartzler, as well as Mark McCloskey, the ºüÀêÊÓƵ attorney who was pardoned by Parson after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor gun charges related to a Black Lives Matter protest in the Central West End.
Parson said later that McCloskey thanked him for the pardon.
Long arrived in a motor coach he’s calling the “Billy Bus†and said he plans to travel to every county in the state.
“I’m going to meet people on the ground in all 114 counties,†Long said.
Democrat Scott Sifton, a former state senator from Affton, also made his presence known as a candidate for Blunt’s seat.
Former Gov. Eric Greitens, who also is running for Senate, did not attend the breakfast, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith of Salem said he is still considering whether to jump into the race.
“My No. 1 priority is doing the job I was elected to do. After I do my job of representing the people of southeast Missouri, politics will take care of itself,†Smith said.