JEFFERSON CITY — Attorney General Andrew Bailey “would love†former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the closing days of the Aug. 6 Republican primary, a campaign spokesman said.
The incumbent attorney general, appointed in 2022 by Gov. Mike Parson, faces former federal prosecutor — and a member of Trump’s legal team — Will Scharf, in the primary.
Bailey met with Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week, campaign spokesman Michael Hafner said in a statement.
“President Trump asked the Attorney General to come backstage at the RNC where he spent 20 minutes with the President before walking out to the convention floor,†Hafner said.
“It’s clear the President loves Missouri and loves the work General Bailey is doing to move the America First agenda forward,†Hafner said. “We would love to have his endorsement in the race.â€
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Bailey mentioned the meeting with Trump in on KFTK (97.1 FM).
“I had a great meeting with President Trump on Wednesday evening, minutes before he went out on the convention floor,†Bailey said. “Everybody is excited about what we’re doing here in Missouri, and I think that’s top to bottom.â€
Reardon asked Bailey if he got a sense that Trump would make an endorsement in the race.
“I’m gonna keep my conversation with him private, but I’ll tell ya, there are numerous instances where I think we’ve caught the attention of every national conservative leader,†Bailey said.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Trump’s endorsement was seen as key in Missouri’s U.S. Senate primary two years ago.
In that race, then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt faced off against former Gov. Eric Greitens and others.
Trump held off making any endorsement until the day before the primary, declining to pick just one candidate and ultimately voicing support for “ERIC.â€
In addition to the attorney general’s race, this year, Trump has not endorsed in competitive Republican primaries for Missouri governor, state treasurer, lieutenant governor or secretary of state.
He did endorse former state Sen. Bob Onder in the race for the 3rd Congressional District, and the former president added that Onder’s chief opponent, former state Sen. Kurt Schaefer, was “weak on MAGA.â€
In the race for attorney general, Scharf has tied himself closely to the former president.
“Missouri needs President Trump’s attorney, Will Scharf,†a Scharf ad says. “Will Scharf won at the Supreme Court for President Trump.â€
Scharf, on Wednesday, told the Post-Dispatch that “any Republican candidate in the country would love to have President Trump’s endorsement. It’s been an honor to fight for him in courtrooms across America.â€