Anheuser-Busch beer heiress Trudy Busch Valentine on Tuesday announced her candidacy for U.S. senate” target=”_blank”>Senate< primary in a solidly red state.
Busch Valentine’s announcement comes amid widespread calls from senate for Eric Greitens to drop out of the race after the Republican former governor’s ex-wife accused him of physically abusing her and one of their kids.
The latest scandal renewed Republican concerns that Greitens could win the crowded GOP primary but emerge a damaged candidate in the general election, threatening the party’s chances of keeping what should be a relatively easy win for Republicans.
Some Democrats already are positioning the race as everyone else versus Greitens. In a Monday announcement dropping out of the Democratic primary, former state Sen. Scott Sifton endorsed Busch Valentine and called on other Democrats to unite behind her as “the best chance to win in November.”
MISSOURI GOP SENATE SHOWDOWN: GREITENS RESISTS CALLS TO DROP OUT AFTER ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
Picking a woman to be the Democratic nominee also could help flip the Senate seat if Greitens wins the GOP primary, University of Missouri St. Louis political scientist David Kimball said.
“Assuming that Eric Greitens is the Republican nominee, then that makes for a clear contrast in efforts to highlight allegations of abuse against Greitens and his treatment of his family,” he said.
Busch Valentine, a 64-year-old registered nurse, described herself as still being a “nurse at heart” in her campaign announcement.
She’s a widowed mother of six and said the death of her eldest son from an opioid overdose in 2020 in part motivated her to run for office.
“Matt’s death brought so much sadness,” she said in a video announcing her candidacy. “But it also reignited the passion in me to make a positive difference for others, this time on a larger scale.”
Other Democratic contenders include Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, vacation-destinations County startup owner Spencer Toder, Kansas City activist Tim Shepard and Air Force veteran Jewel Kelly.
elections” target=”_blank”>CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL<
“Most Missouri families include Democrats, Independents and Republicans. Mine sure does,” Busch Valentine said. “But it seems we’ve lost our ability to be understanding and compassionate for each other. We have so much more that unites us than divides us. We just need to talk to each other again.”
One of her siblings, August Busch III, donated to Greitens’ 2016 gubernatorial campaign, although he also gave to other Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Busch Valentine has raised money for Democrats and hosted a fundraiser for former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2015. She gave $5,400 directly to the-clintons” target=”_blank”>Clinton’s<
Busch Valentine also has contributed to Democrats Jason Kander and former Sen. Claire McCaskill’s U.S. Senate campaigns, Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner’s most recent two Democratic opponents for her suburban St. Louis seat, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of us-regions.
Outside of politics, Busch Valentine has donated at least $7 million to St. Louis University, including a $4 million contribution in 2019 that prompted college leaders to rename the nursing school after her. She graduated from the nursing school in 1980 and currently serves on the university’s board of trustees.
