Scharf concedes, Missouri approves Parson’s pick
UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Will Scharf conceded to incumbent Andrew Bailey in the race for Missouri's GOP nomination for the state's next attorney general.
Scharf made the announcement shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, a little more than one hour after the polls closed.
Bailey has held the office since 2023 after being appointed by Gov. Mike Parson. Scharf said in his concession speech he called Bailey personally with his decision.
Scharf is a private attorney based out of St. Louis County. He is part of the legal team representing Donald Trump in his election interference case in Washington D.C. Scharf also served as an assistant federal prosecutor in St. Louis and was a staff member in Gov. Eric Greitens’ administration.
As attorney general, Scharf said he would use the full power of the Attorney General’s Office to investigate the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as school districts across the state, which he says are violating state law and failing Missouri children and families.
Scharf's policy stances align with standard conservative viewpoints. Scharf supports passing strict state laws against illegal immigrants and those who employ them and ending the use of taxpayer dollars to provide services for illegal immigrants.
He was also calling for accountability from political officials at the state Capitol and supports major reforms to Missouri’s bail and sentencing laws throughout his campaign.
Scharf said as attorney general he wanted to advocate for Missourians’ constitutional rights of religious liberty, the Second Amendment and free speech.
In his concession speech Scharf pledged his full support to Bailey for the upcoming November election.
Scharf said his campaign challenged Bailey in the right ways to push his former opponent to better uphold conservative values as the GOP attorney general nominee in the upcoming election.
"We've pressed Andrew Bailey and the other statewide officeholders in Jefferson City to do more and more conservative things and to represent the conservative, conservative grassroots of this state better than they would have otherwise," Scharf said.
Scharf had never ran for office before this campaign attempt. He tells ABC 17 that he does not plan to run for another state office in the future, but hopes to continue his work within the conservative party.
