Eric Greitens wins Republican nomination for MO Governor
Eric Greitens and Chris Koster earned the gubernatorial nominations from both major parties in Missouri.
Greitens, a former Navy SEAL and founder of the veteran nonprofit The Misson Continues, will face Koster, a Democrat and the state’s current Attorney General, in the November election in 14 weeks. Greitens edged three active opponents – former Missouri Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and retired businessman John Brunner – to win the Republican nomination by receiving 34% of the vote.
The race for the GOP nomination featured numerous attack ads, many questioning Greitens attendance of the Democratic National Convention in 2008, and his acceptance of campaign money from Michael Gougen, involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit in California. Greitens, however, claimed the three other candidates called to offer their support to his campaign for governor.
“So we go into November united,” Greitens told reporters after his speech to a crowd of hundreds gathered in Chesterfield. “United to defeat Chris Koster, because we need to have strong leadership here in Missouri that’s going to get results for the people of Missouri and for their families.”
This is the first race Greitens’ has ever run, and touted that “outsider” status in contrast to Koster, who’s served in several different elected roles in Jefferson City. Greitens’ major promise was to “clean up Jefferson City,” including term limits for elected statewide offices, like Attorney General, and a ban on lobbyist gifts.
Both Greitens and Brunner touted their lack of connection to the state government in Jefferson City, standing in contrast to Hanaway and Kinder.
Both Greitens and Brunner are no stranger to politics. Greitens attended the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and served as a Rhodes Scholar and White House fellow. Brunner ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, losing the primary to U.S. Rep. Todd Akin. Both Greitens and Brunner raised large amounts of cash for this primary. Greitens received $1.975 million, the largest single donation in state history, from a Washington, D.C. based super PAC “SEALs for Truth,” while Brunner’s largest cash contributions came from himself.
In total, the four Republican candidates spent more than $20 million so far this election cycle.
