Greitens hopes outsider politics will win another statewide race
This is one in a series of stories looking at Missouri candidates for U.S. Senate.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri's former governor hopes that he can wage another successful statewide campaign by running as a political outsider with a platform of support for former president Donald Trump's policies.
Eric Greitens is one of more than 20 Republican candidates on the ballot for U.S. Senate in the Aug. 2 primary. They're seeking to represent the GOP in the November race for the seat being vacated by Sen. Roy Blunt.
Greitens touts endorsements that include Rudy Guiliani, Veterans for Trump and other organizations that support Trump. Trump has praised Greitens but is yet to endorse anyone in the Republican primary for Senate.
Greitens served as governor of Missouri but stepped down without completing a full term amid allegations that he sexually blackmailed his mistress and stole a donor list from his veterans' charity. Greitens claimed innocence and the blackmail case was eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. But this year his ex-wife drew attention back to Greitens' troubles outside politics with an affidavit in their family court case that argued any further civil hearings should be moved to Texas and alleging Greitens abused her and their children.
The case between Greitens and his ex-wife is ongoing in Boone County court. Most recently, the former couple participated in a seven-hour disposition behind closed doors. The judge has not released any ruling and both couples and their attorneys were asked not to comment until the case is resolved.
An anti-Greitens attack campaign based on the affidavit called "The Real Eric Greitens" was started by Show Me PAC Values.
Greitens continues to deny any allegations against him. He also denies that he's polling behind his competitors.
"Those are fake polls," Greitens said at a campaign event in Kansas City on Monday. "You know that they're fake polls. Where are those from? They're from Remington. Those are all fake polls paid for by our opponents."
Grietens says he supports traditional conservative values, and in one controversial political ad, he said he will hunt down Republicans in Name Only to defend the party. One pillar of his platform is helping children, whether that's children in foster care or children in war-affected areas.
Greitens 'RINO-hunting' ad
"People are ready to revive the country, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Missouri again," Greitens said on filing day in Jefferson City. "We have a tremendous amount of work to do."
Greitens' campaign has not responded to ABC 17's requests for an interview.
