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Midterm elections are approaching, and Republican candidates throughout the states are hoping to gain control of the U.S. Congress. But trouble is brewing for the GOP in Missouri.
Church Militant’s Aidan O’Connor takes a closer look at one Republican candidate under fire.
A new abuse allegation is spelling trouble for a Republican candidate in Missouri. In an affidavit released yesterday, the ex-wife of former governor Eric Greitens accused him of physical abuse and unstable behavior. This comes as Greitens — an ex-Navy SEAL officer — is running in this year’s midterms for an open U.S. Senate seat.
Eric Greitens, former governor of Missouri: “When I’m in the U.S. Senate, I’m going to have the back of our veterans because they deserve our support.”
Now, many Republicans are calling for him to withdraw from the race.
Missouri’s Catholic attorney general, Eric Schmitt, is also running for the U.S. Senate and blasted Greitens, saying, “He should end his campaign immediately.” Greitens was a Democrat before 2015. But as a Republican governor, he stood up for religious freedom and secured state-funded grants for churches.
Greitens resigned as governor in 2018 due to allegations of sexual assault.
Church Militant’s political analyst Jim Ellis explains why the new allegation could hurt the GOP bid to retake the Senate.
Jim Ellis, political analyst:
Well, the Greitens situation in Missouri actually affects the Republican ability to win that seat in Missouri, which should be a safe Republican seat. That would allow a potentially stronger Democrat candidate to maybe win that seat against a weakened Republican nominee. So I think it would be better if Mr. Greitens does exit the race.
Greitens blasted the allegation as fabricated and baseless — but his campaign may already be shot.
With the United States’ Senate currently split 50–50 across party lines, every seat gained, or lost, is crucial for the Republican Party.