Republican U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler said Thursday she’s entering an increasingly crowded primary of politicians hoping to replace Roy Blunt in the U.S. Senate.
She’s the fourth prominent Republican to jump in the race since Blunt said in March that he wouldn’t run for re-election.
Hartzler joins former Gov. Eric Greitens, Attorney General Eric Schmitt and St. Louis lawyer Mark McCloskey, who rose to fame after pointing a gun at Black Lives Matter protestors in 2020.
Hartzler has served in the House since 2011. Her district stretches from the Columbia area to just below Kansas City and down to Lebanon. Hartzler serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees. She was a representative in the Missouri General Assembly from 1994-2000.
Hartzler has spoken out against coronavirus health orders that she said restricted religious and individual freedom, along with criticizing the Biden administration for its infrastructure spending proposal and its corporate tax increase.
State Rep. Sara Walsh, the Republican Majority Caucus Chair in the Missouri House, said she supports Hartzler because of her beliefs in small government and her honesty.
“I’ve seen her not only make promises, but fulfill those promises,” Walsh said. “Who she is and who she says she is one and the same.”
Hartzler’s also tried to raise awareness about what she sees as the threat of China to America, creating a four-part video series outlining military threats, economic threats and human rights abuses of the country. Hartzler has also worked to guarantee Gold Star families receive full insurance benefits.
In her announcement, Hartzler used familiar Trump-era talking points. She criticized Democrats for their border policy, gun control measures and government influence during the pandemic.
“The extreme socialist left is taking our country in the wrong direction,” Hartzler said. “And it’s up to us to get our country back on the right direction.”
She voiced her support for the former president, saying she voted for and supported Trump’s efforts over 95% of the time.
“Together, we will make America great again for ourselves and the future of this country,” Hartzler said.
Other possible Republican Senate candidates include Missouri U.S. representatives Jason Smith, Ann Wagner and Billy Long.
