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TWMP Overtime panel talks possible US Senate contenders for McCaskill in 2018

With the US Senate race coming up in 2018, the panel on the last episode of This Week in Missouri Politics speculated as to who exactly would run against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

There are many contenders from the Republican Party, such as Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, David Wasinger, and possibly even Caleb Jones, who served as member of the Missouri House until joining the Greitens administration as deputy chief of staff.

McCaskill will almost definitely run again as she has said but may face some adversity if she is pitted up against Speaker Todd Richardson, whose name has been floated. Although Jason Kander, Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017, was another possible contender for the Democrats until recently, but he sent out a call to fundraise for McCaskill Monday.

This 2016 election was a year of non-incumbent elections and that sentiment may carry over into the U.S. Senate elections in 2017. People like David Wasinger, a lawyer for Wasinger Daming, LC, have shown interest in running. The American Lawyer recognized him as National Litigator of the Week for his landmark and historic work on cases involving the country’s financial crisis.

Another serious contender mentioned for the Republican Party by the panel is Ed Martin, an attorney and former president of the Missouri Eagle Forum. Martin served as chief of staff for Governor Matt Blunt from 2006 until November 2007 and in 2013, he was elected as Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.

The question of unlimited finances in Missouri elections may also play a part in who ends up running. For some people like Wasinger, this regulation would not cause any issues but for those who can’t fund their own races fully, smaller contributions would be the key to their successful race. With political campaigns lasting up to a year or more that’s a year that the possible candidates are spending money which means a full year of being under a microscope.

Other potential candidates include multiple Missouri congressmen, especially Rep. Ann Wagner, but also Rep. Sam Graves and Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s names have been floated as potential candidates.