ST. LOUIS (AP) — Democrats are feeling bullish about their possibilities for an upset in Missouri’s U.S. Senate race if scandal-tarred former Gov. Eric Greitens turns into the Republican nominee. However they’re divided on which of their two prime candidates is the very best guess for a victory in November.
Lucas Kunce brings a Marine swagger and a grassroots populism that appeals to some, significantly in outstate Missouri. He is raised extra money than every other candidate, Democrat or Republican, every of the final 4 quarters. Trudy Busch Valentine, a retired well being care employee and an inheritor to the Anheuser-Busch fortune, entered the race late, pledging to take compassion and decency to Washington.
With the Aug. 2 major simply days away, Greitens stays among the many prime contenders on the Republican aspect, together with Legal professional Normal Eric Schmitt and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler. Republican leaders, together with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, fear that Greitens, who was pushed from workplace only a yr and a half into his tenure amid swirling investigations, may price them a protected seat in a reliably crimson state at a time when they’re making an attempt to take again management of the Senate.
On the Democratic aspect, each the state occasion and the Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee have declined to endorse a candidate. In the meantime, native Democratic Occasion leaders who help Kunce or Valentine say electability is a significant component – however they’re cut up on who’s the stronger candidate.
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In suburban St. Louis, the Jefferson County Democratic Central Committee endorsed Valentine, believing the soft-spoken retired nurse affords the very best probability of successful in November.
Committee Chair Bob Butler is equal elements intrigued and anxious concerning the prospect of Valentine dealing with Greitens.
“He can be the best to run towards, but on the identical time he’s harmful sufficient that, if he wins, he’s your U.S. senator, and that’s actually scary,” Butler stated.
Andy Leighton, chair of the Cape Girardeau County Democratic Committee and a Missouri Home candidate, helps Kunce. Kunce made his pitch to Leighton and his committee nicely over a yr in the past and has usually adopted up. The Valentine marketing campaign, Leighton stated, has by no means reached out to him.
“He’s been out and about. No different candidate that I’m conscious of has visited so many locations. He’s put within the time and created a company,” Leighton stated.
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Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt introduced in March 2021 that he wouldn’t search a 3rd time period. Twenty-one Republicans and 11 Democrats are competing in subsequent week’s primaries. Past Kunce and Valentine, solely St. Louis County enterprise proprietor Spencer Toder has topped six figures in donations.
Including a wildcard to the November race is the presence of John Wooden, a Republican working as an impartial with tens of millions of {dollars} in help from a political motion committee headed by former Republican Sen. John Danforth. His presence may cut up the GOP vote within the basic election.
Greitens has generated far and away probably the most consideration within the race. The 48-year-old former Navy SEAL officer was a fast-rising Republican star after successful the 2016 gubernatorial race, however his political fortunes quickly nosedived.
In early 2018, he admitted to a 2015 extramarital affair along with his hairdresser and was indicted on an invasion-of-primary cost accusing him of taking a compromising photograph of her to make use of as blackmail.
Quickly after, a Missouri Home committee started investigating his marketing campaign funds, and Greitens was charged with a second felony associated to that investigation. Each expenses have been finally dropped. Below the danger of the costs being refiled and dealing with potential impeachment, Greitens resigned in June 2018.
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Since then, he and his spouse have divorced. In a March affidavit in a baby custody dispute, Sheena Greitens accused him of abusing her and one in all their kids. Eric Greitens known as the accusations “false” and a “political hit job.”
Kunce, like Greitens, is a veteran. The 39-year-old lawyer served 13 years within the Marines, with excursions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He grew up in a working class household in Jefferson Metropolis and recalled his household struggling to make ends meet after his sister was born with a coronary heart situation.
“We went bankrupt, and we made it as a result of individuals in that neighborhood introduced meals by the home, they handed the plate down my mother’s prayer group,” Kunce stated.
Valentine, 65, is a longtime philanthropist however has by no means earlier than run for workplace. She is the daughter of August “Gussie” Busch Jr., the longtime chair and CEO of Anheuser-Busch who constructed the St. Louis-based brewery into the world’s largest beermaker. The brewery was offered to InBev in 2008, however the Busch household stays distinguished in St. Louis.
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Valentine stated she determined to enter the race after witnessing the “division in our nation and the vitriol in our politics.”
For greater than a century, Missouri was a dependable presidential swing state. However since 2008, the state has backed the Republican presidential candidate, together with overwhelmingly backing Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Auditor Nicole Galloway is at present the lone Democrat holding statewide workplace, regardless of 5 of the eight statewide elected officers being Democrats a decade in the past.
The divide is deep. Missouri’s two city facilities — Kansas Metropolis and St. Louis — are overwhelmingly Democratic. The suburbs are cut up. Many of the remainder of the state is beet-red Republican.
Valentine stated Democrats have misplaced floor in rural Missouri as a result of they “stopped listening” to individuals. She stresses the necessity for higher entry to fundamentals — broadband entry, well being care, jobs.
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Kunce, like Senate candidate John Fetterman in Pennsylvania, is a populist hoping to win again rural voters. He desires to ban inventory possession for members of Congress, break up company monopolies and finish overseas possession of agricultural land. He stated the federal government ought to spend cash to rebuild the heartland, to not construct up overseas nations.
Each main Democrats have hit roadblocks. Some Democrats surprise if Kunce is just too conservative, noting that he opposed abortion rights when he ran for a state Home seat in 2006. He stated he modified his thoughts after serving within the navy within the Center East, “seeing what it was prefer to stay in a big-brother authorities the place girls had no rights.”
Valentine was compelled to apologize in March after it was reported that she participated in a debutante ball as a teen that was hosted by a company that then banned Black and Jewish individuals.
Democrats know that the winner of the first faces an uphill battle in November. However they’re hopeful, significantly if Greitens is the Republican candidate.
“He’s received loads of baggage — loads of baggage,” Butler stated. “Greater than you usually see in a candidate. I believe he would flip off loads of Republicans.”
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and Amar Johnson ran for two touchdowns and South Dakota State overwhelmed Missouri State 45-9 on Saturday and claimed a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.
With the win and North Dakota State’s loss to South Dakota, the Bison, Coyotes and Jackrabbits (10-2, 7-1) all secure a three-way tie for the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.
Missouri State (8-4, 6-2) entered averaging 37 points per game.
It was Missouri State’s final game as a Missouri Valley Football Conference member before joining Conference USA and the FBS ranks in 2025. Missouri State kicks off next season on Aug. 30 when it travels to Southern Cal.
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football has one last chance to win a home SEC game today.
The Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6 SEC) are hosting Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday (3:15 p.m., SEC Network). Their only two wins have been in nonconference play.
The Tigers have been in and out of the national polls but are unranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll this week after losing at South Carolina.
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Follow along here for live score updates.
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Mississippi State vs Missouri score updates
Davon Booth scampered for a 43-yard rushing touchdown, putting him over 100 yards for the second game in a row and keeping MSU within striking distance with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers controlled possession for 8 minutes, 46 seconds before kicking a field goal.
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Kyle Ferrie chipped in a 26-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the half after an MSU touchdown was erased because of a holding penalty.
The Tigers have scored three touchdowns in three straight drives, this time Marcus Carroll’s second touchdown of the first half.
Brady Cook connected with Luther Burden III for a 28-yard touchdown catch with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter.
After the Tigers committed 30 yards worth of penalties on one play, Michael Van Buren Jr. found Jordan Mosely for an 11-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
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Marcus Carroll scored a 2-yard touchdown with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter.
Michael Van Buren Jr. fumbled and Mizzou returned it 70 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 to play in the first quarter.
Davon Booth broke a 33-yard run before Kyle Ferrie connected on a 38-yard field goal with 11:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou time today
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Location: Davis Wade Stadium
What channel is Mississippi State vs Missouri game on today?
TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe today)
Radio: MSU Sports Network and Sirius XM channel 374
Mississippi State versus Missouri will be broadcast on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour will be on the call with analyst Matt Stinchcomb and sideline reporter Alyssa Lang. Streaming is available on ESPN+.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou history
Series record: Tied 2-2
Mississippi State’s last win: 2020 (51-32)
Missouri’s last win: 1984 (47-30)
Mississippi State vs Missouri predictions
Missouri 37, Mississippi State 20: The Bulldogs are allowing 41 points per game in SEC play, and it’s difficult to see Missouri not having the same level of success. Expect big days from Luther Burden III and/or Theo Wease Jr., plus running back Nate Noel as MSU loses another game by double digits.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Spread: Missouri -9
Over/under: 57.5
Moneyline: Missouri -330/Mississippi State +285
Mississippi State vs Missouri injury updates
Mississippi State reported no new injuries this week, but will be without wide receiver Mario Craver due to a suspension. Missouri starting quarterback Brady Cook was probable but removed from the report on Friday.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou weather update
According to AccuWeather, it will be 61 degrees at kickoff with 6 mph winds and a 0% chance of rain.
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Mississippi State football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (56-7, W)
Sept. 7: at Arizona State (30-23, L)
Sept. 14: vs. Toledo (41-17, L)
Sept. 21: vs. Florida (45-28, L)
Sept. 28: at Texas (35-13, L)
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Oct. 12: at Georgia (41-31, L)
Oct. 19: vs. Texas A&M (34-24, L)
Oct. 26: vs. Arkansas (58-25, L)
Nov. 2: vs. UMass (45-20, W)
Nov. 9: at Tennessee (33-14, L)
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Nov. 23: vs. Missouri
Nov. 29: at Ole Miss
Buy Mississippi State football tickets this season with StubHub
Missouri football 2024 schedule
Aug. 29: vs. Murray State (51-0, W)
Sept. 7: vs. Buffalo (38-0, W)
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Sept. 14: vs. Boston College (27-21, W)
Sept. 21: vs. Vanderbilt (30-27, W)
Oct. 5: at Texas A&M (41-10, L)
Oct. 12: at UMass (45-3, W)
Oct. 19: vs. Auburn (21-17, W)
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Oct. 26: at Alabama (34-0, L)
Nov. 9: vs. Oklahoma (30-23, W)
Nov. 16: at South Carolina (34-30, L)
Nov. 23: at Mississippi State
Nov. 30: vs. Arkansas
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Mississippi State football news
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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Former Utah Tech University President Richard “Biff” Williams will keep his new job in Missouri, which he stepped into about six months after he resigned here while under investigation for misconduct.
The governing board at Missouri State University voted unanimously Friday during a closed session to support Williams and continue to have him lead the school despite the allegations that have drawn widespread attention.
The decision comes, too, after the Faculty Senate at Missouri State took a vote of no-confidence in Williams’ leadership the day before. The school’s Board of Governors said in a statement released to The Salt Lake Tribune that it considered that faculty resolution before deciding to stand by Williams.
“This decision was made after thoughtful consideration of the viewpoints heard from all constituencies,” the board said. “Missouri State University has very high expectations for our leaders personally and professionally, and President Williams is working with the board on actions that he will take as part of his commitment to strengthening relationships across our campus community.”
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The school did not provide details on what those actions from Williams will include.
Williams has already apologized to the Missouri State community for the attention the allegations from Utah have brought there. But he has not apologized to the Utah Tech campus.
The Faculty Senate at Utah Tech also passed a no-confidence resolution Thursday, noting that omission and saying that members are concerned with how school leaders responded to the accusations against Williams.
Those first came to light in a lawsuit filed earlier this month. Three employees — Utah Tech attorneys Becky Broadbent and Jared Rasband, as well as Title IX Director Hazel Sainsbury — said in their filing that the university has a toxic culture that stems from the top and was often encouraged by Williams. Their efforts to address it, they say, were ignored or mocked.
It culminated in November 2023 when Williams gave what he’s since acknowledged he meant as a gag gift to a member of his Cabinet after the man had surgery. It was vegetables made to look like male genitalia, alongside a note wishing the man a speedy recovery.
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Only Williams didn’t sign the note from himself. Instead, he used the names of Broadbent, Rasband and Sainsbury. When they tried to report that, their lawsuit says, they faced further retaliation and harassment.
Meanwhile, Williams quietly stepped down two months after they reported, saying he planned “to pursue other professional opportunities” after a decade at the helm of Utah Tech. He continued to receive pay from the school for six months until he started in Missouri. He was inaugurated there last month.
Williams told students, according to reporting by the Springfield Daily Citizen, after the lawsuit came out that the board at Missouri did not know about the allegations prior to hiring them because the Title IX process is private.
However, Williams says he personally told the board chair shortly after he was selected as the next president there. He has also denied some of the allegations included in the lawsuit.
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