Missouri
Long-awaited I-70 expansion project begins near Columbia
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening hedged his endorsement in the Republican primary for Missouri governor, pledging his support to all three major candidates.
The decision, which Trump announced just before 7:30 p.m. on his social media platform, Truth Social, comes amid a tight race for governor between Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Sen. Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring.
“All have had excellent careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!” Trump wrote in the post. “I can’t hurt two of them by Endorsing one so, therefore, I’m going to Endorse, for Governor of the Great State of Missouri, Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel. Choose any one of them – You can’t go wrong!”
The split decision allows each of the candidates, who have long fought for Trump’s support, to claim his endorsement before the Aug. 6 primary election. It also gives the former president the opportunity to claim victory no matter which candidate wins.
Each candidate quickly seized on the endorsement. Ashcroft was the first, saying he was “excited to stand with” Trump.
“No one has fought harder for President Trump than me,” Ashcroft posted on social media. “Thank you President Trump!”
Eigel posted that he was grateful for “the kind words” and endorsement. He followed up by posting a graphic touting the endorsement and promising to “deport every illegal” as Republicans attempt to draw attention to illegal immigration ahead of the election.
Kehoe also thanked Trump, saying he looked forward to working with Trump “as we close the wide-open southern border, back our police, and stand strong for our conservative values.”
Trump’s post marked the second time the former president has hedged his endorsement in Missouri. In the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Trump backed “ERIC,” without specifying whether he was supporting then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt or former Gov. Eric Greitens. Schmitt went on to win the primary and the general election.
Trump, who is running for president, has loomed over Republican primary races across the country. Missouri Republicans have battled to demonstrate loyalty and support to the former president, including making immigration a central focus of their campaigns.
Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, previously told The Star that each candidate for governor would try to earn an endorsement from Trump.
“The best case scenario he’s supporting you, worst case scenario he’s supporting somebody else,” she said at the time. “So you’re trying to stem that off, but I would imagine all three of them have some attempts to meet with Trump.”
Publicly available polling has consistently shown a tight race between Kehoe and Ashcroft at the top, followed by Eigel in third.
Trump, in his post, said he loved Missouri “for every reason in the book, including the fact that it is ‘loaded up’ with truly GREAT people.”
“I also like Endorsing Candidates for Office if I think they’re good, and usually there is a differentiation, usually a big one, where it is not that difficult to do,” he said. “But Missouri has three great people running for Governor – Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel.”
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade and businessman Mike Hamra, both from Springfield, are the two major Democratic candidates running for governor.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Missouri 6-year-old lost his life after a tragic boating accident on Table Rock Lake over the weekend.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates that just after 11:10 a.m. on Friday, July 26, emergency crews were called to a cove in Table Rock Lake south of Hollister with reports of a fatal boat collision.
When first responders arrived, they said they found a 6-year-old from Carthage, Mo., had been riding a kneeboard behind a 1999 Maxum open motorboat driven by Bethany L. Roy, 31, of Carthage, in Clevenger Cove on Table Rock Lake.
State Troopers noted that the child fell from the kneeboard and Roy attempted to return to him, however, the child, who was in a life vest, swam toward the rear of the boat and was caught by its propeller while still in reverse.
First responders said the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. No further information has been released.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
STEELE, Mo. (KFVS) – A small earthquake was recorded in southeast Missouri early Saturday morning, July 27.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 2.5 earthquake registered 3.6 miles east northeast of Steele, Mo. at 3:08 a.m.
The quake had a depth of around 5.8 miles.
To learn more about the earthquake or to report feeling it, click here.
Copyright 2024 KFVS. All rights reserved.
Sonya Massey death brings fresh heartache to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd activists
Newsom urges Oakland officials to tighten 'extreme' policy that restricts police chases
Minnesota boy, 3, not expected to survive after attack by pit bulls
Kamala Harris to attend Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's funeral in Texas
On this day in history, Adam Walsh disappeared from department store, marking start of 27-year case
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Sonya Massey death brings fresh heartache to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd activists
Vance rips Harris for questioning his loyalty to America: 'What the hell have you done?'
Paris Olympics: The best (and the worst) of the first medal day
Harris calls herself an underdog with momentum during a fundraiser speech
Pollster finds 'astounding change' in Democratic electorate since Harris' ascension
-
Midwest1 week agoMichigan rep posts video response to Stephen Colbert's joke about his RNC speech: 'Touché'
-
News1 week agoVideo: Young Republicans on Why Their Party Isn’t Reaching Gen Z (And What They Can Do About It)
-
News1 week agoRNC speakers want to separate the president from the person to show softer side of Trump
-
News1 week agoVideo: J.D. Vance Accepts Vice-Presidential Nomination
-
Politics1 week agoFox News Politics: The Call is Coming from Inside the House
-
World1 week agoCivilians try to pick up daily life in Ukraine's East
-
World1 week agoTrump to take RNC stage for first speech since assassination attempt
-
World1 week agoFreshers' week in Strasbourg for new EU lawmakers