Tagged: U.S. Senate

Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich has decided not to enter the Republican race against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Schweich said in a statement Tuesday that he determined his candidacy would have made the Republican Senate primary more contentious, and thus would not have helped Republican chances of defeating McCaskill in November.

The Senate race already includes three prominent Republicans - former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin and businessman John Brunner.

Updated 12:11 p.m. with statement from Neal Ethridge, Springfield businessman and former chairman of the 7th District Congressional Republican Committee

A Springfield-area defense attorney who was the treasurer of Tom Schweich's successful run for auditor in 2010 has filed documents with the Internal Revenue Service to form a committee supporting Schweich for Senate.

Updated 6:10 p.m. with reporting from the St. Louis Beacon's Rob Koenig.

Overcoming a late surge of tea party backing for his opponent, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., was elected to the No. 5 Senate leadership post Tuesday in a close vote that pitted an experienced GOP leader against an "outsider" businessman.