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Missouri Senate hopeful Ben Brown on how opposing COVID-19 restrictions helped candidacy

Ben Brown, a Chesterfield Republican who is running for State Senate to replace Sen. Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan), speaks to voters on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, during a campaign stop the day before Missouri’s primary election in Washington, Mo.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Ben Brown won a competitive GOP primary to represent Missouri's 26th Senatorial District, which takes in a portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Ben Brown is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where the Washington native talked about his win in the Republican primary for the 26th Senate District.

Brown beat four other GOP candidates in the race to represent a district that includes part of St. Louis County and all of Franklin, Osage, Warren and Gasconade counties. He will face Democrat John Kiehne in November.

Here’s what Brown, who owns Satchmo’s Bar and Grill in Chesterfield, talked about on the podcast:

  • How his advocacy against COVID-19 restrictions drove him to run for office.
  • His take on how Republicans in the Senate may be able to work more cohesively, now that the Conservative Caucus is disbanding.
  • GOP hopes for the rest of the 2022 election cycle, including making sure that Attorney General Eric Schmitt emerges victorious in the U.S. Senate contest.

Brown is the former chairman of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee. He was also Missouri National Committeeman for the Young Republican National Federation.

Brown came into the public eye in 2020 when he spoke out against St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s COVID-19 restrictions. He was part of a successful lawsuit that substantially curbed the ability of counties to issue health orders.

In 2021, Brown announced his bid to succeed Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, who was unable to run due to term limits.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

Follow Ben Brown on Twitter: @BenBrownTweets

Jason is the politics correspondent for St. Louis Public Radio.
Sarah Kellogg is a Missouri Statehouse and Politics Reporter for St. Louis Public Radio and other public radio stations across the state.