St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey, who gained national attention when he pointed a gun at protesters walking by his home, announced Tuesday he鈥檚 running for the U.S. Senate.
鈥淧eople are just sick of it,鈥� McCloskey said of current elected officials. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want any more posers and egotists and career politicians going to D.C. All we hear is talk. And nothing ever changes.鈥�
McCloskey made those comments on Tucker Carlson鈥檚 show on Fox News. He joins former Gov. Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt as announced GOP candidates, along with at least five Democrats.
In a web video that was sent to 漏 2024 外网天堂 before he went on Carlson鈥檚 show, McCloskey contended that he wouldn鈥檛 鈥渂ack down鈥� from a raft of liberal adversaries.
鈥淲hen was the last time a politician defended you?鈥� McCloskey said in the video. 鈥淒efended America? Stood between you and the mob? We need defenders. But all we get is dividers. Every day they teach us to hate each other: Left versus right. Black versus white. Rich versus poor. This is a tactic to destroy us.鈥�
鈥淏ut we are all Americans,鈥� he continued. 鈥淲e are Missourians. Our nation, our state, our homes are worth defending.鈥�
McCloskey could be a formidable contender to succeed Roy Blunt because of the widespread attention that he and his wife, Patricia, received last year.
The McCloskeys were photographed aiming guns at demonstrators who were walking to then-St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson鈥檚 house. Their home is on a private, gated street in the Central West End, and they said they felt their lives and their home were in danger.
They have both pleaded not guilty to felony unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence in felony possession.
While the McCloskeys faced widespread scrutiny after images of them brandishing weapons hit social media, they gained popularity among Republican activists as people who pushed back against demonstrators for police accountability. Both of the McCloskeys spoke at the Republican National Convention, while Mark McCloskey has received a favorable reception at county Lincoln Days in the state.
But some people close to McCloskey's rivals have pointed out that he鈥檚 donated to Democratic candidates in the past, including former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan鈥檚 2016 lieutenant governor bid. That could be why Carlson signaled at the beginning of the segment that McCloskey may have been a Democrat before the protest incident, something that McCloskey pushed back on.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been a Democrat,鈥� McCloskey said. 鈥淭hat was the worst fake news slur that has been hurled at me over the last 10 months. I鈥檝e always been a Republican, but I鈥檝e never been a politician.鈥�
Some Republicans have worried about a crowded primary field, because it may make it more likely that Greitens, who resigned amid scandal, could win. But considering that the McCloskeys are pulling from the same type of voters who may gravitate toward Greitens, it鈥檚 also possible that his entry into the race could compel more people to run 鈥� especially if Missouri adopts a runoff system for statewide elections.
Other potential GOP contenders besides McCloskey, Greitens and Schmitt include U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner, Billy Long, Jason Smith and Vicky Hartzler. State Senate President Dave Schatz and retired businessman John Brunner have also discussed running.
Among the Democrats running are former state Sen. Scott Sifton, Lucas Kunce, Spencer Toder and Tim Shepard. Former Gov. Jay Nixon, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and state Sen. Brian Williams have also been mentioned as potential candidates.
Follow Jason on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
