Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is banking on big-name endorsements, fundraising and conservative positions to win the Aug. 2 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.
During an episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Hartzler said she has the experience both in life and in politics to stand out from the pack. That includes working as a teacher, a farmer, a small-business owner and a member of Congress representing the state鈥檚 sprawling 4th Congressional District.
鈥淚鈥檓 also a wife and a mom and a fighter in Washington who has a track record of getting things done,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what we need right now. We鈥檙e facing multiple crises in our nation: An economic crisis. A border crisis. An energy crisis. A national security crisis. A moral crisis. And these are the things that I have a track record of fighting and passing legislation on on behalf of Missourians.鈥�
Since jumping into the U.S. Senate race last year, Hartzler has been near the top tier of fundraisers and public polling. She鈥檚 received key endorsements from agriculture groups like the Missouri Farm Bureau PAC, former elected officials such as Kit Bond and, most notably, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley.
Some of Hartzler鈥檚 detractors, including Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Billy Long, say this coalescence of support shows how Missouri鈥檚 establishment is trying to rally around Hartzler as an alternative to Greitens. Hartzler dismissed that contention.
鈥淭hese are leaders in Missouri who鈥檝e actually got things done and care about Missourians,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淎nd certainly, I don鈥檛 think anybody could call Josh Hawley establishment. He鈥檚 been in there and making waves, but standing up for Missouri.鈥�
Hartzler generated attention . When asked if that position was alienating voters who support LGBTQ rights, Hartzler said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that is emblematic of the shift in our culture that is frustrating so many Missourians right now. It鈥檚 the lack of common sense all in the name of political wokeness.鈥�
She also gained attention when she said she wouldn鈥檛 support Greitens, who has led in most public opinion polls, if he won the nomination.
鈥淚鈥檓 running to defeat Eric Greitens so we don鈥檛 have that problem,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淭here is a concern that if he wins the primary, we could lose the state. And that would be devastating, because we really do need to take back the majority in the Senate.鈥�
Backs ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Hartzler supports the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Because of that ruling, Missouri banned abortion under most circumstances, including in cases of rape or incest. Hartzler said she supports the new law in Missouri.
鈥淚鈥檓 for life,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淎nd every life is precious no matter how that child was conceived. It deserves to live and it doesn鈥檛 deserve to die. That鈥檚 the reality of abortion."
"It is a life that can contribute to society, maybe find a cure for Alzheimers or who knows?鈥� she added.
But Hartzler doesn鈥檛 see the end of Roe as a precursor to curtail access to contraception or to reverse legalization of same-sex marriage.
鈥淧eople are just focused on life, and that鈥檚 what Roe v. Wade was talking about,鈥� she said.
As for the ruling鈥檚 impact on the upcoming election, Hartzler said it was possible that overturning Roe could motivate voters on both sides of the issue. She said the main impact of the ruling was that it gave back 鈥渢he decision on abortion to the elected representatives.鈥�
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 where it belongs,鈥� Hartzler said.
No on 鈥榬ed flag鈥� gun laws
Last week, President Joe Biden signed legislation that was crafted in response to mass shootings in New York, Texas and elsewhere. Among other things, it provides money to states with so-called red flag laws 鈥� which seek to take away guns from people who are a danger to themselves or others. It also directs money to help mental health programs around the country.
Hartzler voted against the legislation, primarily because she does not support red flag laws.
鈥淭he thing that caused me to ultimately vote no is because I thought the red flag provisions do violate our constitutional rights,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淎s well as the 18- to 21-year-old extra scrutiny for them, it鈥檚 just disparate from other ages. I think it鈥檚 discriminatory toward them. When you鈥檙e talking about taking away somebody鈥檚 right, I think it meets a high bar you have to pass constitutionally. And it didn鈥檛 do that.鈥�
With her no vote, Hartzler voted differently than the person she鈥檚 running to succeed in the Senate 鈥� Roy Blunt. He
Hartzler, though, said while those provisions are laudable, they aren鈥檛 enough for her to support the legislation.
Reducing government spending
With inflation a big concern among voters, Hartzler said she would support reducing federal governmental spending.
She criticized the American Rescue Plan Act, which, among other things, provided stimulus checks to taxpayers and financial relief to state and local governments. And she also voted against legislation pumping in more money for infrastructure, like roads and public transit.
鈥淲e need to quit spending money,鈥� Hartzler said. 鈥淪econdly, we need to address the supply chain issue. Because the definition of inflation is too many dollars chasing too few goods. So it's been a double whammy.鈥�
Increased energy production
Hartzler supports issuing more permits for energy production throughout the country. She criticized Biden for pulling the plug on the Keystone XL pipeline, though that project wouldn鈥檛 have been completed yet.
鈥淲hy would we shut that off and turn to other countries that don鈥檛 even share our values?鈥� Hartzler said.
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