Missouri's Republican U.S. Senate candidates set to debate in Springfield this week

Candidates in Missouri's U.S. Senate Republican primary will gather in Springfield for a debate Tuesday night.

Former Gov. Eric Greitens, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz and Mark McCloskey have been invited to the Oasis Convention Center at 7 p.m.

Long, Schatz and McCloskey have confirmed they are attending the event, the Greene County Republican Central Committee told supporters in an email Tuesday morning.

The debate marks one of the first times the competitive GOP field aiming to succeed U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt will share a stage together and be able to directly respond to each others' rhetoric and policy stances.

Springfield attorney Ginger Gooch and former Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore will moderate the debate, which is hosted by the Greene County Republican Central Committee's TARGET fundraising arm. Tickets to attend in person are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

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The high-profile primary field has still yet to produce a clear frontrunner.

Hartzler, who represents parts of western and mid-Missouri in the U.S. House, touts an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, soon to be the Show-Me State's senior senator. Schmitt has been at or near the top of fundraising, and has put focus on his frequent lawsuits against school districts over COVID-19 restrictions. Greitens, who has been accused by his ex-wife Sheena of abuse in court, boasts high name recognition among voters after his time in the governor's mansion, which ended in his resignation in 2018.

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The deciding factor could be an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who remains the most powerful voice in Republican politics and has not yet backed a candidate. He has expressed interest in the race, though — he's put out an informal statement about Long, has reportedly privately weighed whether to back Greitens and has hosted Schmitt at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser. It's not certain that he'll end up endorsing at all.

The winner of the August primary will face the Democratic nominee from a field that includes Lucas Kunce, Trudy Busch Valentine and Spencer Toder.

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield debate Tuesday for Republican candidates in Senate primary