Trump rides fence again in Missouri gubernatorial “endorsement”

July 29, 2024 | By JASON HANCOCK MISSOURI INDEPENDENT

Former President Donald Trump had no problem offering endorsements to Congresswoman Mary Miller (pictured with Trump) or to Congressman Mike Bost, but when it comes to picking favorites in Missouri races, he can't seem to make up his mind. MRN FILE PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump’s coveted endorsement in the Missouri GOP gubernatorial primary finally arrived Saturday night, with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and state Sen. Bill Eigel forced to share the honor.

All three quickly crowed to supporters about Trump’s endorsement, never mentioning the fact that it was split three ways.

“All have had excellent careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. “I can’t hurt two of them by Endorsing one so, therefore, I’m going to Endorse, for Governor of the Great State of Missouri, Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel. Choose any one of them – You can’t go wrong!”

Trump took a similar step in 2022, when he endorsed “Eric” in the U.S. Senate race instead of choosing between the race’s GOP frontrunners, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens.

Schmitt went on to win the seat.

Eigel was out quickly with a statement, proclaiming that he’d won the endorsement.

“Grateful for the kind words and endorsement, President Trump,” Eigel posted on social media.

Kehoe was next, saying in a press release that now that his campaign has Trump’s endorsement, “we’ll unite conservatives across Missouri and have a great victory in November, but we first need to win on Aug. 6.”

Ashcroft took a slightly different tack, posting on social media that he was the only candidate in the race for governor who has been endorsed by both Trump and Missouri Right to Life.

Trump easily won Missouri’s 10 electoral votes in both 2016 and 2020, and is expected to win the state again this fall.