GOP Senator Boy Blunt bails

And another one bites the dust. U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, Missouri Republican, said he will not run for office in 2022. He has been mildly critical of former President Donald Trump about coronavirus vaccines, but has voted with Republicans on almost all issues. He cited his long record on getting re-elected to political offices.

Four other Republican Senators have also announced they are not seeking reelection in 2022: Rob Portman, Ohio. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania. Richard Burr, North Carolina. Richard Shelby, Alabama.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander challenged Blunt in 2016. After the November election, Abe Rakov, Kander’s longtime aide, stated, “We are not one cycle away. This is what you do for the next 10 years”.

In November, 2016, while Trump won Missouri by 19 points, Blunt won reelection by 3 points over Kander. Blunt attracted the fewest Republican votes statewide.

I think the Missouri voters are indicating that there needs to be a change in the Senate, which may also point to a Democrat winning the next Senate election. Certainly, Blunt’s announcement will have the Democrats looking at who might be able to win Missouri Senator race in 2022.