Eric Schmitt in 2022 MO Senate race
On Abortion:
Reinstate rule banning abortion referrals with federal funds
Schmitt announced Missouri would join a lawsuit against the Biden administration that would seek to reinstate a federal rule imposed during the Trump administration regarding abortions. The Biden administration had peeled back a
2019 rule that banned federally funded family planning clinics from referring patients for abortions. It also required family planning clinics receiving federal funds to remain financially and physically separate from abortion providers.
Source: KCUR 89.3 FM (NPR) on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Nov 4, 2021
On Abortion:
Appealed abortion decision, asks to overturn Roe v. Wade
Schmitt said he filed a request for the nation's highest court to hear arguments on a 2019 state law that bans abortions as soon as eight weeks into pregnancy and also prohibits abortions based on a Down syndrome diagnosis. Schmitt's court filing says
the Supreme Court should consider whether Missouri's restrictions are "reasonable regulations on abortion" and should also use the case to decide whether to overturn its Roe v. Wade precedent granting a right to abortion.
Source: KMBC 9-ABC News on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Jul 1, 2021
On Civil Rights:
1964 Civil Rights law doesn't protect LGBT people
In August 2019, Schmitt signed on to a brief before the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that federal law does not protect lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals from workplace discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights law.
As the Kansas City Star reported, "The brief, signed by Schmitt, contends federal law prohibits only sex discrimination and the plain meaning of 'sex' is biological status as male or female, not sexual orientation or gender identity.
Source: Riverfront Times on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Apr 1, 2021
On Crime:
Launched Cold Case Unit, testing backlog of rape kits
Eric launched the Safer Streets Initiative, an unprecedented cooperative effort between lawyers in the Attorney General's Office and federal prosecutors to take on violent crime. To address the backlog of untested sexual assault kits,
Eric launched the SAFE Kit initiative to bring justice for Cold Case Unit to obtain justice for victims who have waited far too long.
Source: 2022 Missouri Senate campaign website SchmittForSenate.com
Nov 8, 2021
On Education:
No evidence of increased threats towards school officials
Schmitt signed a letter protesting an Oct. 4 memorandum from Attorney General Merrick Garland that sought to address an increase in hostility and threats toward school officials. As schools reopened this year, reports have emerged describing
intimidation and harassment directed at school board members and other education staff. Schmitt and others said there's no evidence of an increase in threats toward school officials and described the memorandum as an effort to chill free speech.
Source: KCUR 89.3 FM (NPR) on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Nov 4, 2021
On Environment:
Opposes EPA move to increase emissions standards
Schmitt is opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's use of "interim values" to regulate light-duty vehicle emission standards. "The Biden administration's attempts to impose massive federal regulations on Missouri's farmers, ranchers, and
manufacturers could have vast negative impacts. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to use these 'interim values' to increase emissions standards," Schmitt said. "I will always fight back against the Biden administration's overreach."
Source: The Missouri Times on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Oct 1, 2021
On Environment:
Condemns EPA rule as "federal government land grab"
Schmitt in a letter to the Biden administration condemned the Environmental Protection Agency's "federal government land grab" over its decision to revise the Obama-era definition of "waters of the United States"
(WOTUS). "Missouri's farmers and ranchers have been tending to their land for generations. They don't need another federal government land grab threatening their livelihood and ability to make a living," Schmitt said.
Source: FOX News on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Oct 1, 2021
On Gun Control:
Opposed charging couple brandishing guns at BLM protestors
Following form, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has recently capitalized on the McCloskeys' disingenuous turn from terrified personal injury lawyers with a thin understanding of gun safety to righteous defenders of "our civilization."
Spurred by an elevated national profile after he vocally opposed charging the couple for brandishing firearms at innocent people--a crime in the state--Schmitt announced his campaign for Senate.
Source: Jezebel webzine on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Apr 2, 2021
On Principles & Values:
No-show at first Senate debate
Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who last week accused Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine of dodging debates, refused to show up for the first debate of Missouri's U.S. Senate campaign on Friday.
Organized by the Missouri Press Association as part of its annual convention in Lake Ozark, Valentine, the Libertarian Party candidate, and the
Constitution Party candidate shared the stage with an empty lectern that was reserved for Schmitt. [An organizer] said this is only
the second time since 1988 that a major-party candidate has refused to attend one of the organization's debates.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 17, 2022
On Principles & Values:
Filed lawsuit to overturn 2020 election
As Missouri's attorney general, Republican Senate nominee Eric Schmitt supported a December 2020 effort to overturn the election--signing on Missouri to the Texas-led lawsuit that sought to get the Supreme Court to rescind Biden's victory.Schmitt is
running against Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine, a nurse and an heir to the Anheuser-Busch beer fortune, for the open seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. Schmitt's office did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 15, 2022
On Civil Rights:
Enforce Court decision ending college affirmative action
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court struck a blow against institutionally-driven racism in the United States. In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, the Supreme Court found [that colleges with affirmative action admissions] were
impermissibly discriminating against certain applicants based exclusively on their race.While the Court took a big step forward in eliminating racial discrimination in admissions, more work remains to be done. In his remarks in the wake of the
landmark decision, President Biden proposed "a new standard, where colleges take into account the adversity a student has overcome, including racial discrimination that individuals have faced in their own lives."
We call upon the Biden administration
to embrace the Court's holdings: racial discrimination [does not] have any place in schooling. The American people deserve no less than an Executive Branch committed to enforcing the law equally to all people without concern for their race.
Source: Ernst.Senate.Gov press release:for 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 12, 2023
Page last updated: Nov 26, 2023