Government, Politics & Issues

Photos: Schmitt, Busch Valentine capture voters in Missouri's U.S. Senate primary

St. Louis Public Radio | By Brian Munoz

Published August 3, 2022 at 1:49 PM CDT

Missouri Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Eric Schmitt's supporters watch primary results roll in on Tuesday during an election watch party at the Westport Sheraton Chalet in Maryland Heights. — Supporters of Missouri Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Eric Schmitt watch primary results roll in on Tuesday during an election watch party at the Westport Sheraton Chalet in Maryland Heights.

A crowded field of candidates for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat narrowed to two on Tuesday night: Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Anheuser-Busch heiress and nurse Trudy Busch Valentine.

Schmitt took the Republican ticket — beating former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler— while Busch Valentine clinched the Democratic nomination, defeating military veteran Lucas Kunce. Missouri voters will decide who will replace Sen. Roy Blunt in the U.S. Senate seat in November.

Below are scenes from election night for the 2022 Missouri U.S. Senate primary.

Brian Munoz — Patty Meyers, 62, and Herbert Baumann, 65, both of Ballwin, watch election results on Tuesday during a primary election watch party for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt at the Westport Sheraton in Maryland Heights.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt gives his victory speech after being nominated as the GOP candidate for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, during a primary election watch party at the Westport Sheraton in Maryland Heights. — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt gives his victory speech after being nominated as the GOP candidate for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday at the Westport Sheraton in Maryland Heights.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt waves to the crowd alongside his daughter Sophia, wife Jaime, and youngest daughter Olivia, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, after winning the GOP nomination for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat at the Westport Sheraton in Maryland Heights. — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt waves to the crowd alongside his daughter, Sophia; wife, Jaime; and youngest daughter, Olivia, on Tuesday.

Eric Greitens, former Missouri Governor, gives his concession speech in the race for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday Aug. 2, 2022, at a campaign watch party in Chesterfield, Mo. — Eric Greitens, former Missouri governor, talks to his supporters on Tuesday at a campaign watch party in Chesterfield after the Associated Press called the race for Attorney General Eric Schmitt.

Supporters of Trudy Busch Valentine, Democrat running for U.S. Senate, cheer after won the Missouri’s Primary election at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36. on Tuesday August 2, 2022. — Supporters of Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat, celebrate the brewery heiress’ primary victory on Tuesday at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis.

Trudy Busch Valentine, Democrat running for U.S. Senate, gives a speech after winning in the Missouri’s Primary election on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36. — Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat, reacts while giving a speech after winning the primary election on Tuesday at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis.

Supporters watch Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat, celebrate capturing the primary nomination on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, during a watch party at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis. — Supporters watch Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat, celebrate capturing her primary victory at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis.

Trudy Busch Valentine, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, celebrates with supporters on Tuesday August 2, 2022, after winning Missouri's Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36. — Trudy Busch Valentine, Democrat running for U.S. Senate, throws a thumbs-up after giving a victory speech on Tuesday night at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis.

Supporters for Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat, celebrate after she captured the primary nomination on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, during a watch party at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis. — Supporters of Trudy Busch Valentine celebrate after she captured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday during a watch party at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36 in south St. Louis.

Trudy Busch Valentine, Democrat running for U.S. Senate, celebrates with supporters after winning in the Missouri’s Primary election at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36. on Tuesday August 2, 2022. — Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat, celebrates with supporters Tuesday night at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local Union No. 36.

Brian Munoz is a staff photojournalist and multimedia reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. You can reach him by email at bmunoz@stlpr.org and follow his work on Instagram and Twitter at @brianmmunoz.

Theo Welling is a freelance photojournalist based in St. Louis. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @TheoRWelling.