Eric Schmitt has served in the U.S. Senate since 2023 after serving as Missouri’s Attorney General. He built a national profile suing the federal government over COVID mandates, immigration enforcement, and what he framed as social media censorship.
Stylistically, he’s a Republican mainline conservative: hard on border enforcement, loud about regulatory rollback, aligned with “fight the feds” energy on speech and gun rights.
Schmitt leans pro-industry, anti-bureaucracy, and frames most policy fights as Washington vs. Missouri. He’s less performatively populist than Hawley, more “shrink government and let business run.”
Mainstream Conservative
Achievements
- Led high-profile state lawsuits challenging federal COVID-19 vaccine and masking mandates
- Consistent advocate of deregulation, tax relief, and reducing what he calls “DC red tape” on business
- Positioned himself as a defender of free speech against federal pressure on social media moderation
Controversies
- Critics say many of his lawsuits were more about national visibility than Missouri governance
- Accused of chasing culture-war headlines and angling for higher office instead of focusing on local policy complexity
- Faced scrutiny over transparency and outcomes in several AG-era legal settlements
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Conservatives Fund | $113,786 | $103,786 | $10,000 |
| Herzog Contracting | $68,000 | $58,000 | $10,000 |
| Husch Blackwell LLP | $59,035 | $44,535 | $14,500 |
| Enterprise Mobility | $57,915 | $52,915 | $5,000 |
| National Republican Senatorial Cmte | $51,200 | $0 | $51,200 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2022 Margin R +13.5%