As expected:
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) will run against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) next year, he announced today.
"I am today announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate because of my deep concern about the condition of our economy, the debt, and excessive federal spending,” Akin told supporters in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur. “I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from fellow Missourians who share my convictions.”
Akin was elected to the House in 2000, representing the suburban St. Louis 2nd district. The seat was previously held by then-Rep. Jim Talent, who left Congress for an unsuccessful gubernatorial run. Before he entered Congress, Akin served six terms in the Missouri state House of Representatives. He is known as one of the most conservative members of the House.
We'll see if Akin has the ability to pivot from representing his very conservative district to a state that's still red-leaning but less conservative as a whole. At the very least, McCaskill has the Ryan Medicare budget vote in her back pocket, which she can (and should) beat over Akin's head all campaign long. But that's certainly not all. Akin has a long list of craziness on his record, and has even said "I don't like" Social Security. There's more where that came from.
Akin first has to make his way past former Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the primary, and possible wealthy businessman John Brunner. I think most folks would call him the favorite, but as the Post-Dispatch notes, he hasn't run a real campaign in a long time, so this contest could still be up-for-grabs.
As the Post-Dispatch article also points out, the other angle here is Akin's now-open House district. The clown car to replace him had already been filling up with Republican wannabes, even before he announced his new move, and I expect things to only get crazier. This seat also got bluer in redistricting. While I wouldn't necessarily expect it to be competitive, it's possible the general election here could be interesting.
As for the Senate race, though, if it winds up being Akin-McCaskill, it's going to be a titanic battle.
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