The January 6 panel lawyer who boldly entered the U.S. Senate race at the last minute for Roy Blunt’s seat has withdrawn his bid.
John Wood made clear why he jumped in the race as an Independent shortly before the Aug. 2 primary race.
“While I think I could have beaten Eric Greitens, Missouri no longer faces the risk of Greitens as our next U.S. Senator,” Wood said in a statement. “I made the decision to run for the United States Senate when Eric Greitens was the favorite for the Republican nomination. That would have been unacceptable, embarrassing, and dangerous for my party, my state, and my Country.”
Attorney General Eric Schmitt defeated Vicky Hartzler (R) and former Republican governor Greitens for the Republican nomination.
As previously reported in the St. Louis Record, Wood threw his hat into the ring as an Independent after securing more than 22,000 signatures, but Jean Evans, executive director emeritus of the Missouri Republican Party, didn’t think he had a chance.
“Eric Schmitt is going to get more than 50% of the vote in this election in November,” she said. “He's an excellent candidate. He will do great but bless John Wood because I’ve got to give credit and respect to anybody who puts their name on the ballot. That’s a really hard thing to do and it's a lot of work.”
A former attorney for the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, pro-Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol, Wood was tapped to run by former U.S. Sen. John Danforth (R) of Missouri.
“That might have helped him with some Democrats but I think most Republicans, even those who are done with Trump, which is not a big margin in Missouri, for the most part, still think that the January 6 panel is kind of a joke,” Evans told the St. Louis Record.
Schmitt will face Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine in the general election.
“Many Missourians, as well as Americans across the country, have expressed their support for the noble causes of uniting our Country, defending democracy, and protecting our Constitution,” Wood said.
“While my candidacy is ending, my commitment to these causes endures. I will continue to work in other ways to promote these causes, which are dear to my heart. I hope others who seek elected office will endeavor to set aside the extremist rhetoric that is dividing our Nation and begin the critical work of restoring public trust in our democratic institutions.”