Missouri U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler launches Senate campaign

Roy Blunt is still currently a sitting United States senator from Missouri. A Republican, he's one of the Senate's most prominent members. He was one of the most powerful members of the United States House of Representatives in the past. Including serving as majority whip and acting majority leader.

Blunt has announced his intention to retire from the Senate. The seat he holds is next slated to be up for election in 2022.

As might be expected, a variety of candidates have launched campaigns to succeed Blunt. The list now includes Vicky Hartzler.

She announced her candidacy in the Republican primary

Vicky Hartzler is running for the Republican nomination for the 2022 U.S. Senate election. Hartzler is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. She represents Missouri's 4th District.

Hartzler becomes at least the fifth candidate to announce a campaign in the Republican primary for the seat. She has a reputation for being affiliated with the right-wing of the Republican Party. Something that she seemed to embrace in the campaign launch announcement.

Which, as reported by The Hill, was recorded as a shooting range.

Other candidates vying for the nomination include Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and disgraced former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. Many other Republicans may yet also enter the race. As indicated by CNN, some of Hartzler's U.S. House colleagues could be among them. Including Representatives Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason Smith, and Ann Wagner.

Several candidates have also launched campaigns in the Democratic primary. But, generally speaking, the future Republican nominee is heavily favored over their Democratic counterpart in 2022. A possible exception could be if Greitens, with noted scandals attached to his name, secures the nomination.

Some onlookers believe that might make the race more competitive than it otherwise would be.

Hartzler is a former state representative

Vicky Hartzler, maiden name Zellmer, is a graduate of Missouri and the University of Central Missouri. Before going into politics, she was a high school teacher.

She was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1994 and would be re-elected twice. After leaving the House, she was appointed as the chair of the Missouri Women's Council. Hartzler was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt, son of Roy Blunt.

In 2010, she was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Then, in the general election, she toppled longtime Democratic incumbent Ike Skelton.

Skelton was chair of the House Armed Services Committee at the time of his defeat. She has been re-elected five times since then, all of them by wide margins.

Hartzler's district currently includes Columbia and part of Kansas City. However, when she first took office, the district reached other areas, including Jefferson City.