Busch beer heiress Valentine vows to hit road in campaign for U.S. Senate | Politics

In her first media interview since she joined a crowded race for U.S. Senate in Missouri, Valentine told the Post-Dispatch she is preparing to begin traveling the state to tell voters about her bid for the Democratic nomination.

“Nurses truly are heroes. I want to bring the heart of a nurse to Washington,” said Valentine, a 64-year-old Clayton resident.

And, having not previously served in elected office, she acknowledged she may be unknown to many of Missouri’s residents.

“I know that I need to start answering and I need to connect with people,” Valentine said. “My plan absolutely is to get out into Missouri and talk to the voters. I’m going to be honest with people and treat them with respect and integrity.”

Valentine is among 11 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. There are 21 Republicans running for the seat currently held by Roy Blunt, who is retiring.

Her entry into the race was a surprise, triggering the exodus of former state Sen. Scott Sifton on the Democratic side and raising the specter that a woman could be on the ticket against scandal-plagued former Republican Gov. Eric Greitens.

Picking a woman to be the Democratic nominee also could help flip the Senate seat if Greitens wins the GOP primary, giving Democrats a win in a state where former President Donald Trump beat Joe Biden by 15 percentage points in 2020.

“I think the fact that I’m not a politician is exactly the type of perspective and experience that people in Missouri are looking for. To me, public office is another form of service. This election, I think, is really about the character of the candidates,” Valentine said.

Valentine, who was raised at the Busch family’s Grant’s Farm, would not say how much of her own fortune she has committed in the run-up to the Aug. 2 primary.

“I’ll have more to say about that later. Right now I’m going to be focused on hearing from the people of Missouri,” Valentine said. “I’m running for the Senate because I want everybody to live their American dream. I’m investing in my campaign because it’s that important to me.”

Valentine is a widowed mother of six and said the death of her eldest son from an opioid overdose in 2020 in part motivated her to run for office.

Valentine said running for the seat was her idea.

“Nobody came and asked me, that’s for sure,” she said.

With inflation continuing to climb in the U.S. and around the world, Valentine said her role in the Senate will be to find solutions. She didn’t offer any specifics Monday, but said it would be a priority.

“Too many people in Missouri are struggling to afford the basic necessities. Families are losing ground and wage gains aren’t keeping up with inflation,” Valentine said.

“I believe the people of Missouri need a senator who will stand up for them and their families and that’s why I’m in this race. We need more compassion and less politics. We need more acts of kindness and less divisions,” Valentine said.

Valentine supports the way Biden has handled the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which includes financial sanctions and offers of weaponry.

“I think President Biden is doing the best he can with the hand he’s been dealt,” Valentine said. “I believe we should do everything we can to stop the devastation over there.”

Busch said she supports abortion rights.

“I respect people’s religious views on this complicated and deeply personal subject. But as a nurse and a mom, I believe women deserve quality and compassionate health care. And that includes women’s care, maternal care and access to contraception and abortion with no shame or stigma,” she said.

And, she said she supports gun rights because she grew up in a family that hunts.

“I believe law-abiding gun owners should be allowed to own guns for hunting and personal protection. I think we can honor our traditions while keeping our communities safe from gun violence with policies like background checks,” Valentine said.

Other Democratic contenders include Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, St. Louis County startup owner Spencer Toder, Kansas City activist Tim Shepard and Air Force veteran Jewel Kelly.

Kunce raised the most of any Missouri Senate candidate as of the end of last year.