JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Andrew Bailey secures victory in the Republican primary for Missouri Attorney General over challenger Will Scharf, whose campaign tells FOX 2 he will concede from the race as election results are coming in.
Bailey, appointed to Attorney General in January 2023 after predecessor Eric Schmitt won a U.S. Senate seat, presumably wins nomination to run as the Republican candidate in the November 2024 general election.
Since taking over as attorney general, Bailey has challenged the release of prisoners with overturned convictions, gender-affirming care and ballot initiatives to restore abortion access in Missouri. He has also consistently supported former U.S. president Donald Trump amid his legal proceedings. This is Bailey’s first term for election after his appointment to attorney general in 2023.
Before becoming attorney general, Bailey also had experience as general counsel for Missouri governor Mike Parson, deputy general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections, and in various roles with the U.S. Army.
Scharf, the only opponent to Bailey in the Republican primary, is a former violent crime prosecutor who campaign previously told FOX 2 that it was against the Biden administration and wanted to bring down corrupt politicians.
Elad Jonathan Gross won the Democratic nomination for Missouri attorney general, setting up an election versus Bailey as the Republican candidate this fall. Three Republicans have held the state’s attorney general seat since 2017 with the last two – Schmitt and Josh Hawley – now serving as the state’s U.S. senators. Chris Koster was Missouri’s most recent Democratic attorney general, serving in the role from 2009-2017.
Primary elections are also being held for Missouri’s governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer races.
