ST. LOUIS–Roughly a week after leaving his job as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri, a former federal prosecutor declared himself a candidate for statewide office in 2024.
Will Scharf, a former associate at the Bryan Cave law firm in St. Louis who later served as Policy Director for former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens before joining the Department of Justice in 2020, announced Wednesday that he’s set up an exploratory committee for a statewide run but didn’t identify which office.
“Our freedoms, liberty, and constitutional rights are in peril, now more than ever before in our lifetimes,” Scharf said in a news release announcing the formation of an election committee. “Now is not the time to compromise or cut deals with the woke left. Missourians deserve leadership that will stand up for them against federal overreach, special interests, and political insiders. Missourians deserve leaders who will fight for what’s right.”
Scharf is working with Axiom Strategies, the political consulting firm founded by GOP strategist Jeff Roe, which worked to get Attorney General Eric Schmitt elected to the U.S. Senate. Since leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office, Scharf has been doing local and national media interviews talking about crime and law enforcement issues, and has also been more active on social media talking about criminal justice matters
He was seen as a potential nominee for Attorney General in the event Schmitt won the U.S. Senate race, but a source confirms Missouri Gov. Mike Parson didn’t interview him for the post, which went to Parson’s General Counsel Andrew Bailey.
Bailey plans to run for the post in 2024 and will have Parson’s backing in the endeavor. When asked during his introduction if he was prepared for a potential primary challenge, Bailey said he was “prepared for anything that comes my way…I’ve never backed down from a fight. I’m battle-tested and I’m ready for this.”
Parson, who has said he will not be a candidate for any office in 2024, has yet to announce a nominee for State Treasurer, to succeed Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican who won the State Auditor’s race in November. Assuming Parson appoints a Republican to replace him, the GOP will hold all statewide offices heading into the 2024 cycle.
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is already collecting endorsements in the race for Governor. Current Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has already said he will not seek a new term in the office and is widely believed to be a candidate for Governor. State Sen. Bill Eigel is also exploring a gubernatorial bid.
