Jason Kander Will Run For U.S. Senate in 2016

Columbia, MO – Jason Kander, Missouri’s Secretary of State and a former Army Captain, today announced he is running for United States Senate in 2016. Kander, a fifth-generation Missourian who lives in Columbia with his wife and son, released a video this morning announcing the start of his campaign. In the video, he explains how his parents’ commitment to service inspired him to join the Army after September 11th. He later volunteered to serve in Afghanistan, where he investigated groups and individuals suspected of corruption, espionage, drug trafficking, and facilitating Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

“For years, even with our economy suffering at home and our national security threatened abroad, too many politicians in both political parties have been more concerned with scoring political points than doing what’s right for our country,” Kander said in the announcement video. “We can’t change Washington if we don’t change the people we send there. I believe it’s time for a new generation of leaders who’ve come of age at a time of unprecedented challenges and threats to our country, and who are committed to bringing people together and doing what’s right no matter what the personal cost.”

Kander, who completed his eight-year military career by serving as an instructor in the Missouri Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School at Fort Leonard Wood after returning home from Afghanistan in 2007, was elected Secretary of State in 2012. As Missouri’s Secretary of State, Kander has cut his own budget by over $1 million, while providing more services than the office ever has before. He has worked to cut red tape and fees to help small businesses hire and thrive, protected the right to vote, and got tens of millions of dollars for taxpayers when he took on the Wall Street firms that helped cause the 2008 financial crisis.

Kander previously served as a state legislator representing Kansas City, where he worked with Republicans and Democrats to balance the budget each year without raising taxes, and took on both parties to pass the first major ethics reform in almost 20 years. He also helped turn Missouri’s once weak human trafficking laws into among the country’s strongest.

St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones will serve as Kander’s campaign treasurer, and he has been endorsed by all of his fellow Democratic statewide elected officials in Missouri: U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Governor Jay Nixon, Attorney General Chris Koster and Treasurer Clint Zweifel.

“There is no stronger candidate in Missouri to take on Senator Blunt than Jason Kander. And no one better to fight on behalf of Missouri's working families,” U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill said.

“Washington can use some common sense from Missouri, and I can’t think of a better person to change the mentality there than Jason Kander.  He volunteered to serve our country in Afghanistan and did so with great distinction, and has taken on important issues in our state like fighting for campaign finance and ethics reform, protecting survivors of domestic violence, and standing up for his fellow veterans. I look forward to working to help elect him the next United States Senator from Missouri,” Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said.

“Every day, Jason Kander uses the lessons he learned serving in the Army in Afghanistan to do what’s right for Missouri. He doesn’t care who gets credit for an idea, he just wants to get the job done for our state. We need that approach in Washington, which is why I am supporting Jason Kander for United States Senate,” Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said.

“Jason has done a great job protecting investors from fraud and standing up for voting rights. He has worked to make government more efficient and transparent for Missourians,” Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel said.

“As our Secretary of State, Jason Kander has worked hard to cut red tape and make it easier to do business in Missouri, protect seniors from financial scams, and advocate for open and honest government. I’m proud to support Jason for United States Senate because I know he will work as hard as he can every day for St. Louis and Missouri,” St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones said.

Kander’s announcement video can be found at www.jasonkander.com/announcement.