After 13 years working as a union laborer, Patrick Lewis wanted to have an opportunity to stand up for the working class.
So the Wellsville resident decided to run for U.S. Senator.

Lewis is one of numerous candidates who are running for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat. The other candidates include former Missouri governor Eric Greitens, Mark McCloskey, Vicky Hartzler and Eric Schmitt.

“I ran for State Rep. in 2008 and I didn’t win,” Lewis said. “I figured that I would try it. It didn’t do me any good. When this time (of running for U.S. Senator) came around, I said, ‘I’ll try running for U.S. Senator. Go big or go home.’ Everybody asked me what makes you qualified. I said, ‘What makes a carpenter qualified to build a house? Nobody knew anything about building a house when they first started.’ What makes an electrician qualified when they first start? They don’t know anything about it. But they learn the job as they progress into it. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

Missourians will elect a new senator in November as current Missouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt announced that he will not run for re-election after a 10-year career. There are 21 Republican candidates – including Lewis – and 10 Democratic candidates. The primary is Aug. 2.

The 44-year-old Lewis was one of 22 Missouri residents who filed for U.S. Senator on Feb. 22.

“I was a little nervous,” Lewis said. “I was like, ‘Man, this is really happening.’ I signed up and I paid the filing fee. My wife was with me. We met some good people up there. We had a good time doing it and signing it.”

Candidates select a number by random drawing. The random number drawn determines the candidate’s primary ballot placement. Lewis drew the number 2.

Lewis was born and raised in Montgomery County and was a student in the Montgomery County R-II School District for seven years.