Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt's wife is trying to join an elite Washington club. That isn't helping his reelection bid.


In reliably red Missouri, Democratic Senate candidate Jason Kander is making gains on incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt by "attacking Blunt incessantly for his long career in Washington" and "raising the issue of his wife and sons' professions as lobbyists," RealClearPolitics reports. Now, Politico has a scoop that could rattle Blunt even more: His wife, Abigail Blunt, is reported to be pursuing membership with the elite Chevy Chase Club, "a tony Washington country club that costs tens of thousands of dollars to join."
Blunt's campaign spokesman Burson Snyder declined to comment on Abigail Blunt's application, although her name reportedly appears on the club's internal website on a list of "candidates to be considered shortly for election." Upon membership, Abigail Blunt would owe $80,000, plus an additional $600 a month, according to a club member who spoke with Politico.
Kander, meanwhile, has positioned himself as a friendly alternative for Republicans who dislike the Washington establishment — including Donald Trump supporters. "Those same voters are not then going to the next line on the ballot and voting for somebody who's been in Washington for 20 years and has made Washington work for them and not for Missourians," Kander said. "That's just not how they're going to vote. It's very clear."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the RealClearPolitics average of polls taken between Oct. 9 and 26, Blunt is up by just one percentage point, with 46 percent support to Kander's 45 percent. The race is considered to be a toss-up.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
UK-India trade deal: how the social security arrangements will work
The Explainer A National Insurance exemption in the UK-India trade deal is causing concern but should British workers worry?
-
Man arrested after 'suspicious' fires at properties linked to Keir Starmer
Speed Read Prime minister thanks emergency services after fire at his former family home in north London
-
Elon Musk's SpaceX has created a new city in Texas
under the radar Starbase is home to SpaceX's rocket launch site
-
Qatar luxury jet gift clouds Trump trip to Mideast
speed read Qatar is said to be presenting Trump with a $400 million plane, which would be among the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the US government
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Trump, UK's Starmer outline first post-tariff deal
speed read President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer struck a 'historic' agreement to eliminate some of the former's imposed tariffs
-
Fed leaves rates unchanged as Powell warns on tariffs
speed read The Federal Reserve says the risks of higher inflation and unemployment are increasing under Trump's tariffs
-
Denmark to grill US envoy on Greenland spying report
speed read The Trump administration ramped up spying on Greenland, says reporting by The Wall Street Journal
-
Supreme Court allows transgender troop ban
speed read The US Supreme Court will let the Trump administration begin executing its ban on transgender military service members
-
Hollywood confounded by Trump's film tariff idea
speed read President Trump proposed a '100% tariff' on movies 'produced in foreign lands'
-
Trump offers migrants $1,000 to 'self-deport'
speed read The Department of Homeland Security says undocumented immigrants can leave the US in a more 'dignified way'