Once again, the ballots will be open on November 8, 2022, and duty calls every well-meaning Missourian to cast their vote and determine the fate of the state for the immediate future. Seven candidates have declared their intention to serve the people as the state’s representative in the U.S. Senate. But, when push comes to shove, there’s only one right person for the job, and that’s Trudy Busch Valentine.

Contesting as the flagbearer of the Democratic Party for the Senate seat in the coming election, many know her as the heiress to the vast Anheuser-Busch Brewery fortune. However, her life and career trajectory indicate that she’s much more than just another rich face looking to enter the political world.

She’s a devout catholic, a mother of six, a veteran nurse, and a vocal supporter of children’s causes who has experienced her fair share of tragedy, just like every other American. As an individual who’s determined to make her community a better place than she met it, she decided to put her name on the ballot as well because she just couldn’t afford to let things continue as they were.

When talking about running for office, she had this to say, “I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Senate — because we need something different. We need new politics. One that puts the good of all people first. As your next Senator, I’ll put politics aside, and put you and your family first. And together, we’ll show ’em. We can work together. Across Missouri, our communities are strong, but our politics are broken. Too often neighbors and families just stop talking to each other, and the politicians in Washington continue to divide us even further. We just need to talk to each other again, exchange ideas with honesty and integrity. Twenty months ago my oldest son died of an opioid overdose. Matt’s death brought so much sadness but it also reignited the passion in me to make a positive difference for others, this time on a larger scale.”

Unlike virtually every other name featuring on the ballot right now, she feels the need for change on a very personal level. As a mother and former nurse, she sees more keenly than most just how important it is that women and working families have access to quality health care infrastructure. She’s seen firsthand the dangers that the absence of such resources can pose and is committed to putting an end to such unfortunate occurrences as the state senator. This includes making birth control a natural part of the healthcare system and stripping it of the shame and stigma that it currently carries.

Like every other MO resident, she’s been following the news closely and has come to the same conclusion as everyone else: accountability and an established value system are currently lacking in the government. She means to correct this problem speedily and efficiently. As a senator representing Missouri, Busch Valentine plans to fight for congressional oversight of money in politics, stand up to big money, and hold corporations accountable for the effects of their actions on the American people.

Additionally, she keenly sees the struggles of the working class. She has watched as skyrocketing inflation has made it even harder for American families to get by. Busch Valentine realizes that real relief must come to the people post-haste. That’s why fighting for the American Dream is also on her agenda. She intends to boost affordability by investing in MO’s economy and bringing in new industries to the state.

But most of all, she sees that we cannot sit and fold hands and watch the nation our Founding Fathers built to collapse. Busch Valentine knows that her goals require a collective effort to achieve. That, more than anything else, qualifies her to serve as a member of the U.S. Senate representing the state. She’ll do what many before her have been unable to; truly fight for the interest of the everyday Missourian.