evidence: Eric Schmitt: Campaign website Biography: Eric Schmitt earned his undergraduate degree from Truman State University and his law degree from Saint Louis University. He worked as a lawyer in private practice for 16 years. In 2008, he was elected to the state Senate, then eight years later was elected state treasurer. When Hawley won his race for the U.S. Senate in 2018, Schmitt was appointed to succeed him as attorney general. Core policies: Schmitt touts his work as attorney general in advancing conservative causes. He cited a lawsuit he filed against the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, his investigation of "big tech," his brief supporting a pro-Trump 2020 election lawsuit, his defense of a high-school coach’s religious freedom, and his lawsuit seeking reinstatement of the Keystone XL pipeline, which was canceled by Biden. He also cites his work on the Safer Streets Initiative, which targeted violent crime, as well as his efforts to address a rape kit backlog.