News Briefs

Eric Burlison announces run for Billy Long’s seat in Congress

By: - September 1, 2021 8:33 am

State Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield (photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

State Sen. Eric Burlison officially joined the GOP primary for the Congressional seat of U.S. Rep. Billy Long on Wednesday, becoming the third candidate to enter the race in the heavily Republican southwest Missouri district.

Burlison served eight years in the state House before being elected to the Missouri Senate in 2018.

In a series of interviews with conservative radio Wednesday morning, Burlison touted his conservative legislative record, which includes championing bills in support of gun rights, tougher regulations on labor unions and restrictions on abortion.

He launched a website that also points to his support of former President Donald Trump.

“I have always been a supporter of Trump’s America First agenda that slashed taxes, protected our border, created jobs and adhered to the principals of the Constitution,” Burlison says on his website.

The Republican from Battlefield works as a tax consultant and investment adviser as well as software consultant for Cerner Corp. He’s the third candidate to officially enter the race, following Sam Alexander, a doctor from Springfield, and state Sen. Mike Moon of Ash Grove.

The open seat was created when Long decided to run for U.S. Senate. Other candidates considering the race include former Blunt aide Joelle Cannon and former state Sen. Jay Wasson.

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Jason Hancock
Jason Hancock

Jason Hancock has spent two decades covering politics and policy for news organizations across the Midwest, with most of that time focused on the Missouri statehouse as a reporter for The Kansas City Star. A three-time National Headliner Award winner, he helped launch The Missouri Independent in October 2020.

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