Billy Long

Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long denied any wrongdoing Tuesday regarding his ties to companies accused of selling fraudulent tax credits and downplayed donations from executives at those companies that he used to pay off a personal loan.

The former representative from Missouri, who once pushed to abolish the IRS, has marketed himself as a certified tax and business advisor after attending only a three-day seminar.

The Salem Republican is in charge of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxation and trade policies.

Long was one of the first elected officials to publicly support Trump. When most considered Trump’s candidacy a joke, Long touted Trump to foreign leaders and GOP insiders who snickered at the notion that the real estate mogul and reality TV star would be the next president.

The former president helped Republicans cruise to statewide victories twice — but some at the Missouri GOP celebration in Springfield doubt that he can win a general election next year.

Greitens drew an enthusiastic crowd in Arnold as he fends off attacks from his rivals in the run-up to the Aug. 2 GOP primary.

The Springfield Republican has gained notice for his colorful style but is trailing at least three other GOP candidates for U.S. Senate in fundraising and polling.

Missouri Republicans praise possible overturning of Roe v. Wade decision while Democrats vow to continue fighting for abortion rights.

On the Democratic side, Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, former state Sen. Scott Sifton and businessman Spencer Toder filed for the Senate seat of the retiring Roy Blunt on Tuesday.

The candidates at the Lincoln Days forum sought to distinguish their records and experience from each other, with the dividing line along a familiar theme in recent years: experience and time spent in Washington DC.