A new well-funded candidate is set to join the Missouri Senate race.
Independent conservative John Wood's campaign says it has secured 10,000 signatures -- more than double the amount necessary to make it on the ballot.
Wood was recruited by retired Senator John Danforth, who said he believes Wood is a good pick because many of the other conservatives running are too extreme.
"In our Senate race here in Missouri, we've got one candidate who's brandishing a gun, saying we should go hunting for Republicans we don't agree with, we've got two other candidates who are cradling AR-15s, we've got another candidate who's got a blowtorch and he says wants to take it to the Senate," Danforth said. "So this is where we are today in American politics."
Danforth told CNN that the only way to change the direction of the race is to provide a centrist alternative, outside of the primary process.
Danforth said Wood is running on a theme of the country being too divided. Wood is a former U.S. Attorney and senior investigator on the House January 6th Committee.