Andrew Bailey was sworn in Tuesday as Missouri’s new attorney general. He will fill the role previously held by Eric Schmitt, who was sworn in as a U.S. senator on the same day.
Bailey, 41, has never held elected office. During his swearing-in ceremony in Jefferson City, he said his background as an Army combat veteran in Iraq would guide him in the new role.
“This experience reaffirmed the value of training and the need to lead with authority — having training and the tools to be successful matters,” he said. “And I will lead this office with the same steady hand and unyielding pursuit of victory because we will defend our Constitution and represent the people of the state.”…
“I can’t think of a stronger candidate than what Andrew was,” Parson said Tuesday. “I trust him to make decisions for the people of this state.”
The attorney general position serves as Missouri’s top lawyer and is widely viewed as the second most powerful state-level position in the state behind governor. It has also been used as a political launching pad. Most recently, Sens. Schmitt and Josh Hawley both used the position as a pathway to higher office….
Before working in the governor’s office, Bailey was the general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.
An Army veteran, Bailey served two combat deployments in Iraq. He was awarded two Army Achievement Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, a Combat Action Badge and two Bronze Star Medals, according to the attorney general’s office.
Bailey also worked as assistant prosecuting attorney in Warren County and as an assistant attorney general under former Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.