Jay Ashcroft to run for secretary of state

Republican Jay Ashcroft has announced his candidacy for Missouri's secretary of state, the St. Louis Business Journal reports.

The son of former U.S Attorney General John Ashcroft, Jay Ashcroft is an attorney and engineer living in St. Louis.

"Missouri is desperately in need of leaders who will fight for our state's common sense conservative values," Ashcroft said in a statement. "I will work to protect the integrity of our elections while ensuring the office's business functions are streamlined to allow Missouri employers to focus on what they do best: creating businesses and jobs."

Read more from the St. Louis Business Journal.