Bill Eigel
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Bill Eigel
|image = Bill Eigel Young Americans for Liberty.png
|caption = Eigel at a Young Americans for Liberty conference, 2018
|state_senate = Missouri
|district = 23rd
|term_start = January 4, 2017
|term_end = January 8, 2025
|predecessor = Tom Dempsey
|successor = Adam Schnelting
|birth_name = William Charles Eigel{{cite web | url=https://www.missourinet.com/2024/07/25/meet-missouri-gubernatorial-candidate-bill-eigel/ | title=Meet Missouri gubernatorial candidate Bill Eigel | date=25 July 2024 }}
|birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1977|11|24}}}}
|birth_place = Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse = Amanda
|children = 2
|education = Purdue University (BS)
Webster University (MBA)
|website = {{url|billeigel.com|Campaign website}}
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
|branch = {{air force|United States}}
|serviceyears = 2009–2016
|rank = Captain
|battles = Operation Enduring Freedom
}}
William C. Eigel (born November 24, 1977) is an American politician who represented the 23rd district in the Missouri State Senate from 2017 to 2025.{{cite web|title=Senator Bill Eigel|url=http://www.senate.mo.gov/mem23/|website=senate.mo.gov|publisher=State of Missouri|accessdate=1 May 2018}}{{cite news|title=Missouri lawmaker pushing end to electronic voting|url=http://www.kmov.com/story/37812980/missouri-lawmaker-pushing-end-to-electronic-voting|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=KMOV-TV|date=26 March 2018}} A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 2016 and assumed his seat on January 4, 2017. Eigel is a former captain in the United States Air Force, having served from 2009 to 2016.{{cite news|last1=Rosenbaum|first1=Jason|title=Politically Speaking: Sen. Bill Eigel wants lawmakers thinking differently on transportation|url=http://kbia.org/post/politically-speaking-sen-bill-eigel-wants-lawmakers-thinking-differently-transportation#stream/0|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=KBIA|date=20 April 2017}}{{cite web |title=Senator Bill Eigel |url=https://www.senate.mo.gov/mem23/ |website=Missouri Senate, Missouri General Assembly |access-date=7 April 2021}}
Eigel was a candidate in the 2024 Missouri gubernatorial election, but came in second place in the primary against Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe.
Early life and education
Eigel grew up in Dayton, Ohio and holds an MBA from Webster University.{{cite web | url=https://www.webster.edu/about/index.php | title=Who We Are }} He attended Purdue University from 1995 to 1999 and received a BS in industrial engineering.{{cite web | url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/169721/bill-eigel | title=Vote Smart | Facts for All }}
Legislative tenure
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eigel called for a special session of the Missouri legislature to implement legislation to prevent private-sector companies from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for staff and customers.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-04|title=Missouri GOP Senators Want Special Session To Combat Private-Sector Vaccine Mandates|url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/2021-08-04/missouri-gop-senators-want-special-session-to-combat-private-sector-vaccine-mandates|access-date=2021-08-05|website=St. Louis Public Radio|language=en}}
In January 2024, Eigel was stripped of his committee chairmanship and Capitol parking spot following filibusters and stalling tactics meant to force a vote on an amendment to increase barriers to citizen ballot initiatives.{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Rudi |date=2024-01-23 |title=Missouri 'Freedom Caucus' leaders ousted from Senate chairmanships over stall tactics |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/missouri-freedom-caucus-leaders-ousted-from-senate-chairmanships-over-stall-tactics/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}} Senate majority leader Cindy O'Laughlin expressed willingness to expel Eigel from the senate chambers due to disruptive behavior. In summer 2024, her PAC transferred funds to Rusty Black's PAC for mailers against his gubernatorial bid.{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Rudi |date=July 29, 2024 |title=Missouri Senate feud spills into governor's race as GOP leader's PAC funds attacks on Bill Eigel |url=https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-feud-spills-into-governors-race-as-gop-leaders-pac-funds-attacks-on-bill-eigel/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}
In February 2024, Eigel and other Republicans opposed an amendment that would allow abortion in cases of rape or incest.{{Cite web |last=Suntrup |first=Jack |date=2024-02-08 |title=Senate Republicans block rape and incest exceptions for Missouri abortion ban |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/senate-republicans-block-rape-and-incest-exceptions-for-missouri-abortion-ban/article_92a45e90-c623-11ee-ba46-4bf53bd53020.html |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}} Eigel stated that Democrats wanted to "bring back the institution of abortion so that kids can get abortions in the state of Missouri. A 1-year-old could get an abortion under this."{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=GOP Lawmaker Dubiously Claims Amendment Would Let 1-Year-Olds Get Abortions |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-eigel-missouri-abortion-1-year-olds_n_65cbbaefe4b065628a610405 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=GOP Lawmaker Dubiously Claims Amendment Would Let 1-Year-Olds Get Abortions |url=https://news.yahoo.com/gop-lawmaker-dubiously-claims-amendment-210647926.html |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} He then said the proposed amendment "doesn't address" the "institutions of rape or of incest".{{cite news |last1=Suntrup |first1=Jack |title=Senate Republicans block rape and incest exceptions for Missouri abortion ban |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/senate-republicans-block-rape-and-incest-exceptions-for-missouri-abortion-ban/article_92a45e90-c623-11ee-ba46-4bf53bd53020.html |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=February 8, 2024}}
= Gubernatorial campaign =
In 2023, Eigel's BILL PAC was accused of using deceptive tactics to raise money for the 2024 Missouri gubernatorial election. Emails that prominently featured Donald Trump solicited small donations nationwide.{{Cite web |last=Suntrup |first=Jack |date=2023-09-02 |title=A candidate for Missouri governor has thousands of donors. Do they know who he is? |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/a-candidate-for-missouri-governor-has-thousands-of-donors-do-they-know-who-he-is/article_1145d05c-4830-11ee-b9ba-1fd5c19b9fe3.html |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}} As of October 2023, almost 99% of donations to BILL PAC came from out of state.{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Rudi |date=2023-10-02 |title=Out-of-state donors fuel pair of GOP candidates running for Missouri governor, AG |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/eigel-scharf-fundraising-missouri-trump/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}
Eigel attracted wide attention for a video involving a flamethrower and burning cardboard boxes with references to book burning. He has also criticized incumbent governor Mike Parson for calling for civility in politics.{{Cite web |last=Suntrup |first=Jack |date=2023-11-16 |title=Candidate for Missouri governor blasts Mike Parson for promoting civility in politics |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/candidate-for-missouri-governor-blasts-mike-parson-for-promoting-civility-in-politics/article_216eb3d8-83f2-11ee-9f8e-57c71657d5e1.html |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}
Election results
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate Primary Election, August 2, 2016, District 23{{cite web|title=All Results; Official Results|accessdate=May 5, 2020|url=https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Eigel
|votes = 11,142
|percentage = 40.30%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Anne Zerr
|votes = 10,757
|percentage = 38.91%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Michael (Mike) Edward Carter
|votes = 5,746
|percentage = 20.79%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 23 — St. Charles County (2016)}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Eigel
|votes = 56,870
|percentage = 60.16
|change = -39.84
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Richard Orr
|votes = 34,651
|percentage = 36.65
|change = +36.65
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Slantz
|votes = 3,014
|percentage = 3.19
|change = +3.19
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate Primary Election, August 4, 2020, District 23{{cite web|title=All Results; Official Results|accessdate= April 3, 2021|url=https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/?eid=750004333|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Eigel
|votes = 15,018
|percentage = 71.29
|change = +30.99
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Eric Wulff
|votes = 3,310
|percentage = 15.71
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan O'Connell
|votes = 2,737
|percentage = 12.99
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate General Election, November 3, 2020, District 23{{cite web|title=All Results; Official Results|accessdate= April 3, 2021|url=https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/default.aspx?eid=750005307|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Eigel
|votes = 57,988
|percentage = 57.25
|change = -2.91
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Richard Orr
|votes = 43,306
|percentage = 42.75
|change = +6.10
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Gubernatorial Primary Election, August 6, 2024{{cite web |title=Missouri Governor Primary Election Results 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/06/us/elections/results-missouri-governor-primary.html}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Mike Kehoe
|votes = 274,840
|percentage = 39.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill Eigel
|votes = 227,012
|percentage = 32.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jay Ashcroft
|votes = 162,086
|percentage = 23.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Amber Thomsen
|votes = 10,627
|percentage = 1.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Wright
|votes = 9,358
|percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Darrell McClanahan
|votes = 5,637
|percentage = 0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Olson
|votes = 2,975
|percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeremy Gundel
|votes = 2,946
|percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Darren Grant
|votes = 1,866
|percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eigel, Bill}}
Category:Republican Party Missouri state senators
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from St. Charles County, Missouri
Category:United States Air Force officers
Category:Politicians from Dayton, Ohio
Category:Webster University alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States elections
Category:21st-century members of the Missouri General Assembly