Rep. Cole McNary, Ed Martin Open Office in Valley Park

Two St. Louis-area candidates for statewide office celebrated the opening of a new headquarters in Valley Park.

Rep. Cole McNary (R-Chesterfield) and attorney Ed Martin will be sharing a space at 932 Meramec Station Road in Valley Park. Martin is running for attorney general, while McNary is running for state treasurer.

Martin dubbed the structure the "Victory Fieldhouse," which seems to be a turn on his "Freedom Bunker" during his 2010 congressional campaign.

"Other state and local candidates were in attendance, giving their thoughts about the direction of the state and the nation," Martin said in an e-mail update. "We were all in agreement that President Obama has to go, and the power of his party has to be cut."

McNary is expected to face off against Democratic state Treasurer Clint Zweifel in the fall. Martin is running against Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren in the GOP primary. The winner of that race will face off against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.

Schweich out

As reported in the St. Louis Beacon, state Auditor Tom Schweich will not run for the U.S. Senate this cycle. The Clayton native had been considering entering

This marks the second time in recent years Schweich decided not to run for Congress’ upper chamber. He had considered challenging then-Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Springfield) in the 2010 U.S. Senate but decided instead to run for state auditor. After beating then-House Budget Chairman Allen Icet (R-Wildwood) in the GOP primary, Schweich ousted incumbent Democratic state Auditor Susan Montee.

The three major Republican candidates in the race include Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Frontenac businessman John Brunner. The winner will almost certainly face Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).