Independent candidates are rarely successful in America’s two-party election system — in fact, an independent hasn’t been elected in Missouri in the post-Civil War era.

But none of that is stopping John Wood, who used to be a Republican congressional staffer. While the GOP selected Attorney General Eric Schmitt as their nominee from a field of Trump-supporting options, the less known Wood is offering himself as a mainstream conservative. Wood talked about his chances and his views with KCUR’s Steve Kraske.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Trevor Grandin, and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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