Sarah Steelman

Will Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt face opposition in a Republican primary next year for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Christopher S. Bond ? One potential challenger recently dropped out, but another remains.

Missouri Republican Thomas Schweich , who was President George W. Bush’s ambassador for counternarcotics and justice reform in Afghanistan, said Thursday that he would pass on a challenge of Blunt to promote party unity.  

Yet Blunt, whose candidacy is backed by GOP establishment figures in Missouri, could still face a challenge from Sarah Steelman , a former state Treasurer who hasn’t said whether she will run for the Senate. Steelman narrowly lost a Republican primary for governor last year.