Tom Schweich, Missouri State Auditor, committed suicide early on Thursday.

The Republican politician was vying for his party's gubernatorial nomination. He had accused another party member of using antisemitic insults against him and had planned to talk about them to reporters later on Thursday.

According to Reuters, Schweich was found dead at around 10 a.m. Thursday morning at his home in Clayton, a St. Louis suburb. His wife was in the house when the state auditor and gubernatorial candidate apparently shot himself in the head.

The 54-year-old politician had just been reelected for a second term as state auditor and had announced his intention to seek his party's nomination for governor.

"Everything at this point suggests that it is an apparent suicide," said Clayton Police Chief Kevin Murphy and added that his family was cooperating with police.

Following the news of his death, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon released a statement.

"I join all Missourians in mourning the passing of State Auditor Tom Schweich, a brilliant, devoted and accomplished public servant who dedicated his career to making Missouri and the world a better place," Gov. Nixon said. "From his courageous work to combat the illegal drug trade abroad in Afghanistan to his tireless efforts to protect the interests of taxpayers here in Missouri, Tom Schweich's exceptional intellect and unwavering dedication to public service left a legacy that will endure for many years to come."

However, just minutes before the call to police, Schweich had contacted an Associated Press reporter asking for an interview later than afternoon, reports the AP and CBS News. In the interview Schweich was planning on talking about his accusations against the head of the Missouri Republican Party, John Hancock.

According to Schweich's spokesperson, Spence Jackson, the campaign had lately taken its toll on the state auditor, including a recent ad in support of his GOP opponent, former Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, called Schweich "a weak candidate for governor" who "could be easily confused for the deputy sheriff of Mayberry" and whom Democrats could "squash like a bug."

Jackson explained "The campaign had been difficult, as all campaigns are, and that "there were a lot of things that were on his mind." Nonetheless, Schweich continued working.

The AP explains Schweich told their reporter that Chairman Hancock had made antisemitic remarks about him despite the fact that Schweich is Episcopalian. In response, Schweich wanted Hancock to resign.

"I don't have a specific recollection of having said that, but it's plausible that I would have told somebody that Tom was Jewish because I thought he was, but I wouldn't have said it in a derogatory or demeaning fashion," Hancock told the AP, adding that he talked with Schweich about the allegations last fall but not since then

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was also to be in the interview planned for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and had received a voicemail from Schweich asking them to attend.

Supporters of the state auditor were shocked to learn of his death, adding that he was gathering a lot of support and donation money for his campaign was "pouring in."

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