Statewide candidates report strong fundraising quarters

Lawmakers seeking election in 2014 and 2016 had to file campaign finance disclosure reports on Oct. 15, and the reports show they took full advantage of Missouri's lax campaign finance laws.

Missouri is the only state in the country without caps on campaign contributions for candidates seeking state office. With elections one to three years away it is never too early for politicians to start stockpiling campaign war chests.

The only statewide race in 2014 is for state auditor in which incumbent Republican Tom Schweich is seeking a second term. Schweich reported raising over $280,000 between July 1 and Oct. 1 and has over $500,000 cash-on-hand.

His only announced opponent, state Rep. Jay Swearingen, D-Kansas City, reported raising $10,000 during the same period. He has $18,000, so far, to spend on his bid for auditor.

Many politicians spent the fundraising quarter looking ahead to 2016 races for governor and attorney general.

Incumbent Attorney General Chris Koster announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2016 when Gov. Jay Nixon will be term-limited out of office. Koster raised $542,000 this quarter and has $1.2 million on-hand.

On the Republican side, former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway said she was considering a bid for governor, but did not report raising any money.

Koster's decision to leave the attorney general's office has sparked a fierce, well-funded competition among Republican lawmakers seeking to replace him. House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, raised $235,000 and has $740,000 on hand for a possible attorney general bid.

Jones' likely primary opponent -- Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia -- raised $613,000 and has $646,000 left in the bank. Much of Schaefer's war chest comes from a $500,000 loan from a family trust.

This story is provided as a service of Missouri Digital News to members of Missouri Press Association.