Who ended the final quarter of 2013 on top financially for 2014 and beyond?
1. Attorney General Chris Koster
Koster, a Democrat on the ballot this year, has made no secret his future political plans: Help Missouri House Democrats regain seats in the General Assembly and seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2016. Koster, not even on the ballot this year, led the pack raising nearly $606,000 and ending the quarter with more than $1.59 million on hand – even after fulfilling the first $100,000 chunk of his commitment to House Democrats.
2. House Speaker Tim Jones
Jones, who has already begun a quasi-campaign for statewide office in 2016, ended the quarter with just shy of $1 million – more than both of his potential 2016 competitors for Attorney General. Jones raised $255,000 in the final quarter of 2013, and ended the quarter nearly 20 percent higher than he began.
3. State Sen. Eric Schmitt
Schmitt, one of those Republicans considering a statewide run in 2016, ended the quarter with just over $855,000. He only raised $108,500, but came in third overall.
4. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer
Schaefer, a Columbia Republican who has already changed his campaign committee to reflect his plans to run for attorney general in 2016, came in fourth over all – reporting $760,000 on hand, 15 percent higher than he began. Schaefer raised less in the fourth quarter than he did in the third quarter, when his family trust give his fund a serious boost.
5. State Auditor Tom Schweich
Schweich, the only statewide candidate on the ballot this year, ended the quarter with more than $662,000 on hand. He raised $238,620 in the final three months of the year, the third highest figure out of all the statewide and legislative leaders. And his first quarter is already off to a good start: Schweich reported a $100,000 check from former Ambassador Sam Fox this week, just a day prior to the announcement by Schweich’s opponent, Democrat Jay Swearingen, that he would not continue his campaign.
Honorable Mention:
Majority Floor Leader Rep. John Diehl
House Majority Floor Leader John Diehl (Photo: Missouri House of Representatives)
Quarter to quarter, Rep. John Diehl ended the year with the largest percent increase of the leadership pack. had a 34.37 percent increase in his campaign fund – the biggest individual net increase of the pack of statewide officials and legislative leaders. Diehl started his quarter with nearly $271,000 on hand and raised more than $191,000. He ended the quarter with $412,600
Gov. Jay Nixon
Missouri’s Democratic governor ended the quarter worse off than he was before – down 12.4 percent. He raised less than $75,000 in the final three months of the year, ending the quarter with $434,000.