Politics

Koster’s campaign account dwarfs those of two Republican rivals

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two and a half years before Election Day 2016, candidates for governor have amassed more than $3.1 million in their campaign accounts.

That total is inflated by Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat who has made clear his intent to seek his party’s nomination in 2016. He ended the first quarter with more than $2 million on hand, after raising $547,500 in the first three months of 2014.

Hanaway, in her first fundraising quarter since announcing her candidacy, raised $308,000 in the same time period, boosted by a large check from St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield. Schweich raised $252,000 in the same time period, and ended the quarter with $835,000 on hand.

In the brewing Republican primary for attorney general, House Speaker Tim Jones, State Sen. Eric Schmitt, and State Sen. Kurt Schaefer are making their fundraising strength clear. Jones led the pack, raising $111,000. He was followed by Schaefer, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who raised $105,000 in the same time period. Schmitt raised only $24,000, but ended the quarter nearly 12 percent higher than he started.

Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat, leads the rest of the pack of statewide officials in fundraising. He ended the quarter with $392,500 on hand, raising $203,590 in the first three months of the year. That marks a 44 percent increase since December.

Gov. Jay Nixon and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, two Democrats not expected to use their statewide committees again, have begun to spend-down on their accounts. Nixon, who typically posts large quarters, raised just $2,000 (Zweifel – who has been rumored to be mulling a federal race – raised just over $1,000). Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who may

The first quarter, when the legislature is in session, is often a slow for legislative candidates when big corporate donors tend to hold off on their annual contributions, but legislative leaders have continued to post their large quarters. Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, raised nearly $63,000 in the first quarter, followed by Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who raised $44,000.

In the House, Majority Floor Leader John Diehl, R-St. Louis, raised $23,300 and ended the quarter with $397,530 on hand.

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