JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Beverly Randles, chairwoman of the Missouri Club for Growth, announced on Monday that she was considering a challenge to fellow Republican Peter Kinder, Missouri’s lieutenant governor.
And she kicked off with a big bang.
Along with her paperwork to form an exploratory committee, Randles also reported that her campaign had received a $1 million contribution from St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield as she considers a run, the largest individual campaign contribution in Missouri history.
In a statement, Randles – whose husband, Bill, ran a failed campaign for governor in 2012 – did not mention the Sinquefield contribution. Instead, she focused on her work at the Club for Growth, an organization that spent nearly $1 million this fall running ads that featured Randles, by name, statewide.
“As a lifelong Missourian who has had the opportunity to rise from humble beginnings to achieve numerous successes, my hope is that I can help others throughout our state realize similar opportunities to achieve their own goals,” she said in her statement. “Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to speaking with people all across our state about my vision for a better Missouri for all, and continuing to garner support for a potential campaign.”
On Monday night, Kinder touted his record over the past two and a half terms, but was not entirely clear about his future plans. He has, however, began emailing local activists seeking their support as he heads into the 2016 campaign season. If he were to run, he would be seeking an historic fourth term in the post.
“It has been an honor to serve as Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor, and I look forward to the 2016 campaign,” said Kinder.
Randles is not the first candidate to get such a significant boost from Sinquefield. Catherine Hanaway, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, has received nearly $800,000 from the billionaire. The latest amounts have come in the forms of weekly payments.
While Kinder did not mention the Sinquefield contribution against him in his own statement, Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill – considering a run for the Democratic nomination for governor – issued her own response. In an email to reporters, her subject line said it all: “McCaskill on the Buying of Missouri Officeholders.”
“The question Missourians really need to ask is this – do they really want a government completely owned by one St. Louis billionaire,” McCaskill said.