MOScout Weekender: Rundown of Q3 Campaign $$$ - Hallway on Parson's COVID Work - WWTW and more...

October Filings

Here’s a quick rundown on the October campaign finance numbers…

US Senate

Eric Greitens raised $378,749 and has $200,802 on-hand (and $143,428 in debt).

Vicky Hartzler raised $446,299 and has $1,651,443 on-hand.

Billy Long raised $545,999, and has $539,853 on-hand.

Mark McCloskey raised $589,040, and has $167,417 on-hand.

Eric Schmitt raised $651,825 and has $1,199,448 on-hand (with $109,338 in debt).

Takeaways:

·         Schmitt raised the most again, but Hartzler has the most in the bank and is positioning herself well for this race.

·         Greitens is nearly at zero cash on-hand once you account for his debt, and (as a reader pointed out) the general election dollars in his total.

·         Long had a wash quarter spending most of what he brought in. 

·         McCloskey as well, and with his low cash on-hand, he could become a non-factor in this race. Interesting nugget in McCloskey’s report… Lesley Anne Hawley (Josh’s sister) was a donor ($250).

·         Meanwhile Congressman Jason Smith raised $293,138, and now has $1,624,831 on-hand.  He spent about $75K on the consulting firm of former Trumpite Bill Stepien, as well as $4K down at Mar-A-Lago.  (James Harris is on his report as well.  His firm Carolinas pulled in $18K.)

On the Dems side, Lucas Kunce actually outraised everyone (Dem or Republican) this quarter with $838,311.  He finished with $670,241 on-hand a hefty lot more than Scott Sifton’s $101,643 on-hand.

The Jeff City politicos are all operating as if there’s little point in caring about the Dem side of this race because the Republicans have a lock on the state.  I’ll admit I’ve fallen into this groove of thinking, still worth keeping one eye on.

CD-4

Kalena Bruce raised $100,610, loaned herself $80,000 and ended with $160,558.

Taylor Burks raised $109,498 loaned himself $76,000 and ended with $168,807.

Sara Walsh raised $39,060, loaned herself $10,000 and ended with $24,144.

Takeaways:

·         Lackluster quarters from everyone.  Leaves the door open for Sen. Caleb Rowden to jump in without anyone having much of a head start on him.  

CD-7

Mike Moon raised $103,847, loaned himself $5,800, and ended with $96,865.

Eric Burlison raised $147,536, and ended with $143,862.

Sam Alexander raised $39,480 loaned himself $99,000, and ended with $120,147.

Takeaways:

·         Jay Wasson started after the deadline. The expectations is that he will come roaring out of the gate. 

Auditor

Scott Fitzpatrick raised $362,200 (includes $250K loan to himself), and has $445,560 on-hand.

·         Missourians for a Responsible Budget (pro-Fitz) - $13,700.

David Gregory raised $358,643 ($252K from himself), and has $ 435,890 on-hand

• Show Me Growth PAC (pro-Gregory) - $360,190

Takeaways:

·         Even candidate committees with Gregory’s PAC giving him the early edge.

Gubby 2024

Jay Ashcroft raised $157,200, and has $528,793 on-hand.

·         Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $194,627 on-hand.

Mike Kehoe raised $300,733, and has $314,383 on-hand.

• American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $486,001 on-hand.

Takeaways:

·         Good money quarter from Kehoe.  But there’s a lot of quarters ahead between now and August 2024.

July Quarter: Coming GOP Senate Primaries

Obviously, we don’t have lines yet, but here’s where some folks are lining up – or may look to run depending how things shake out…

Senate 2 – St. Charles, Bob Onder termed

Justin Hill raised $100,850 and has $103,871 on-hand.

Nick Schroer raised $43,580 and has $83,115 on-hand.

• 1776 PAC (pro-Schroer) - $221,000 on-hand.

John Wiemann raised $52,291 and has $144,780 on-hand

• JW Leadership PAC (pro-Wiemann) - $81,029 on-hand.

Takeaways:

·         Wiemann is the one showing some organic fundraising so far. Hill’s COH is a result of a $100K check he wrote himself.  And Schroer’s PAC received a $200K check from one donor.

·         This may be the most interesting primary of next year.

Senate 22 – Jefferson County, Paul Wieland termed

Mary Elizabeth Coleman raised $23,825, and $69,112 on-hand. 

• Conservative Solutions for Missouri PAC (pro-Coleman) - $15,324 on-hand.

Becky Ruth raised $19,050, and has $50,833 on-hand.

• ShowMeJeffCO PAC (pro-Ruth) - $40,247

Dan Shaul raised $30,266    and has $40,398   on-hand.

• JeffCo Vision PAC (pro-Shaul) $33,542 on-hand.

Rob Vescovo raised $27,650 and has $157,613 on-hand.

• Mighty Missouri PAC has $410,375 on-hand.

Takeaways:

·         Vescovo’s entry – and his large cash advantage – has opponents reworking their plans and paths in this race.

Senate 26 – Franklin County, Dave Schatz termed

Ben Brown raised $22,139 and has $54,336 on-hand.

Aaron Griesheimer raised $31,268 and has $73,938 on-hand.

• Four Rivers PAC (pro-Griesheimer) – limited activity.

Dave Hinson raised $0 and has $1,725 on-hand.

Shane Roden raised $0 and has $3,797 on-hand.

Takeaways:

·         This looks like a two-person race.  I’ve only included Hinson and Roden because some folks talk about them as possibilities, but with no movement there, it’ll be outsider Brown against business community establishment Griesheimer.

Senate 10 – Callaway County, Jeanie Riddle termed

Travis Fitzwater raised $9,800, and has $59,163 on-hand.

Bryan Spencer raised $4,739 and has $142,189 on-hand.

Jeff Porter raised $7,650 and has $17,521 on-hand.

Takeaways:

·         Not a lot of action here yet.  Spencer’s COH is fortified by a $100K loan to himself from earlier.

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Parson’s COVID Handling

With the benefit of hindsight, looking back now over the past year and a half, how would rate Mike Parson’s response to the COVID pandemic?  22 replies…

RESULTS

1. Excellent… 18.2%

2. Good… 0%

3. Average… 54.5%

4.  Poor… 27.3%

Sample of Comments

·         No drama Parson. Good work.

·         This is a question you can only answer in hindsight, which is something I wish more people remember when freaking out about everything all the time.

·         Average - super average

·         A rudderless ship at sea, Parson took his hands off the wheel and hoped we wouldn’t run ashore.

·         Meh

Who Won the Week?

Jay Hahn – In his own (Facebook) words, “Professionally I am visiting our client, Microsoft at their Seattle / Redmond headquarters… Growing up in rural Missouri I frankly believed an opportunity like today seemed off limits. At age 18 by luck and the grace of those I worked for I was able to start a small sole proprietor tech business. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe 18 years later my Government Relations firm would have the privilege of representing such a world renowned tech company. Many reasons to be thankful today…”

Aaron Willard – The powerful chief of staff rearranges the governor’s cabinet, and then has his “boss” blaming a reporter for finding the state’s inept data security.

Josh Renaud – Renaud figured out how to make a half-forgettable story about negligent internet security became a national story.  It’s a two-stepper: first, write the story.  Then, hope the governor announces a $50 million investigation to throw you in jail.

Eric Schmitt – Yes, he gets ratioed on a make-believe history tweet, but that’s the whole point if you’re in his race.  Say something dumb, but “American” and wear the intellectuals’ disdain as badge of honor.

Rodney Boyd – We all have the dream, but Rodney gets to live it.  He’s been named Executive Coordinating Produce of the TV show Food Is Love.

Find a downloadable version here.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $5,001 from Missouri Soybean Association.

Missouri Forward PAC (pro-Caleb Rowden) - $11,000 from Penn National Gaming, Inc.

Friends Of Chandler Haynes - $10,500 from Chandler Haynes.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rita Heard Days and Antonio French.

Sunday: Scott Rupp, Jamilah Nasheed, Ray Hefner, and Sara Baker.