Missouri’s incumbent officeholders are sitting pretty in the money race, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Governor Jay Nixon has received a little under $14 million in contributions. That nearly doubles the amount contributed to Republican challenger Dave Spence.
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder is out-fundraising his Democratic opponent Susan Montee 4 to 1.
And supporters contributed nearly $5 million dollars to Democrat Attorney General Chris Koster, as compared to a little more than $1 million to opponent Ed Martin.
Southeast Missouri State University political science professor Jeremy Walling says this is usually the case.
“It shouldn’t surprise you that you see that the incumbents have outraised challengers,” Dr. Walling said. “There are exceptions. There are exceptional races where a very strong challenger emerges who is able to raise a lot of money. But what is typically the case is you see the incumbents raising large sums of cash and challengers not being able to touch them.”
The Secretary of State race is the only open competition, as Robin Carnahan is not running for re-election. The Democrat, Jason Kander, has received $1.2 million. His Republican opponent Michael Schoeller has raised $276 thousand.
The only close money race is between Democratic Treasurer Clint Zweifel and his opponent Cole McNary. Zweifel has received $166 thousand, and McNary received $156 thousand.
Walling says winning the money race doesn’t not necessarily guarantee victory.
“Sometimes we get confused and we think that because you raised the most money, that’s why you won. Probably because you are the incumbent and because of a lot of other factors, that’s why you won,” Walling said. “Being able to raise a lot of money goes hand-in-hand with these other reasons why you would win. ”