Kehoe outpaced Ashcroft, Eigel and Quade in 3rd quarter gubernatorial campaign fundraising

Gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe, who currently serves as Missouri Lieutenant Governor, reported strong fundraising in the third quarter of 2023.

Between his candidate campaign committee, Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe, and his associated political action committee, American Dream PAC, Kehoe reported a total of about $4.99 million available to boost his bid for governor in 2024.

His fundraising efforts were assisted by hefty contributions from conservative mega-donor Rex Sinquefield. In an eleventh-hour donation in the final days of the third quarter, Sinquefield gave $250,000 to Kehoe’s campaign, bringing his total donations to the lieutenant governor to $750,000.

Kehoe has the support of current Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2024. He also bears endorsements from 15 organizations in the state, including from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee.

“While establishment politician Jay Ashcroft’s campaign continues to fall farther and farther behind in resources, endorsements and organization, conservative Mike Kehoe’s deep support across all corners of Missouri is growing and flourishing,” said Rich Chrismer, a spokesperson for American Dream PAC, in a release.

Aside from the endorsement from the Missouri Chamber PAC, Kehoe has gained the support of Missouri Dairy, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Association of Automobile Dealers, Missouri Forest Products Association, Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association, Associated General Contractors of Missouri, SITE Improvement Association, Missouri Limestone Producers Association, American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri, Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.

Ashcroft, currently Missouri Secretary of State, trails in funding with less than half as much money raised. Combining funds given to Ashcroft’s candidate committee, Ashcroft for Missouri, and his associated political action committee, Committee for Liberty, the gubernatorial candidate has about $2.25 million on hand.

A representative for Ashcroft’s gubernatorial campaign did not respond to request for comment in time for inclusion in this story.

Ashcroft received the single endorsement of Missouri Right to Life in July. Over the last several months, his office has been involved in legal fights regarding the ballot summary language for initiative petitions seeking to legalize abortion in Missouri.

“His positions consistently align with Missouri's pro-life majority voters. Ashcroft has the executive skills as Missouri's top election officer, and most importantly, he has demonstrated his passion for saving the lives of innocent unborn children, vulnerable seniors and those with disabilities,” said Dave Plemmons, chairman of the Missouri Right to Life State Political Action Committee, in a release.

State Sen. Bill Eigel is also seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2024. Eigel, who formally announced his candidacy in early September, received endorsements from St. Charles County Republican Elected Officials.

His candidate committee, Eigel for Missouri, and his political action committee, Bill PAC, raised a total of about $1.42 million.

However, his fundraising efforts have received scrutiny, after a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed that some of Eigel’s campaign donations were received through deceptive messaging.

Eigel did not respond to a request for comment in time for inclusion in this story.

Some of Eigel’s donors were from other states, and when interviewed by Post-Dispatch reporters, said that they didn’t know who Eigel was and had no intention of their donations going to him.

They had received emails soliciting donations to “Stand with Trump” after he faced his fourth indictment from the Department of Justice. But the fine print on the donation page said that the money would go to Eigel’s Bill PAC, rather than supporting the former president.

“There is not another gubernatorial campaign that has built the network of committed donors that we have,” Eigel said in a July release. “For every special interest check or endorsement received by my opponents, a thousand people donated to my message and cause.”

Campaign finance reports revealed that Eigel paid Arlington, Virginia-based Targeted Victory to help with his campaign. The firm and Eigel’s Bill PAC treasurer, Mandy Lehnbeuter, received letters to cease-and-desist all campaign outreach using President Trump’s name, image or likeness.

More: Here's how Kehoe, Ashcroft and Quade stack up in fundraising for 2024 MO governor’s race

Crystal Quade, the current Democratic frontrunner in the race for governor, has built her campaign funding reserves since announcing her candidacy in July.

In total, her candidate committee, Citizens for Crystal Quade, and her political action committee, Crystal PAC, have raised more than $268,000. However, funds in the Crystal PAC have seen a 292% increase during the three months since she announced her bid for governor.

“We’ve made it clear that the priority of our campaign is the people who make our economy and communities work,” Quade said. “As a girl who grew up doing homework at the diner while her mom did double shifts, I’m so honored that so many Missourians have opened their wallets to stand with our vision. Our campaign is just getting started.”

Quade has picked up a number of endorsements since she declared herself a candidate. Most recently, she was endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Missouri State Conference.

“Crystal Quade knows that workers deserve fair wages for their labor and, as Missouri’s next governor, she’ll stand strong against anti-union politicians,” said Jim Reinheimer, president of the IBEW State Conference, in a post on X.

Quade was also endorsed by former Gov. Bob Holden and former Secretary of State Jason Kander, three state senators and 37 state representatives. The Missouri chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, Access Mo, SEIU State Council and SEIU Healthcare have also endorsed Quade.

Quade has also received the support of the Missouri Sierra Club, an environmental organization. On X, she received endorsements from Missouri AFL-CIO, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and Teamsters Local 245.

Springfield businessman Mike Hamra seems poised to enter the race as a Democrat as well, after forming a campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission last week. Hamra said he will make a decision about running for governor in 2024 by the end of the month.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Mike Kehoe leads campaign fundraising in 2024 race for governor