Latest reports show large cash advantage for Smith over Hodges

Campaign finance figures released Thursday show a large disparity in the war chests of the major party candidates seeking Missouri's 8th Congressional District seat in the June 4 special election.

Republican Jason Smith's campaign for Congress raised $200,310 between April 1 and May 15, pushing his total funds raised to date to more than $500,000. That's more than double the total raised by Democrat Steve Hodges' campaign so far.

Fundraising and expenditure figures for the April 1 to May 15 period were due to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. Smith's campaign raised $509,905 during the election cycle, including the money counted in the most recent reporting period. His campaign had $228,146 on hand as of May 15, according to figures provided to the FEC. During the most recent filing period, individuals gave Smith's campaign $114,082, while political committees gave $82,749.

Smith's campaign said in a news release 800 individuals in every county in the 8th District had contributed to the campaign since Feb. 11.

Democrat Steve Hodges' campaign reported $107,727 raised during the period, bringing his total to $228,501. The campaign had $142,102 on hand at the close of the period. During the reporting period Hodges received $75,177 from individuals, bringing his total from individual donors to $180,651 during the election cycle. Hodges has received $47,849 from political committees to fund his campaign.