Lieutenant governor's race cost $2 million in general election

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Peter Kinder and Democrat Bekki Cook spent nearly $2.15 million combined in the general election race for lieutenant governor.

Kinder, the Senate president pro tem, spent $1,114,510 in his successful bid for the office, according to postelection campaign finance disclosure reports filed Thursday with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Cook, a former Missouri secretary of state, spent $1,034,975.

Kinder prevailed over Cook in the Nov. 2 election by just 13,814 votes out of more than 2.65 million cast. Both candidates hail from Cape Girardeau.

Counting expenditures for the August party primaries, the two candidates spent more than $3.18 million in their quests for the office. Cook's total spending was $1,602,517 while Kinder's was $1,580,922.

During the reporting period of Oct. 22 through Nov. 27, Kinder received $292,571 in cash and in-kind contributions. Republican Party committees and special interest groups provided 65.2 percent of that money, or $190,816. The bulk of his donations this period flowed in after the election. Kinder reported a cash balance of $14,654.

Cook reported $92,149 in collections during the last cycle. Of that amount, 50.1 percent, or $46,568, cams from Democratic Party organizations or special interest groups.

Cook had $17,452 remaining in her campaign account but also reported $230,000 in outstanding debt.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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