Lt. Gov. Kinder plans to seek fourth term

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a native of Cape Girardeau, plans to run for re-election in 2016, a campaign spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Kinder, who was first elected to the post in 2004, will be seeking his fourth term as Missouri's second-ranking executive and, if he wins, would be the state's longest-serving lieutenant governor.

Campaign spokesman Michael Hafner confirmed Kinder plans to run for re-election.

"It has been an honor to serve as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, and I look forward to the 2016 campaign," Kinder said in a written statement.

Fellow Republican Bev Randles announced Monday she had formed an exploratory committee as she considers whether to run for lieutenant governor. Wealthy political activist Rex Sinquefield gave Randles $1 million on Monday that can be used for polling, travel and other expenses.

Randles is chairwoman of the Missouri Club for Growth, a conservative group largely funded by Sinquefield. The $1 million appears to be the largest single donation from an individual to a candidate in state history.

Kinder said he's "taken on and defeated bankrolled challengers before."

Kinder raised more than $416,000 this year and had more than $57,000 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30, according to his October quarterly financial report.

A spokesman for Randles said she can use any leftover money from her exploratory committee for a full-blown campaign if she decides to run.