Mega-donors pick sides in Missouri GOP attorney general race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some of Missouri's largest political donors are picking sides as the state attorney general's race heats up and two Republican hopefuls prepare for an anticipated primary showdown in 2016.

The wealthy Humphreys family is backing newcomer Josh Hawley, a University of Missouri School of Law associate professor and Republican attorney. Mega-donor Rex Sinquefield bolstered state Sen. Kurt Schaefer's war chest yet again this month with his second donation in as many years.

At stake is a statewide seat tasked with being the people's advocate of Missouri. The attorney general is responsible for prosecuting consumer fraud and acting as a watchdog to nursing homes. It also handles appeals of felony criminal cases and defends against challenges to state laws, among other things.

Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster is expected to run for governor in 2016, which would leave the seat open and give Republicans the opportunity to seize the office for the first time in more than two decades. St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman and former Cass County prosecutor Teresa Hensley are running for the office as Democrats.

Of the more than $750,000 in cash that Hawley raised between July and September -- which is more than Schaefer and the two Democratic candidates -- at least $500,000 came from the Humphreys family, which owns Joplin-based Tamko Building Products.

The donations are an example of a trend among candidates who, in a state that allows unlimited campaign contributions, can in large part fund a campaign with the help of a single benefactor.

David Humphreys, who gave $125,000 to Hawley, said in a statement he backs free-market policies, lower taxes and lessening regulations on individuals and commerce.

"We support politicians who appear to share a similar philosophy," Humphreys said.

In a release last week about his fundraising, Hawley's campaign touted a majority of small donations. Only 16 of about 150 contributions Hawley received between July and the end of September were $5,000 or more, according to campaign finance reports.

"I'm just delighted to get support from people all over the state who are tired of business as usual in Jefferson City and want to see a change," said Hawley, who is running as a political outsider on a conservative platform.

But four single donations totaled $600,000 -- most of his fundraising.

Sinquefield also gave Schaefer, a Columbia Republican, $500,000 this month. He gave $250,000 to the candidate around the same time last year.

Requests for comment to Sinquefield were not immediately returned, but he's previously backed efforts to cut taxes and supports school choice. Sinquefield is a retired investment firm founder who helped form Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1981.

Schaefer, who is running on his prior experience as an assistant state attorney general and special prosecutor, said both he and Sinquefield are concerned about tax policy.

"I'm proud to have their support," Schaefer said of Sinquefield and his wife.

Zimmerman in a statement criticized the recent donations as contributing to poor public perception of candidates.

"We need an Attorney General who will work for all Missourians, not a few wealthy interests," he said.

Sinquefield's donation came after the deadline for the latest reporting period, when Schaefer came in last in terms of fundraising compared with Hawley and the two Democrats running for attorney general.

Schaefer raised about $146,000 in cash.

The Democratic candidates have not received donations as large as Hawley and Schaefer. Hensley's largest single contribution has been $50,000 from a carpenters union, and Zimmerman's highest donations included two $25,000 checks from his mother and father.

Still, Zimmerman hauled in about $188,000 in cash, and Hensley amassed roughly $162,000.

As of Sept. 30, Schaefer had the most cash on hand, with more than $1.4 million, not including the recent donation from Sinquefield. Zimmerman also has more than $1 million, and Hawley had about $718,000. Hensley had a little more than $151,000 on hand at the end of the reporting cycle. Hensley said it's still early in the race, and she only needs to raise enough to get her message out.