Missouri gubernatorial candidates raise millions of dollars

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Republican and a Democrat expected to run for Missouri governor raised more than $1 million apiece in recent months that could be spent on what's turning out to be an expensive race.

Campaign finance reports due Thursday show Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster received more than $1.5 million between July and the end of September, and Republican former Navy SEAL officer Eric Greitens raised more than $1.4 million.

Including four other announced Republican candidates, that brings the total raised for potential gubernatorial bids in 2016 in the past three months to more than $3.5 million, and candidates still have more than a year to raise money in a state without campaign contribution limits.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.

Koster is a clear fundraising front-runner and now has a total pot of more than $5 million, which is more than all five Republican candidates combined.

Koster previously has said he plans to run but has not officially announced his candidacy.

"The support for Attorney General Koster shows that Missourians are excited to support a leader who puts politics aside and does what's best for the state," spokesman Andrew Whalen said in a statement Thursday.

While first-time candidate Greitens was close to Koster's fundraising, he still is lagging in terms of how much he has to spend on his campaign. Koster has more than double Greitens' nearly $2.3 million.

But for an inexperienced candidate who began raising money in February, Greitens has established himself as a serious contender. Campaign manager Danny Laub said in a statement earlier this week fundraising "has shattered all expectations and has the establishment political class in both parties running scared."

Former U.S. attorney and Missouri House speaker Catherine Hanaway -- the first announced Republican candidate -- trails Greitens with about $1.5 million in cash to spend on her campaign.

She instead touted her total fundraising so far of more than $2 million and in a Thursday statement said she's "blessed to have support from so many Missourians."

Hanaway raised $166,090 in the most recent reporting period.

Suburban St. Louis businessman John Brunner -- who has been fundraising since April but announced his candidacy officially just this month -- has raked in about $277,000 since July 1.

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the only GOP candidate with prior experience in statewide office, brought in about $267,000 in cash.

That's based on money recently raised in a now-terminated committee that was transferred to his current campaign as well as recent fundraising through the new committee.

Deputy treasurer Craig Arnzen said the campaign opened a new committee after realizing discrepancies in reporting that occurred in the old campaign committee. Arnzen said a review of previous campaign finances for Kinder is underway.

State Sen. Bob Dixon of Springfield brought in the least amount of cash with $28,686 received, as well as what his campaign says is $150,000 worth of free political consulting and help fundraising from a South Carolina-based not-for-profit called Development Systems International.