Mo. AG reports $1.6M in bank account for 2016

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster on Wednesday reported raising $613,000 over the last three months, his third consecutive quarter of receipts topping a half-million dollars as he prepares to run for governor in 2016.

Koster started this year with nearly $1.6 million in his campaign bank account. The attorney general is serving his second term and reported raising $613,000 while spending nearly $100,000 and contributing another $100,000 to other candidates. No Republican has entered the 2016 governor race yet.

Campaign finance reports were due Wednesday to the Missouri Ethics Commission. The reports cover financial activities from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, who has announced plans to run for attorney general in 2016, reported raising nearly $131,000 during the past three months and $760,000 on hand to start the year. House Speaker Tim Jones raised about $258,000 and had $908,000 in his campaign bank account.

Jones, a Republican from Eureka, is considering a 2016 campaign for statewide office. He is barred by term limits from seeking re-election to the Missouri House.

"With help from people and business across Missouri, I will be able to accomplish my goal of protecting our Republican majority and continuing to fight for the conservative policy solutions that Missouri needs," Jones said.

The lone statewide office appearing on this year's ballot is auditor. Republican incumbent Tom Schweich started his re-election year with $662,000 in his campaign account after raising about $239,000 during the last three months of 2013. State Rep. Jay Swearingen, of Kansas City, had been the lone Democrat to announce plans to challenge Schweich but said Wednesday that he is dropping out of the race.

Schweich said he looks forward to traveling the state and discussing his work "promoting transparency and accountability in state government."