Legislative candidates raised nearly $16.7 million

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Candidates for the Missouri Legislature raised nearly $16.7 million in this year's elections as Republicans and Democrats waged perhaps their biggest battle ever for control of the Legislature.

Republicans won majorities in both the House and Senate, although Democratic candidates actually raised and spent a little more money, according to figures released Friday by the Missouri Ethics Commission, which receives campaign finance reports.

All told, candidates spent $15.5 million. Some of their leftover money still could be used to pay expenses or could be carried over to future campaigns.

"It's never really about who raises the most money," said state Republican Party executive director John Hancock. "It's about whether you raise enough to get the message out, and then it comes down to who has the superior message. I think in campaign after campaign this year, Republicans had the superior message."

Republican legislative candidates raised a total of nearly $8.3 million and spent almost $7.6 million in the primary and general elections.

Democratic candidates raised a total of nearly $8.4 million and spent almost $8 million in the primary and general elections.

Those figures do not include money spent on behalf of candidates by political party committees or other interest groups.

More money than usual

The total raised by state legislative candidates fell short of the nearly $21 million raised by Democrat Jean Carnahan and Republican Jim Talent in the U.S. Senate race. Although Carnahan raised more money than Talent, Talent narrowly won that election.

Political parties said more money than usual was poured into this year's state legislative races because the stakes were higher.

The onset of term limits prevented about half of the incumbent House members and one-third of the incumbent senators from seeking re-election. That meant there were more open seats and more contested races.

At the same time, redistricting based on the 2000 census changed the boundaries of many districts, meaning candidates had to acquaint themselves with new groups of voters. Redistricting also was believed to give Republicans a better chance of winning the House, which had been held by Democrats since 1954.

Republicans took control of the Senate in special elections in 2001 and were able to build upon their majority in this year's election.

The Ethics Commission report marked the first time the agency had released total fund-raising and expenditure figures so soon after an election.

The commission's executive director, Robert F. Connor, said staff made it a priority this year and used a computer program to get the job done.

"If you have to wait six to eight months to get it, it's all over" and loses much of its relevance, Connor said.

According to Missouri Ethics Commission figures, Democratic House candidates raised the most money at just over $6 million, followed by Republican House candidates at $4.9 million.

But Republican Senate candidates fared better than Democrats, raising $3.4 million compared to the Democrats' $2.4 million.

------

On the Net:

Missouri Ethics Commission: www.moethics.state.mo.us