BY: JASON HANCOCK
Missouri Independent
A trio of political action committees supporting either Andrew Bailey or Will Scharf in the Republican primary for Missouri attorney general have raised $4.6 million in large donations this month.
The money has translated into an onslaught of TV ads, mailers and text messages from both sides hoping to win the GOP nomination in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2018.
Voters head to the polls on Aug. 6, though no-excuse early voting has already opened.
Bailey, who was appointed attorney general by Gov. Mike Parson in 2022 and is seeking a full term, is being supported by Liberty and Justice PAC.
It raised $1.9 million in large donations this month — checks of more than $5,000 that must be immediately reported.
Most of that money came from Rex and Jeanie Sinquefield, Missouri’s most prolific political donors, who have given the PAC more than $1 million in recent weeks. Another $500,000 came from the Kansas law firm of Michael Ketchmark.
So far this year, Liberty and Justice PAC has taken in $3.5 million in large donations.
Scharf, a former assistant U.S. attorney, is being supported by two PACs — Defend Missouri and Club for Growth Action.
Most of Defend Missouri’s money has come from Club for Growth Action, though it did receive a $1.1 million donation this week from the Concord Fund — an advocacy organization bankrolled by groups connected to conservative activist Leonard Leo.
Club for Growth Action has raised $1.9 million this month, with $1.3 million of that coming from its federal PAC and $250,000 coming from Scharf’s father.
So far this year, Club for Growth has taken in $7.6 million in large donations.