JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Fund-raising for Missouri Attorney General candidates is ramping up with a three to one advantage for the Republican looking to occupy the seat held for two terms by a Democrat.
According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, Josh Hawley (R) currently has more than $3 million in campaign donations, while Teresa Hensley (D) has just under $1 million.
While Hawley currently has out-raised Hensley, both candidates received generous donations in August and September.
On Sept. 28, Hawley's campaign reported receiving $1 million from the Missouri Freedom PAC which has been funded by the Republican Attorneys General Association. Hawley’s campaign had previously received $1 million from the Missouri Freedom PAC on Sept. 2 and Aug. 23, and $50,000 on Aug. 4.
On Sept. 26, Hawley's campaign reported receiving $500,000 from David Humphreys, president and CEO of Joplin-based TAMKO Building Products, and another $500,000 from Sarah Atkins, Humphreys' sister. Hawley has received at least $2 million this year from Humphreys and his family. On Aug. 12 Hawley received $100,000 from Ronald Cameron, chairman of Mountaire Corp. of Little Rock, Ark.
Although trailing, Hensley’s campaign received $380,000 on Sept. 23 from 15 contributions from the Democratic Attorneys General Association, a Missouri political action committee. The largest donors were from Comcast in Philadelphia ($60,000); Visa in Austin, Texas ($50,000); and the American Association for Justice in Washington, D.C. ($50,000).
Other donors included:
• LegalShield in Ada, Oklahoma ($10,000)
• Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer in New York, N.Y. ($10,000)
• American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers in Washington, D.C. ($15,000)
• Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein in San Francisco ($15,000)
• Barrack, Rodos & Bacine in Philadelphia ($15,000.00)
• Property Casualty Insurers Association of America in Chicago ($15,000)
• Argentum Silver PAC in Alexandia, Va, ($15,000)
• Sunovision in Marlborough, Mass. ($25,000)
• Altria Client Services in Richmond, Va. ($25,000)
• Relix Inc. in Newton, Mass. ($25,000)
• UPS PAC in Atlanta ($25,000)
• Aflac Inc. in Wynnton Road Columbus. Ga, ($25,000).
Hensley also received $115,000 from four separate donors on Aug. 30. On Aug. 12, Hensley received $200,000 from the CHIPP Political Account, a political action committee run by the Carpenters’ District Council of St. Louis & Vicinity.
Also in August Hensley received several $10,000 contributions, including from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill; the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters PAC in Blue Springs, Mo.; James Nutter Company in Kansas City; Redcard in St. Louis; Blitz Bardgett Deutsch in Frontenac, Mo.; and the Ironworkers Poitica Education Fund in Washington, D.C.
One $15,000 donor was the United Association Political Education Committee in Annapolis, Md.
Hensley received even bigger money in the form of several $20,000 donations, including from Simmons Hanly Controy of Alton; the Pipefitters Local Union 533 Volunteer Political Fund in Kansas City; and Emily’s List in Washington D.C.
A $25,000 contribution topped Hensley’s August donation list, from the Western Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council PAC in Kansas City.
The Missouri Ethics Commission reports single campaign donations 48 hours after the date of the contribution.