State Auditor Tom Schweich raised nearly $266,000 during the past three months as he began gearing up for a re-election campaign next year against a yet-to-be-determined candidate.
Schweich, a Republican, described his fundraising figures reported Monday to the Missouri Ethics Commission as "a really good start." He had nearly $294,000 in his campaign fund as of the end of June, after accounting for expenses and money previously raised.
The auditor's race is the only statewide contest on Missouri's 2014 ballot. No Democrat has publicly announced a campaign against Schweich, though Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Joe Duffy said Monday that he believes a strong candidate will do so.
Candidate filing does not officially begin until Feb. 25, though many who make bids for statewide office typically get started before then.
After initially considering a U.S. Senate bid, Schweich announced his candidacy for the 2010 auditor's race in July 2009. He went on to win a Republican primary and defeat the Democratic incumbent, Auditor Susan Montee.
Of the $265,765 that Schweich raised from March through June, $100,000 came from a single donor - St. Louis businessman Sam Fox. But Schweich said his campaign will have a "broad base of donors."
Some politicians already are looking to 2016.
Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster confirmed in April - four months into Gov. Jay Nixon's second and final, four-year term - that he is preparing to run for governor.
Koster reported Monday that he raised nearly $506,000 during the past quarter and already had spent more than a quarter of that. He had $781,411 in his campaign account as of the end of June.
Republican House Speaker Tim Jones, of Eureka, who is considering a statewide run in 2016, reported receipts of about $71,000 during the past quarter and more than $628,000 in the bank.
Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt, of Glendale, who also is weighing a statewide campaign, reported receipts of $44,500 and a campaign account balance of almost $603,000.
Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, said Monday that he is still evaluating his options for 2016. Schaefer's statewide campaign committee reported receipts of nearly $67,000 during the past quarter and about $80,000 in his campaign account as of June 30. But he also reported a debt of almost $70,000. On Monday, Schaefer's campaign reported receiving an additional $500,000 from a family trust fund.