Missouri House 59th District incumbent Rep. Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, has held the seat for the past four years. He's well established and well connected.
Challenger George Bacon is pushing the gas price as an overriding issue in this year's primary election, which takes place Aug. 2.
As of July 15, a deadline for turning in fundraising records for the previous quarter, Veit was outstripping the challenger in fundraising. Veit's campaign came into the quarter with a war chest of nearly $29,000. During the quarter, he raised more than $43,500.
Bacon's coffers, on the other hand, were empty coming into the quarter. He raised less than one-tenth the funds Veit did during the period.
There is no Democrat running for the office, so the winner of the primary will win the seat.
The newly shaped district (before this year's changes) included the westernmost parts of Jefferson City, western and northern parts of Cole County and stretched down into northern parts of Miller County. Under the new maps, it still includes part of Jefferson City (south of U.S. 50 and west of Commerce Drive), but the remainder of the district is now the rest of Cole County (excluding the majority of Jefferson City). The district had already included Centertown, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martin and Wardsville, but now also includes St. Thomas. It no longer contains St. Elizabeth in Miller County.
Here is a snapshot of the finances for both candidates.
Veit's campaign has been flush with money.
In the latest financial filings found on the Missouri Ethics Commission website (for April 1-June 30), the re-election committee for Veit -- Rudy Veit for State Representative -- showed his campaign had a balance of $28,847 entering the period. It took in another $43,581 over the time frame. And, it spent $12,841 to end with a balance of $59,587.
Bacon's election committee -- Better with Bacon -- showed a zero balance coming into the period. However, it raised $3,524 during the period and spent $3,506. It ended with a balance of $18.53.
The committee also had credit card expenditures, and reported a debt of $3,897.
The committee took in $900 at fundraisers and showed itemized contributions of $1,325.
Individuals who contribute $100 or more must be recorded in Ethics Commission reports.
Bacon was the only individual who contributed at least $400 to his campaign. He did that twice, with contributions of $400 and $550.
He also received $200 contributions from himself, Timothy Steinman and Mike Groose. The Bacon campaign received $150 from Amanda Harris.
It received $100 contributions from William Browning and Ruth Mehrhoff.
One of Better with Bacon's top expenditures was for fuel. In 12 fuel stops, the candidate spent $776. He has been an outspoken opponent to the fuel tax lawmakers passed in May last year. The new law increases the fuel tax in five 2.5-cent steps, with the last increase taking effect July 1, 2025. It is designed so each annual increase is less than the constitutional limit on tax increases without voter approval.
The campaign has, thus far, paid $4,572 on yard signs, push cards, door-hangers, T-shirts and Koozies.
Other top expenditures were $190 for signage and $130 for parade float decorations. He spent $50 on a parade entry fee and $49.85 on parade costumes.
Information the Rudy Veit for State Representative campaign posted for April 1-June 30 lists 233 contributors during the period, although several do not meet the requirement to be listed on state forms -- that they contributed in aggregate $100 or more toward the campaign.
The top contributors to Veit's campaign each pitched in $2,000 in the aggregate -- University of MO Flagship Council PAC, $2,000; AGC of MO PAC, $2,000; Mike Kampeter, $2,000; Mark Kempker, $2,000; Mildred Schell, $2,000; and Tony Feather, $2,000.
Other contributors who donated $1,000 or more in the aggregate were Mo Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC, $1,810; Eric Davis, $1,075; MOFOP PAC, $1,000; Missouri Realtors PAC, $1,000; Victoria Gunn, $1,000; and The St. Louis Police Officers Association PAC, $1,000. The Mo Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC donations included $310 in in-kind donations.
Contributors to the Veit campaign who gave between $500 and $999 included: Larry Kolb, $750; Richard Peerson, $680; Brenda Popp, $650; A Better Missouri PAC, $600; Donald Drury, $500; Jason Ludwig, $500; MLPA Legislative Fund, $500; Ben Bielski Jr., $500; Ed Clausen, $500; Sherri Wilbers, $500; Michael Kehoe, $500; Lathrop Gage Consulting PAC, $500; Jacob Vogel, $500; Mo State Council of Firefighters PAC, $500; Missouri Alliance PAC, $500; Warren County Concrete LLC, $500; Edward Twehous, $500; and Central to Good Government PAC, $500.
Contributors in the aggregate of $100-$499 were: Kathleen Grassle, $430; Ron Fitzwater, $430; PT-PAC of MO, $400; Jeannette Bernskoetter, $300; Dana Frese, $300; David Doering, $250; Thomas Kolb, $250: MO Rental Dealers Association PAC, $250; MO Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors PAC, $250; Mandel and Mandel LLP, $250; Jenifer Placzek, $250; Law Office of Chris Miller LLC, $250; Holman Schiavone LLC, $250; Ortwerth Law LLC, $250; Kevin Gunn, $250; John Simon, $250; Mark Ludwig, $250; Michael Campbell, $250; Elizabeth Skinner, $250; Randy Alberhasky, $250; Chandler Gregg, $250; Health Injury Law LLC, $250; Robert Robuck, $250; Rick Naught, $250; Sharon Naught, $250; Michael Riley, $250; Katherine Peerson, $250; Matthew Clement, $250; Pat Kerr, $250; Michael C. Reid & Associates, $250; Capitol Solutions Consulting, $250; CLCP PAC, $250; Christopher Busken, $250; Mike Moreland Attorney at Law LLC, $250; Better Schools for Missouri, $250; Greg Gaffke, $205; Perry Gorrell, $200; Kari Schulte, $200; Timothy Van Ronzelen, $200; Kathryn Harness, $200; Mo State Teachers Association Legislative Impact Committee, $200; Ron Fitzwater, $180; Jackie Beal, $175; Harry Otto, $165; Kenneth Rowan, $150; Bob Weber, $125; Bret Bodenhamer, $125; Terry Rackers, $125; John Kolb, $125; Schuyler Mariea, $125; F. Joe Delong III, $125; Jonathan Dolan, $125; Roy Michael, $125; Judy Ridgeway, $125; Penelope Quigg, $115; John Kerr, $100; Don Eggen, $100; Greg Sharpe, $100; Jason Paulsmeyer, $100; Jeff Hoelscher, $100; Husch Blackwell Strategies, $100; Chapel Law Group LLC, $100; Kristin Arnold, $100; R.J. Scherr & Associates, $100; Janet Kauffman, $100; Rita Dallmeyer, $100; Harvey Tettlebaum, $100; Ann Littlefield, $100; Paula Burnett, $100; and David Nunn, $100.
George Bacon