Republican outraises, outspends Libertarian in race for state Senate District 10

Travis Fitzwater, left, and Catherine Dreher
Travis Fitzwater, left, and Catherine Dreher


The Republican candidate for Missouri's 10th state Senate District seat has more than 23 times the amount of cash on hand as his Libertarian opponent leading into the final stretch of the campaign season.

Holts Summit Republican Travis Fitzwater had $56,534 in campaign contributions as of Sept. 30, according to the latest campaign finance reports submitted Monday to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Lincoln County Libertarian Catherine Dreher had nearly $2,400 at the end of the reporting period.

Fitzwater and Dreher are vying for the 10th state Senate district seat Jeanie Riddle, a Mokane Republican, is leaving because of term limits. State senators can serve up to two four-year terms and have an annual salary of about $37,711.

Fitzwater, who is facing term limits after serving eight years in the Missouri House, had nearly $14,500 on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, which contains contributions and expenditures between Aug. 28 and Sept. 30, and took in another $43,700 over the course of the month. He spent approximately $1,654 during the same period.

Dreher had roughly $1,750 on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and raked in another $2,525. She spent $1,886 during the course of the month.

Including the most recent expenditures, Fitzwater has spent more than $235,700 running for state Senate and Dreher a total of $3,434. Fitzwater has raised a total of $246,256 throughout this election and Dreher has raised slightly more than $5,800.

Donors who contributed $1,000 or more in the aggregate to Fitzwater's campaign this period include: Missouri Medical Political Action Committee, $2,400; Nemo Leadership PAC, $2,400; Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC, $2,400; Missouri Hospital Association PAC, $2,400; MLPA Legislative Fund, $2,400; MO Association of Nurse Anesthetists PAC, $2,400; A Better Missouri Political Action Committee, $2,400; PT-PAC of Missouri, $2,400; Missouri First, $2,400; Credit Union Political Action Committee, $2,000; AGC of MO PAC, $2,000; Meda PAC, $2,000; Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association PAC, $1,200; MO Trucking PAC, $1,000; AT&T Missouri Employee Political Action Committee, $1,000; ATGS PAC, $1,000; Missouri Insurance Coalition PAC, $1,000; American Property Casualty Insurance Association Missouri PAC, $1,000; Missouri Corn Growers Association State PAC, $1,000; Missouri Farm Bureau Federation State PAC, $1,000; Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Political Action Committee, $1,000; Callaway County Republican Central Committee, $1,000; Missouri Leadership Fund, $1,000; and BNSF Railey Company Rail PAC Missouri, $1,000.

Contributors to the Fitzwater campaign who gave in the aggregate of $500-$999 in this cycle were: NFIB Missouri Political Action Committee, $500; Missouri Chamber PAC, $500; The Grote Group LLC, $500; William Marrs, $500; Missouri Concrete Association PAC, $500; Lincoln CO Republican Club, $500; and Consulting Engineers Council of MO PAC, $500.

Donors who gave $100-$499 to Fitzwater's campaign in the aggregate in this cycle include: Crossing Paths, $200; Linda Rallo, $100; and Ron Fitzwater, $100.

Donors who contributed at least $100 to Dreher's campaign this period include: MO Libertarian Party, $1,500; Rebecca Minemier, $402.50; Elliott Flooring, $200; and Sandra Moody, $193.24. She had 12 additional contributions under $100.

Both candidates held fundraising events during the most recent reporting period.

Fitzwater spent $784 hosting a campaign fundraiser at Canterbury Hill on Sept. 13. The 30-person event generated $12,800 for his campaign.

Outside of that event, Fitzwater has spent about $550 on campaign meals, $200 on campaign fuel, $100 on marketing materials and about $90 on office supplies.

Dreher spent $307 to host a raffle fundraiser at the Lincoln County Fair on Aug. 28, which raised $62 for her campaign.

Outside of that event, she's spent more than $1,500 on marketing materials.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

  photo Travis Fitzwater