Candidates filed their second quarter campaign finance reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission on Friday. Two Democrats and two republicans have filed to run for Attorney General.

For Teresa Hensley (D):

C151147: Teresa Hensley For Missouri

Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 410070 Party Affiliation: Democrat
Kansas City Mo 64141 Established Date: 08/10/2015
[….]
Information Reported On: 2016 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $228,198.61
Monetary Receipts + $92,567.28
Monetary Expenditures – $36,639.66
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $55,927.62
Ending Money On Hand $284,126.23

[emphasis added]

For Jake Zimmerman (D):

C051130: Citizens For Jake Zimmerman
Committee Type: Candidate
9046 Old Bonhomme Road Party Affiliation: Democrat
St Louis Mo 63132 Established Date: 06/13/2005
[….]
Information Reported On: 2016 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $1,184,875.33
Monetary Receipts + $203,403.45
Monetary Expenditures – $40,945.19
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $4,595.02
Subtotal $157,863.24
Ending Money On Hand $1,342,738.57

[emphasis added]

For Josh Hawley (r):

C151132: Hawley For Missouri
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 1073 Party Affiliation: Republican
Columbia Mo 65205 Established Date: 07/23/2015
[….]
Information Reported On: 2016 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $802,542.33
Monetary Receipts + $431,188.77
Monetary Expenditures – $105,338.64
Contributions Made – $1,395.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $324,455.13
Ending Money On Hand $1,126,997.46

[emphasis added]

For Kurt Schaeffer (r):

C081145: Citizens To Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 1614 Party Affiliation: Republican
Columbia Mo 65205 Established Date: 04/04/2008
[….]
Information Reported On: 2016 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $2,071,695.94
Monetary Receipts + $93,363.00
Monetary Expenditures – $82,615.70
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $10,747.30
Ending Money On Hand $2,082,443.24

[emphasis added]

There’s a minimum critical mass in campaign fundraising when any candidate runs for statewide office in a down ballot race (uh, anything statewide that’s not Governor or U.S. Senate). The amount of money is usually somewhere in the six digit range when it comes close to the primary date. Seven digits is nice, but where is the candidate gonna spend it all before the primary? We are certain that the campaign consultant industrial complex will find a way.