Via the Missouri Secretary of State:

State Senator – District 1 (106 of 106 Precincts Reported)

Scott Sifton Democrat 45,486 50.9%

Jim Lembke Republican 43,858 49.1%

Total Votes 89,344

[emphasis added]

Yes, this Jim Lembke (r) will no longer serve in the Missouri Senate come January.

Scott Sifton (D), the Senator-elect, will have a different agenda (from his campaign web site):

….”Lobbyists shower gifts, meals and trips on elected officials for one reason – it works,” said Scott Sifton. “There aren’t lobbyists for ordinary citizens in Jefferson City. We need to take the gifts-for-access model off the table.”

Sifton has never accepted a meal, trip or gift from a lobbyist – and he never will.

Sifton continued, “I agree with Republican State Senator John Lamping (R-24), who was quoted, ‘We, as elected officials, need to hold ourselves to the highest standards.'” Lamping, like Sifton, accepts no gifts, no trips, and no free meals.

“My first piece of legislation I file will be a total ban on lobbyist gifts to legislators, their staffs and their families. It has to stop.” Sifton concluded.

[emphasis added]

That would be a good start.

Somebody must think there are vulnerable republicans in the Missouri Senate. The past few days at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091061 09/22/2012 SCOTT SIFTON FOR SENATE Missouri Democratic State Committee State Account PO Box 719 Jefferson City MO 65102 9/22/2012 $7,500.00

C091061 09/22/2012 SCOTT SIFTON FOR SENATE Democratic Senatorial Committee PO Box 7319 Columbia MO 65205 9/22/2012 $25,000.00

C081050 09/23/2012 MARY STILL FOR SENATE MO Senate Democratic Campaign Committee PO Box 7319 Columbia MO 65205 9/22/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

The candidates in the 1st Senate District:

State Senator – District 1

Democrat

Scott Sifton 9814 BERWICK PL ST LOUIS MO 63123 3/27/2012

Republican

Jim Lembke 812 ANN LYNN CT ST LOUIS MO 63125 3/20/2012

[emphasis added]

The candidates in the 19th Senate District:

State Senator – District 19

Democrat

Mary Wynne Still PO BOX 933 COLUMBIA MO 65205 2/28/2012

Republican

Kurt Schaefer PO BOX 1614 COLUMBIA MO 65205 2/28/2012

[emphasis added]

The latest summaries, in the 1st Senate District:

C010450: Lembke For Senate

Information Reported On: 2012 – 30 Day After Primary Election-8/7/2012

Beginning Money on Hand $308,626.64

Ending Money On Hand $332,584.66

[emphasis added]

C091061: Scott Sifton For Senate

Information Reported On: 2012 – 30 Day After Primary Election-8/7/2012

Beginning Money on Hand $9,240.08

Monetary Receipts $110,995.11

Ending Money On Hand $36,336.62

[emphasis added]

In the 19th Senate District:

C081145: Citizens To Elect Kurt Schaefer

Information Reported On: 2012 – 30 Day After Primary Election-8/7/2012

Beginning Money on Hand $556,849.12

Ending Money On Hand $590,975.02

 [emphasis added]

C081050: Mary Still For Senate

Information Reported On: 2012 – 30 Day After Primary Election-8/7/2012

Beginning Money on Hand $138,893.39

Ending Money On Hand $149,597.04

[emphasis added]

The republicans have all the money the need. The Democratic candidates have demonstrated an ability to raise money. These races are going to be very interesting to watch.

You spend a lot of cash propping up someone who will actually have an opponent in the general election.

Previously: Campaign Finance: money is not a problem (March 29, 2012)

From the Missouri Secretary of State:

State Senator – District 15

Republican

Eric Schmitt 937 BROWNELL AVE

ST LOUIS MO 63122 742 2/28/2012

Unopposed.

State Senator – District 23

Republican

Tom Dempsey 3103 BUCKSKIN PATH

ST CHARLES MO 63301 2/29/2012

Unopposed.

What happens? Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C010450 03/31/2012 LEMBKE FOR SENATE Dempsey For Senate Two Westbury Dr St Charles MO 63301 3/30/2012 $25,000.00

C010450 03/31/2012 LEMBKE FOR SENATE Schmitt For Senate PO Box220722 Kirkwood MO 63122 3/30/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

This is why, failing everything else, the party which is in the minority should have placeholders file for office against the majority’s incumbents.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission [pdf]:

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C010450 LEMBKE FOR SENATE 3/29/2012

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee

P.O. Box 754

Jefferson City , MO 65102 3/28/2012

$100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, that’s interesting. They seem to have all the money they need.

The candidates in the 1st Senate District:

State Senator – District 1

Democrat

Sue Schoemehl PO BOX 510376

ST LOUIS MO 63151 510 2/28/2012

Michael Vogt 6035 WEBER RD

ST LOUIS MO 63123 2/29/2012

Scott Sifton 9814 BERWICK PL

ST LOUIS MO 63123 3/27/2012

Republican

Jim Lembke 812 ANN LYNN CT

ST LOUIS MO 63125 3/20/2012