Will Scharf, left, and Andrew Bailey are candidates in the 2024 Republican primary for Missouri attorney general. Scharf is the former policy director for former ex-Gov. Eric Greitens; Bailey was appointed attorney general by Gov. Mike Parson.
JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A Republican challenging incumbent Attorney General Andrew Bailey is raking in major contributions from national conservative figures ahead of the Aug. 6 GOP primary.
A committee working to elect Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor who is running against Bailey, has netted nearly $3 million since last week from just three large donors, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
Last week, Scharf鈥檚 PAC received $500,000 from the Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth Action, and another $1 million from the Vienna, Virginia-based Concord Fund.
The Concord Fund Leonard Leo, co-founder of the Federalist Society who has donated to Scharf鈥檚 campaign directly in the past.
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On Wednesday, Scharf鈥檚 PAC accepted an additional $1.4 million 鈥 this time from billionaire investor Paul Singer, who recently supported former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley鈥檚 presidential bid.
The large checks highlight the support Scharf has received from national Republican figures. He is running against Bailey, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson after Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Bailey鈥檚 campaign said Scharf lacked in-state support.
鈥淲all Street is rallying today but it鈥檚 around 鈥榃all Street Willy,鈥 whose PAC is still searching far and wide from St. Joseph to Cape Girardeau for a single Missouri donor to contribute to them this year,鈥 Michael Hafner, spokesman for Bailey, said Thursday. He added Missourians won鈥檛 go along with 鈥淲all Street buying the attorney general鈥檚 office.鈥
Scharf pointed to support Bailey鈥檚 campaign has received from members of Missouri鈥檚 legal cannabis industry and trial attorneys.
Last week, Bailey鈥檚 political action committee took $100,000 from Kansas plaintiff鈥檚 law firm Ketchmark & McCreight. The Post-Dispatch reported last year that a co-owner of a marijuana company under state scrutiny hosted a fundraiser for Bailey.
鈥淲hile my opponent is being supported by liberal trial lawyers, pot dealers, and special interests, we鈥檙e proud to be supported by conservatives in Missouri and across the country,鈥 Scharf said in a statement.
While committees must report contributions over $5,000 within two days, full fundraising reports for the first quarter of the year are not due until later this month.
Since Missouri voters limited campaign contributions in 2016, it has become common practice for political action committees, which may still accept unlimited funds, to fundraise for candidates.
Bailey鈥檚 Liberty and Justice PAC reported having $1.2 million on hand at the end of last year, while Scharf鈥檚 Club for Growth Action鈥揗issouri Federal Committee had over $604,000 at the time.
The attorney general鈥檚 traditional campaign account, Bailey for Missouri, had $531,000 at the end of the year and Scharf鈥檚 traditional campaign account, Citizens for Scharf, had $847,000 on hand.
View life in 最新杏吧原创 through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
