WASHINGTON — Two congressional veterans and a flock of challengers have begun to raise money in an election season that could see some Boone County voters casting ballots for unfamiliar faces later this year.
Due to unusual mid-decade redistricting by the Missouri General Assembly, many voters may find themselves in new congressional districts. It’s part of a nationwide effort by both parties to give themselves an advantage as control of the U.S. House hangs in the balance. Currently, Republicans control the chamber with 217 seats to the Democrats’ 213.
The boundaries of Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District, which covers the southern part of Boone County, are changing. But the biggest switch is likely to be in the northern part of the county. Currently part of the 4th Congressional District, those voters will be switched to the 5th Congressional District, barring a last-minute legal victory for Democrats, who are trying to block the changes.
Missouri’s primary election day is Aug. 4; the general election is Nov. 3.
Here’s a look at how the races are shaping up after Wednesday’s release of first-quarter fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission:
3rd Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, who lives in St. Charles County outside St. Louis, is seeking a second two-year term. He faces a Republican primary challenger, John Fraser, who lists a Columbia address. But Fraser reported that he had not raised enough money in the first quarter to require him to file a report with the FEC. The threshold is $5,000.
On the Democratic side, three candidates are vying for the nomination: Bethany Mann, Paul Wilson and Tommy Holstein. Only Mann and Wilson filed first-quarter campaign finance reports. While Mann — who ran unsuccessfully against Onder in 2024 — significantly outpaced Wilson in fundraising, both Democrats’ warchests are dwarfed by the incumbent.
Onder raised 14 times what the Democrats did combined. More than half his contributions came from political action committees, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, the National Beer Wholesalers Association and a number of PACs representing medical associations. Onder is a physician.
In his first campaign for office, Onder loaned himself $900,000. This year, his campaign records show that Republican mega-donors Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield paid down $6,000 of that loan.
5th Congressional District
If the GOP remap stands, as appears likely, it will put the northern part of Boone County into the 5th Congressional District, represented for more than two decades by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat and a fixture of Kansas City politics.
More than half of Cleaver’s contributions for the quarter came from political action committees, including a number representing investment banking powerhouses such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Cleaver is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.
Despite his formidable warchest, Cleaver is drawing a crowd of Republican challengers, a reflection of the fact that the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District is designed to favor the GOP.
While Taylor Burks appears to be the leader in the Republican fundraising sweepstakes, a closer look reveals that the lion’s share of his first quarter take came from one donor: himself. Burks reported loaning his campaign $900,000. Of the funds he did raise, $26,000 came from donors in Columbia, including local political activist Randy Minchew.
Burks, who is from Hartsburg, boasts endorsements from a number of mid-Missouri officials, including former U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer. Then-Gov. Eric Greitens appointed Burks to fill a vacancy for Boone County clerk in 2017. When Burks ran in 2018, he lost the race. In 2019, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Burks to be the state’s director of Labor Standards. Since then, he has served as a top executive for several mid-Missouri businesses. He serves on the Board of Governors for Truman State University, his alma mater.
State Sen. Rick Brattin raised more than $100,000 from individual donors in and around the suburban Kansas City area that he represents. Several of his would-be congressional colleagues also made contributions: U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison gave Brattin $2,000 from his congressional campaign committee and another $3,500 from a separate fundraising committee, Ever Relentless In Conservatism. Tiger PAC, a committee affiliated with Onder, gave $3.500. Onder also gave $3,500 as an individual.
Brett Hueffmeier of Kansas City is running an almost entirely self-financed campaign so far. He has donated more than $19,000 to his own campaign so far and loaned it another $175,000.
Brad Patty, a 25-year Army veteran from Fayette, raised $2,735 but owes $5,023 to his web developer and accountant.
Micah Beebe and Berton Knox also are running in the 5th Congressional District’s Republican primary but did not file first quarter campaign finance reports with the FEC.