Show-Me State Times

Democrat Nicole Galloway has raised more campaign funds than her competition in the race for Missouri Governor in the first quarter of 2020 — including during the COVID-19 crisis.

Galloway has not shied away from acknowledging the COVID-19 crisis as part of her campaign to become governor. In fact, between March 13, when Gov. Parson declared a state of emergency, through April 15, Galloway raised at least $269,651 — approximately 35 percent of her 2020 campaign fundraising. From March 13 to March 31, she raised $144,651.75, or 23 percent of her first quarter fundraising.

Gov. Mike Parsons raised $332,000 in Q1 2020. St. Louis Public Radio notes that the political action committee supporting Parsons (Uniting Missouri) raised $787,350, while the political action committee supporting Galloway (Keep Government Accountable) raised $230,550.  

Galloway is the Missouri State Auditor, serving in that position since April 27, 2015. Prior to that, she served as Boone County Treasurer.

Since March 13, Galloway has referred often to the coronavirus crisis, including 184 tweets; 12 campaign emails, including one on the day that Gov. Parson declared a state of emergency and five that included fundraising solicitations; half a dozen press releases that mention the coronavirus and two Missouri Democratic Party fundraising emails that take issue with Parson’s coronavirus response.   

One email came on April 8, when she highlighted news related to the campaign, including the following excerpt from the St. Louis-Post Dispatch:

“Since the state’s first confirmed case was reported on March 7, Galloway’s campaign messaging has focused exclusively on pushing Parson to act more aggressively. She has pressed him to declare a state of emergency, expand testing, establish a COVID-19 response command center, and clear statutory barriers within the unemployment insurance program.”  

In that same email, she asked email recipients to “consider adding a grassroots contribution to the campaign."

The Democratic Governors Association wrote on April 16 that “Disaster is snowballing for the Parson campaign,” pointing out that his allies spent more than $1 million but he still faced primary challengers. The piece also suggests that the increased spending by his campaign and support of his political action committee, Uniting Missouri, may have come too late.

“Mike Parson’s abysmal fundraising this quarter is a reflection of his terrible handling of the coronavirus pandemic,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Christina Amestoy. “Parson has failed to lead during this crisis, as evidenced by his late stay-at-home order and the countless public health officials who begged him to take more decisive action earlier. While Parson continues to hide from the press and dodge community leaders, State Auditor Nicole Galloway has been ensuring that billions in taxpayer money is spent responsibly. Parson has been following Galloway’s lead throughout the entire pandemic – so it just makes sense that she’d out-fundraise him.”

St. Louis Public Radio said the race is “expected to draw national attention and money, because there aren’t that many other competitive contests.” They did note that the Republican Governor’s Association sent $500,000 to Uniting Missouri after the first quarter fundraising reporting deadline.