Boone County’s Taylor Burks leads fundraising in Republican race to succeed Hartzler
In the crowded Republican primary to fill U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s seat in Congress, former Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks has continued to lead his opponents in fundraising by a significant margin.
Burks, a U.S. Navy veteran, has centered his campaign around supporting the military, farmers and teachers. His campaign has raised a total of nearly $760,000 as of the end of June, according to his most recent filing with the Federal Elections Commission. That’s $170,000 more than former Fox 4 anchor Mark Alford, the second-highest fundraiser who has raised just under $583,000.
April through the end of June proved to be big fundraising months for the former Boone County clerk, who raised $212,000, according to his July quarterly report with the FEC. Most of that money came from individual donations while $19,500 came from political action committees.
While Burks leads the field in total fundraising, Alford ended June with the most cash on hand, according to his FEC report. Alford’s $346,500 cash on hand is about $74,000 more than Burks’ $272,500.
While the Republican primary for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District is packed with seven candidates, only four have debated publicly: Burks, Alford, state Sen. Rick Brattin and cattle farmer Kalena Bruce. Those candidates, who traded jabs during a debate last week at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, are also the four highest fundraisers in the race.
Brattin and Bruce rank third and fourth respectively in total fundraising, according to their most recent FEC filings. Brattin, who last month received the race’s sole endorsement from the state’s largest anti-abortion group Missouri Right to Life, has raised a total of just over $250,500. Bruce, whose campaign is backed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Farm Bureau, has raised about $229,000 total.
In the weeks leading up to the Aug. 2 primary, the Republicans’ campaigns have ramped up through candidate forums, the UCM debate and TV ad buys. In Burks’ most recent campaign video posted on social media earlier this month, he painted himself as a conservative outsider and attacked the media using language that denied the existence of transgender people.
“The media? They call us every name in the book,” Burks said in the 30-second video clip. “If you want borders, you’re a racist. If you think there’s only two genders, they call you stupid. What a bunch of (expletive).”
Former St. Louis Blues hockey player Jim Campbell, who has not appeared at any of the public debates or candidate forums, loaned over $1 million to his campaign in June, according to his FEC report. Campbell’s report showed he’s received only $6,050 in other contributions throughout his campaign.
During last week’s debate in Warrensburg, Alford Brattin, Bruce and Burks were asked to weigh in on the upcoming U.S. Senate primary where Hartzler is running as a Republican.
Bruce was the only candidate to give a definitive answer and said she would be voting for Hartzler. Burks said his vote would be between Hartzler and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, but he wanted to see a public debate.
Alford and Brattin, who have similarly centered their campaigns around conservative social issues, said they hadn’t yet made up their minds.
This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 1:30 PM.
