GOP group puts $100,000 into Missouri judicial race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A national Republican group has contributed $100,000 to a judicial candidate in Missouri’s capital city.

Campaign finance reports show that the Republican State Leadership Committee’s political group gave the money this past weekend to Republican Brian Stumpe.

Stumpe is the Jefferson City municipal prosecutor but is challenging Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce, who is a Democrat.

Cole County’s judges not only hear typical criminal and civil cases, but also preside over challenges to state laws because the county is the seat of state government.

The national Republican group says its goal is to help candidates in down-ballot state races, including local judgeships.

Joyce’s campaign treasurer told the Jefferson City News Tribune that Stumpe should return the money unless the original donor to the Republican group is revealed.

This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 8:47 AM with the headline "GOP group puts $100,000 into Missouri judicial race."