Missouri Senate feud spills into governor’s race as GOP leader’s PAC funds attacks on Bill Eigel

In the winter, Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin said she would vote to expel state Sen. Bill Eigel.

This summer, a political action committee connected to O’Laughlin is working to stop him from becoming governor.

On July 5, the NEMO Leadership PAC — which was created to support O’Laughlin — contributed $100,000 to the Great Northwest PAC — which supports state Sen. Rusty Black, a Republican from Chillicothe. 

Four days later, Great Northwest PAC, which had $12,822 on hand on June 30, purchased six direct mail pieces targeting Eigel, at a cost of $100,000. 

The donation from NEMO Leadership to Great Northwest was disclosed to the Missouri Ethics Commission the day after it happened because it exceeded the $5,000 limit for immediate reporting. The way the money was used was not reported until Friday, when Great Northwest filed its final pre-primary election disclosure.

Both NEMO Leadership and Great Northwest have the same treasurer, Amber Watson, an executive of the Republican campaign opposition research firm Capitol City Research who also is a professional at political finance compliance. 

Neither Watson, Black nor O’Laughlin could be reached for comment.

Because contributions to Senate candidates are capped at $2,400, most also sponsor a political action committee. A candidate can solicit contributions to the PAC but cannot direct how the money is spent.

Unlike candidate committees, the PACs can accept unlimited donations. 

Eigel was a key member of GOP factions that disrupted regular business in the Senate over the past four years. 

O’Laughlin, elected Senate Republican floor leader in 2022 and expected to become Senate president pro tem next year, repeatedly clashed with Eigel.

Near the end of January, with frustrations reaching a boiling point, O’Laughlin said she would favor expelling Eigel during a question-and-answer session with editors and publishers gathered in the Capitol.

When Eigel learned what she said, he challenged her to repeat it on the Senate floor. He had to ask several times before he got his answer.

“I’d vote for it, yeah,” she said. “I absolutely would.”

Eigel has promised to continue his disruptive tactics if he becomes governor, saying he will veto large portions of spending bills and work to dismantle the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

At a campaign event in Jefferson City Monday, Eigel said the effort by PACs aligned with his Senate colleagues shows he is gaining ground as next Tuesday’s primary approaches. 

“This is an indication that my opponents know that they’re losing,” Eigel said.

He has trailed his major rivals — Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft — in most polls, but he has risen from single digits in the spring to being just outside the margin of error in more recent surveys.

“This really typifies what’s wrong in the Republican Party today,” Eigel said. “Those dollars that I think were made as contributions to the pro tem of the Senate ought to be saved for and used to help Republican candidates in the general election.”