Missouri
PAC spending in Missouri lieutenant governor's race shows links to candidate Dave Wasinger • Missouri Independent
A company that shares an address with lieutenant governor candidate Dave Wasinger’s home last week loaned $300,000 to a recently formed PAC for attacks on his two best-funded Republican primary opponents.
DACA Partners III LP on Thursday loaned the money to Missouri First Conservative PAC with terms stating it is to be repaid in 47 days with 4% annual interest. Depending on how interest is calculated on the loan, it will add about $1,550 to the repayment.
Missouri First Conservative PAC was formed May 29 and had no activity until receiving the loan.
The loan was reported in a Friday filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The filing does not state what kind of opposition message was being delivered in the mailing purchased for $139,656, only that the cost was divided to oppose state Sens. Holly Rehder of Scott City and Lincoln Hough of Springfield in equal amounts.
A second report, filed Tuesday, shows another $139,656 being spent on direct mail with a message supporting Wasinger. The PAC had $20,638 remaining.
Online searches found no revenue-producing business operation associated with DACA Partners III LP, created in May 2023 by attorney Jamie Mendez, according to records online at the Secretary of State’s office.
The mailing address of the general partners on the creation filing is Wasinger’s address as shown on his personal property tax records, online at the St. Louis County Assessor, and his candidate committee filing with the ethics commission.
The assessor’s office lists the owner of the home occupied by Wasinger as an entity called DACAS Properties LLC. There is no such business entity registered with the secretary of state.
Wasinger did not return calls seeking comment on the PAC transaction. Calls to his campaign manager, Kathryn Wagner, and the treasurer of Missouri First Conservative PAC, former St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch, were not returned.
The telephone number for Missouri First Conservative PAC is Wagner’s phone.
With Wasinger personally providing 94% of the $2.8 million his campaign has raised, Hough alleged the latest PAC spending is intentionally deceptive and intended to hide the source of the funding and the creator of the message.
“Why not put another 300 grand in and run your negative mail?” Hough said in an interview with The Independent. “Why not? Because you think we’re all too stupid to see that it’s actually your money doing it.”
Rehder did not return a call seeking comment.
The latest full campaign finance reports, which were due Monday, show Wasinger has loaned his own campaign $2.6 million so far, including $1 million since July 1. He has spent all but $265,000 of his campaign fund.
Wasinger was also the primary funder of his failed 2018 campaign for the Republican nomination for state auditor.
Hough, a long-time lawmaker from Springfield, has exceeded Wasinger’s fundraising through his campaign committee and Lincoln PAC, a joint fundraising committee. Hough’s campaign has raised $642,000 since the start of 2023 and the PAC has collected $2.5 million.
Except for candidates who can self-fund, like Wasinger, major candidates for statewide office have official campaign committees and joint fundraising PACs. Donations to the candidate committees are limited to $2,825, while the PACs can accept any amount.
Candidates can solicit funds for the PAC but are supposed to have no say in how it is used.
Rehder, of Scott City, has raised $555,000 through her campaign fund and another $369,000 through Southern Drawl PAC, her joint fundraising committee.
Of the three other candidates in the Republican primary — Paul Berry III of St. Louis County, Tim Baker of Franklin County and Matthew Porter of St. Louis County — only Porter has raised more than $100,000, and he suspended his campaign last month.
Wasinger has been missing from local Republican events that candidates use to introduce themselves around the state, Hough said.
“Some of us run campaigns,” Hough said. “I’ve been endorsed by law enforcement, first responders, business groups, as well as virtually every agricultural organization in this state. We’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles and met with thousands of voters. That’s what a campaign looks like.”
Hough is one of the few candidates who has a PAC that is easily identifiable with his candidacy. Some PACs report the candidate they support to the ethics commission but many do not.
“I will own what this stuff puts out,” Hough said. “Now, I don’t get to tell them what to do but my name is still on it, because I want to show everyone the ownership of me running my own race.”
The final campaign finance reports before the primary were due Monday at the Missouri Ethics Commission and last week at the Federal Election Commission.
Here’s a roundup of what they show:
Statewide races
Republican candidates in statewide primaries for the five constitutional offices have raised about $54 million, through candidate committees and PACs, including $22 million in the race for governor, through July 17.
They have spent almost all of that, more than $53 million, including $23.5 million in the governor’s primary, since the beginning of 2023.
In contrast, Democrats in statewide primaries have raised only $4.8 million, and spending totals $4 million. Almost all of that has been raised and spent in the primary for governor, where businessman Mike Hamra has used $1.9 million in personal funds, raising $1 million more in donations to his campaign fund and Together Missouri PAC.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield has raised $1.1 million for her campaign and $140,000 for Crystal PAC.
The top five Republican fundraisers for the primary are:
- Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, $13.8 million raised between his campaign and American Dream PAC, in his race for governor.
- Will Scharf, $9 million raised between his campaign committee and Defend Missouri PAC as he runs for attorney general.
- State Treasurer Vivek Malek, $5.7 million between his campaign fund and American Promise PAC as he seeks a full term in a six-way primary.
- State Sen. Bill Eigel, $5.3 million raised between his campaign and BILL PAC as he runs for governor.
- Attorney General Andrew Bailey, $4.1 million raised as he tries to hold the post he was appointed to in early 2023.
Federal races
The most recent filings in federal races show challengers are outraising incumbents in two races and personal wealth fueling a candidacy for Congress in another.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce reported raising $731,000 in the first 17 days of the month, compared to $184,422 for incumbent U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican. Kunce has outraised Hawley by almost $3 million since the start of 2023 but Hawley retains an advantage in accumulated cash, $5.7 million to $4.2 million for Kunce.
Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor challenging U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in the 1st District Democratic primary, reported $611,000 in the period and $4.7 million total for the campaign, while Bush raised about $236,000 for the period and $3 million for the campaign. Bush had about $354,000 left and Bell about $1.7 million.
The race has also attracted millions in outside spending for and against both candidates.
In the open 3rd District, former state Sen. Bob Onder, a Lake St. Louis Republican, made a $200,000 loan to his campaign, bringing his total commitment to the race to $700,000. He has raised an additional $455,000. His main rival, former Sen. Kurt Schaefer of Columbia, has raised $272,000.
The 3rd District is another race where massive outside spending is exceeding the funds candidates are raising and spending.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 22, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 22 drawing
03-22-34-54-61, Mega Ball: 08
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 22 drawing
Midday: 5-5-2
Midday Wild: 8
Evening: 7-7-0
Evening Wild: 8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 22 drawing
Midday: 6-4-7-5
Midday Wild: 0
Evening: 4-5-6-2
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 22 drawing
Early Bird: 12
Morning: 09
Matinee: 08
Prime Time: 01
Night Owl: 10
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 22 drawing
07-12-22-38-39
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) -Gov. Mike Kehoe signed proclamations Friday placing four constitutional amendments on the August primary election ballot, moving up several questions that will shape Missouri’s tax structure and voting process.
The primary election will take place on August 4.
“With several significant issues set to appear before Missouri voters this year, it is important that we both prepare for the outcome of each proposal and allow each issue to receive the careful public consideration it deserves,” Kehoe said.
Two of the amendments are facing strong opposition: Amendments 4 and 5.
Past election data show more Republicans are likely to vote in the August primary election. Likely voters polled by Saint Louis University showed support for Amendments 4 and 5, with more Republicans in favor than Democrats.
All other ballot measures, if certified, will be on the November general election ballot.
Amendment 1: Natural resources sales tax
Amendment 1 continues for an existing sales tax one-tenth of one percent sales tax that supports soil and water conservation, state parks, and historic sites for 10 more years.
The ballot will read: “Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?
The measure allows continued collection of the existing sales and use tax, which generates revenue of approximately $140 million annually.”
Amendment 2: County assessors
Amendment 2 requires all charter counties, including Jackson County, to elect a county assessor and requires assessors to comply with training requirements established by state law.
The ballot will read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and
- require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
Amendment 4: Constitutional amendments
Amendment 4 modifies current requirements that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution. It requires a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, and makes available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot.
The ballot will read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Modify current requirements that a statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution;
- Require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and
- Make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot?
The Department of Corrections estimates increased annual costs of up to $21,817. The Office of State Public Defender estimates an unknown fiscal impact. Other state governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. ”Missouri Realtors formed the Protect Majority Rule Campaign Missouri to oppose Amendments 4 and 5.
“Amendment 4 would effectively kill our initiative petition process that our citizens have to make laws directly,” said spokesperson Scott Charton.
Moberly Republican Rep. Ed Lewis, who sponsored Amendment 4, said the change is needed.
“It’s not fair that only a few sections of the state, essentially around the urban core, are essentially dictating what the constitution is going to contain,” Lewis said.
A separate group, Protect MO Voters, supports Amendment 4.
“Missourians deserve a Constitution that is protected, not hijacked by out-of-state special interests and paid signature-gathering operations. Amendment 4 ensures that changes to our founding document have real statewide support,” the group said in a statement.
Amendment 5: Taxes
Amendment 5 requires the phase-out and elimination of the individual income tax based on revenue growth and requires the reduction of property taxes and other local taxes to offset any local sales tax revenue increases, while preserving local funding for public schools.
The ballot will read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Phase-out the individual income tax based on revenue growth;
- Reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase;
- Modify the sales and use tax to eliminate income tax and reduce local taxes; and
- Protect local funding for public schools and other purposes?
The proposal has no direct impact on state or local tax revenue. If passed, implementing legislation will have an unknown impact to state and local tax revenue. If implemented, state government entities expect a reduction of $57,000 annually in income tax check-off donations and implementation costs of at least $100,000.”
Amendment 5 is Kehoe’s tax plan. If voters approve the plan, lawmakers can raise sales tax or introduce new ones to replace the state income tax.
“The current system that we have now is 100 years old and we need to modernize it, we need to update it to reflect the current times that we live in,” said State Rep. Jon Patterson, speaker of the Missouri House.
New taxes could be placed on services, including real estate transactions.
“We call it the Everything Tax,” Charton said. “It would allow lawmakers to just ignore existing constitutional protections and raise new sales taxes and add new sales taxes on services.”
Kehoe said placing the income tax measure on the August ballot gives lawmakers additional time to prepare for implementation.
“Modernizing Missouri’s outdated tax code, specifically, will be a momentous task for the Missouri General Assembly,” Kehoe said.
A poll released this month from Saint Louis University and YouGov shows 52% of likely Missouri voters support a taxing system that relies on sales taxes instead of income taxes. However, when asked about taxing specific items, the taxes were a lot less popular. The most agreeable possible new tax is a sales tax on streaming services, like Netflix or Hulu.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.
Missouri
Colombian national sentenced to 25 years for raping, impregnating 12-year-old girl in Missouri
Illegal immigrant accused of groping high school girls in Virginia sparks outrage
Emily Compagno, Kayleigh McEnany, Harris Faulkner, and Steve Doocy discuss the arrest of Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz (19), an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, accused of groping 12 female high school classmates in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Outnumbered panel slams the school district for allegedly covering up the assaults for weeks, violating state law. They also criticize the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which allowed him to enter illegally in 2024.
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A Colombian national was sentenced this week to decades in prison for sexually exploiting a minor in Missouri, authorities said.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Brayanne Escobar-Guarnizo was sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping and impregnating a 12-year-old girl.
Escobar-Guarnizo was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in September 2024 after authorities received a report alleging he had impregnated the girl.
DHS said investigators uncovered photos and messages allegedly showing that Escobar-Guarnizo repeatedly made advances toward the child and requested nude photos and videos.
MAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO RAPING 12-YEAR-OLD RELATIVE IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM HONDURAS, DHS SAYS
Brayanne Escobar-Guarnizo was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl in Missouri, authorities said. (Department of Homeland Security)
According to DHS, Escobar-Guarnizo pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor in August 2025. He was initially charged with production of child pornography.
He was sentenced Monday to 300 months, or 25 years, in prison.
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis praised the sentence in a statement.
ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING OWN RELATIVES: ‘MONSTER’
Photos and messages showed Escobar-Guarnizo repeatedly made advances toward the child and requested nude photos and videos, according to investigators. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)
“This dirtbag was charged with production of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor after he raped and impregnated a 12-year-old girl,” Bis said in a statement.
According to DHS, Escobar-Guarnizo illegally entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration.
“Thanks to the investigative work of ICE law enforcement officers and our state and local partners, this child predator has now been sentenced to 25 years behind bars,” Bis said. “This illegal alien NEVER should have been allowed into our country by the Biden Administration.”
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at work. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“Under Secretary Mullin, we will continue to target criminal illegal aliens and get them OUT of our communities,” she added.
DHS said the sentencing followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with state and local law enforcement agencies.
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