Mississouri utility firms favored Republicans in recent election spending

Utility companies in Missouri have directed substantial financial support toward state political races over the past two years. An analysis by the Energy and Policy Institute, a utility watchdog group, indicates that this spending heavily favored candidates aligned with the Republican Party. The data covers election cycles in 2025 and 2026.

Investor-owned utilities and their associated political action committees reported total spending of approximately $2.4 million in these races. The breakdown shows a distinct imbalance in party support. Republican-aligned PACs received $1.6 million, while Democrat-aligned PACs received $328,000. This represents a ratio of roughly five to one in favor of the Republicans.

Jonathan Kim, the research and communications manager at the Energy and Policy Institute, noted that seven-figure spending levels carry weight in state politics. He stated that such sums represent a meaningful influence on the political environment of the state. Kim’s analysis of Missouri Ethics Commission data reveals that major utility firms, including Ameren, Evergy, and Spire, drove these contributions.

The distribution of funds also correlated with legislative votes. Candidates who supported Senate Bill 4, a large utility bill passed in 2025, received the majority of the money. Kim reported that about three-quarters of the spending went to candidates who voted for the bill, including members of the utilities and energy committees. Only 10% of the spending went to candidates who opposed the legislation.

Specific politicians received notable amounts from utility sources. Cindy O’Laughlin, the Republican Senate President Pro Tem from Shelbina, received $205,000. In a Missouri Senate race in Lee’s Summit, outgoing House Speaker Jon Patterson received $71,000, while Democratic challenger Keri Ingle received $11,400. Mike Deering, a Republican running for Missouri Senate District 10, received $36,000 in contributions.

Governor Mike Kehoe, who is not on the ballot this year, also benefited from utility donations. In 2024, utilities contributed more than $400,000 to his campaign. Since then, they have donated about $175,000 to the American Dream PAC, which is affiliated with the governor. Kehoe has focused on expanding energy production, including creating a nuclear power task force and directing the Department of Natural Resources to draft a state energy plan.

Utility companies cited governance and customer benefit as reasons for their spending. Jason Merrill, a spokesperson for Spire, said the company complies with legal and ethical standards. Ameren stated that it supports candidates who advocate for sound energy policy and emphasized that contributions do not come from customer bills. Evergy representatives declined to comment on their spending.