Power Players: Missouri's 17 largest political donors from 2008 to 2012

"Show me the money" just might be the unofficial slogan for Missouri political campaigns -- by candidates, political parties and political action committees. Since 2008, individuals in the Show Me State can contribute as much money as they want to state candidates, party committees and third-party political action committees. They can also give as much as they want to ballot initiatives, which was the case even when the state had contribution limits.

The Beacon and the Investigative News Network have analyzed data from the Missouri Ethics Commission, followthemoney.org and OpenSecrets.org to determine the biggest donors from 2008 and 2012. We intend to continue adding data to this project for the foreseeable future.

1 Rex Sinquefield, Westphalia, MO Retired financier 557 donations: 176 to candidates and 381 to committees
    		$23,420,680
    2 David Humphreys, Joplin, MO President and CEO of TAMKO Building Products, Inc 154 donations: 106 to candidates and 48 to committees
      		$5,157,825
      3 Stanley Herzog, St. Joseph, MO Herzog Companies Inc. 74 donations: 61 to candidates and 13 to committees
        		$2,035,675
        4 Sam Fox, Clayton, MO Harbour Group, former ambassador to Belgium 125 donations: 85 to candidates and 40 to committees
          		$1,493,787
          5 James & Virginia Stowers, Founder of American Century Investments, MO Founder of American Century Investments 17 donations: 6 to candidates and 11 to committees
            		$1,326,398
            6 William Danforth, St. Louis, MO Chancellor emeritus, Washington University 149 donations: 125 to candidates and 24 to committees
              		$1,228,266
              7 Ethelmae Humphreys, Joplin, MO TAMKO's Chairman of the Board 90 donations: 72 to candidates and 18 to committees
                		$1,080,175
                8 Jack Taylor, St. Louis, MO Retired Founder of Enterprise Rent-a-Car 111 donations: 81 to candidates and 30 to committees
                  		$956,835
                  9 James B. Nutter, Sr., Kansas City, MO James B. Nutter & Company 218 donations: 135 to candidates and 83 to committees
                    		$866,110
                    10 Roy Pfautch, St. Louis, MO International Public Affairs Consultant 132 donations: 106 to candidates and 26 to committees
                      		$864,650
                      11 August Busch III, St. Charles, MO Former President of Anheuser-Busch 90 donations: 59 to candidates and 31 to committees
                        		$750,178
                        12 John McDonnell, St. Louis, MO Former Chairman and CEO of McDonnell Douglas 35 donations: 24 to candidates and 11 to committees
                          		$745,733
                          13 Kenneth McClain, Independence, MO Attorney at Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C. 94 donations: 61 to candidates and 33 to committees
                            		$687,955
                            14 David Steward, Town and Country, MO Chairman and Founder of World Wide Technology 153 donations: 109 to candidates and 44 to committees
                              		$644,025
                              15 Marilyn Fox, Clayton, MO Philanthropist 77 donations: 56 to candidates and 21 to committees
                                		$639,925
                                16 Jerry Hall, Monett, MO Executive Vice President of Jack Henry and Associates 42 donations: 27 to candidates and 15 to committees
                                  		$633,450
                                  17 James McDonnell III, St. Louis, MO Son of James S. McDonnell, founder McDonnell-Douglas 105 donations: 76 to candidates and 29 to committees
                                    		$619,000

                                    Source: Contribution data from the Missouri Ethics Commission, followthemoney.org and OpenSecrets.org. If you see a duplicated donation or know of a donation we've missed, e-mail Jason Rosenbaum at jrosenbaum@stlbeacon.org.