Missouri Republican Rep. Ann Wagner, a potential challenger to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018, has more than $2.7 million cash on hand, according to federal election documents obtained by McClatchy.
According to the report, Wagner had her most successful fundraising period in the last three months, bringing in $804,264 during last quarter, more than three times the amount she raised in the first fundraising quarter of 2013 and more than twice the $348,140 raised two years ago at the same time.
As a House member, Wagner can transfer the raised money from her congressional campaign committee for her district to a U.S. Senate campaign committee coffer.
Additionally, Wagner has far outraised McCaskill’s last Republican challenger, former Rep. Todd Akin, whose “legitimate rape” remark in 2012 harmed not only Akin’s race but almost damaged Republican prospects in Missouri that year presidential year for Mitt Romney.
However, the challenge for McCaskill in 2018 appears to be far different than six years ago. She is among a pool of 10 Senate Democrats running for re-election in 2018 in states won by Trump in 2016.
A Morning Consult poll released on Tuesday has McCaskill with a 39 percent disapproval rating among registered voters in Missouri, which placed her as the fifth least popular U.S. senator in the country.
McCaskill could begin turn that number around with the town halls she is hosting around her state this week.
Wagner is expected to announce her candidacy for the seat soon, McClatchy notes, as she has already left her leadership post at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Another Republican being urged to run against McCaskill is Missouri Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley.