Sowers raises more funds than Emerson in 8th District

The first quarter of 2010 was a good one for Democratic challenger Tommy Sowers in the Eighth District Congressional race. From a Sowers news release:

For the second time, Rolla native and Iraq war veteran Tommy Sowers raised more campaign funds than incumbent Jo Ann Emerson. Sowers reported total receipts over $295,000 while Emerson’s total receipts were $222,944 for the fundraising quarter ending on March 31st.

“Once again, our supporters stepped up and kept our momentum going,” said Sowers. “These contributions reflect the broad anti-incumbent sentiment I hear across the district and allow us to continue our grassroots campaign to bring new blood to DC.”

With over $679,000 raised since September, he has already raised more from individuals than incumbent Jo Ann Emerson has in any of her seven previous two-year cycles. Sowers first outraised Emerson in the 3rd quarter of 2009 despite finishing his 11-year Army career on August 15, 2009.

Said Sowers Campaign Manager Jonathan Feifs, “We’re proud of the momentum this gives us. For too long Emerson has ridden a wave of cash into office. Tommy continues to hear how unpopular Emerson’s bailout votes are, and this shows how quickly her support is eroding.”

Sowers, an 11-year Army Special Forces veteran, is running for Congress against incumbent Jo Ann Emerson, a former insurance lobbyist from Washington, DC. Tommy Sowers is the Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 8th Congressional district and does not face opposition in the primary. Emerson will face a Republican primary challenger, cattle rancher Bob Parker, in August.