Ellen Nichols puts a quarter of a million into her Senate campaign

Six days after Joplin neurosurgeon Ellen Nichols formed her campaign committee, there was a clear indication that big money is going to be spent in the 32nd District State Senate Republican primary.

On February 17, Nichols put a quarter of a million dollars of her own money into the campaign, according to a MissourI Ethics Commission filing.

Nichols' opponent in the August primary, incumbent Jill Carter, had $52,918.81 in her campaign account at the time of her January quarterly report. Out of that total, $33,700 came during the final three months of 2025.

Carter also has a leadership political action committee, ShowMe Values PAC, which had $73,905.38 in the bank at the January filing.

In 2022, Carter raised $200,176 during her campaign and spent $133,254.15.

Her opponent, incumbent Sen. Bill White, Nichols' husband, raised $322,170.92 and spent $308,144.63.

White is serving as deputy treasurer of Nichols's campaign. The treasurer is former Freeman Health CEO Paula Baker.