Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, a five-term incumbent representing Missouri’s third congressional district, is up for election like the rest of the House of Representatives this November. He has raised over $1.85 million for this campaign cycle.

Of that $1.85 million, zero percent has been self-funded. $24,000 has been raised from small individual donation of less than $200, which is 1.3 percent. 22.23 percent, or $410,000 has been raised by large individual donations of more than $200 and a majority of his campaign, or 76.74 percent, which is $1,413,000 has come from political action committees (PACs).

“If they get that much money from somewhere, it might skew their vote or who they support,” freshman Alissa Parsons said.

Of his campaign’s finances, 26.51 percent were raised in Missouri, with 73.49 percent raised out of state. 10.97 percent of his finances were raised in the third congressional district, with 90.02 percent being raised out of the district.

“They are running for that specific area and they should get supported by their people,” senior Morgan Talir said.

The metro area that raised the most funds for his campaign was Washington D.C. (DC-MD-VA-WV) being the source of $92,900 for his campaign. The St. Louis (MO-IL) metro area follows in second giving slightly more than half of what the Washington D.C. metro area gave being the source of $49,300. New York, Dallas and Chicago follow in third, fourth, and fifth respectively.

“It depends on what kind of politician, any politicians that are to represent a state in any way should receive money from said state,” sophomore Patrick Habiger said.

The top business sector that has raised money for Luetkemeyer is the finance, insurance and real estate industries, giving over $1.2 million in large individual donations, or giving money through PACs.This number leaves $650,000 which is given by other industries.

“Where politicians get their money from affect the way they vote. Lobbying is a practice that has been practiced for centuries, and it is common to help those who have helped you,” freshman Luke Morgan said.

Lobbyists have given $69,700 to his campaign, and are the sixth largest industry donating to Luetkemeyer’s campaign. The insurance industry is the largest industry giving money to Luetkemeyer, giving $312,000. Commercial banking gave $272,000, the security and investment industry gave $254,000, the finance industry gave $141,100 and the real estate industry gave $99,000 to his campaign. Most of these donations with the exception of lobbyists was given through PACs, while lobbyist donations were almost entirely large individual donation of over $200.

“If you get money from a group of republicans who support guns for example, you’re probably going to be a little biased. Same with other groups,” freshman Sam Whitt said.

800 contributions have been given through PACs, with $1,481,300 being given to Luetkemeyer’s campaign through a PAC. 96.66 percent of the PAC money came from business-related PACs, with .5 percent coming from labor-related PACs and 2.86 percent coming from ideological related PACs.

“I think politicians vote for a certain bill or law to be passed because a certain person with a lot of money donated to them and said to vote for a certain bill,” sophomore Courtney Ledbetter said.

$410,339 have come from individual donations larger than $200, with a total of 454 such donations being made. The largest contributor was Jones Financial Companies giving over $27,000, followed by FMR Corp and US Bancorp both giving $14,000. 85 percent of these contributions have come from males, with 15 percent coming from females.

(Statistical and other information has come from the Center for Responsive Politics and FEC reports released electronically on 10/1/18)