JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brian Stumpe says his experience with a robbery inspired him to run for Cole County Circuit judge, coincidentally against the woman who sentenced his attacker to 99 years in prison.
The Republican faces incumbent Democrat Pat Joyce, a Cole County judge since 1994 who's running on experience.
What might ordinarily be a quiet local election in the county that's home to the Missouri Capitol is now bursting with out-of-state donations and negative advertisements.
The race took a turn when the Republican State Leadership Committee donated $100,000 to Stumpe. The group's local political action committee has spent more than $158,000.
At stake is the seat held by a Democrat in a court that sometimes deals with whether laws are constitutional, as well as how statewide ballot initiatives are worded.