Fresh off his re-election, Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich confirmed Thursday that he is considering a bid for governor in 2016 and touted an encouraging letter from supporters as "a powerful incentive to go forward" with a campaign.
Schweich, a Republican from the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, was elected to a second four-year term this month after facing no Democratic opposition. Until now, he had declined to publicly discuss his gubernatorial aspirations. He told The Associated Press that he will announce a decision about a gubernatorial campaign early next year.
"A lot of people want to clean up Jefferson City, and I think I would be well-equipped to do that. A lot of people want me to run for governor," Schweich said.
"I just have to decide whether this is what I want to do - go into a campaign for two years - and whether my family wants to do it," he added.
Schweich's comments came as supporters released a letter signed by more than 120 people encouraging the 54-year-old auditor to run for governor.
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.
So far, former U.S. Attorney and Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway is the only declared Republican candidate for governor, and Attorney General Chris Koster is the only Democrat running.
A Hanaway campaign spokesman had no immediate comment about a potential primary against Schweich. Hanaway was campaigning Thursday in southwest Missouri.
Hanaway has been heavily financed by political activist Rex Sinquefield, a retired investment firm founder who has backed efforts to cut income taxes and revamp teacher employment laws. Since she announced her candidacy in February, Hanaway's campaign has received $840,000 from Sinquefield.
In an election night speech to supporters, Schweich took a shot at Sinquefield without mentioning him directly. He denounced "people in our state" who finance consultants, lobbyists and political action committees to try "to manipulate politicians" and reward those who do as they want "with an endless spigot of cash."
Schweich had about $930,000 in his campaign account shortly before the election. He said he's confident he could raise enough money to mount a successful campaign for governor.
The letter encouraging Schweich to run was signed by various state and local officials, business people and some prominent Republicans who have backed Schweich in the past, including donor Sam Fox and former U.S. Sens. John Danforth and Jim Talent.
Danforth and Fox were the lead signers of a similar letter in 2012 encouraging Schweich to run for U.S. Senate. But Schweich ultimately decided not to do so.
Neal Ethridge, a former regional Republican Party chairman from Springfield, said he helped write this year's letter along with several people, including Schweich's campaign treasurer Joe Passanise.
Ethridge said he wants to show Schweich has support before too many Republicans endorse his potential rival.
"The problem with primaries is the first people to announce are the first ones to get commitments, and it's pretty hard once they commit to get them to uncommit," Ethridge said. "I think it's best that if he is going to make the race, that he go ahead and make that decision."