By RENÉE JEAN Daily Journal Assistant Managing Editor

The war chests for the 8th District campaign are filling up for two of the candidates, and the battle between them appears to be on. Tommy Sowers and US Representative Jo Ann Emerson both report six figures for cash on hand in their campaign arsenal. Sowers has out-raised the incumbent candidate in the last two quarters.

Other candidates vying for the 8th District seat have raised less than $10,000 collectively, according to campaign filings required by the Federal Election Commission.

Sowers reported raising $204,000 in October filings with the Federal Election Commission and $295,000 in April.

Emerson’s filings showed $120,000 and $223,000 respectively for the same periods.

Emerson has still substantially outraised the Democrat challenger in the overall scheme of things, showing a total of $913,000 for the election cycle to date, while Sowers shows $678,000 to date.

Cash on hand is running neck and neck right now, with Emerson slightly ahead. The Federal Election Commission report lists cash on hand at $505,000 for Emerson and $465,000 for Sowers in the latest filing which was April, a difference of about $40,000.

Sowers said he is pleased with how the race is going so far and believes his status as a challenger is benefiting him in the campaign.

“What we are seeing out there is just a clear demand for new blood,” Sowers said. “People are tired of DC, they are tired of typical DC activities, which is to have your campaign fueled by special interest dollars and show up for ribbon cuttings at things you voted against.”

Sowers said his opponent does not have a plan for what he believes is most on people’s minds — “jobs and economic activities back home.”

He says he is not fighting a defensive race, but an offensive one.

And part of that offensive race has been a claim circulated by e-mail that Emerson sought a job as the president of Credit Union National Association. The rumor has been fueled by a report in the Credit Union Times that Emerson’s name was among those mentioned as a potential applicant. CUNA has since named a different person to the position.

Emerson has denied that she sought the job and a spokesman for her office said any such claim is baseless. While Emerson may have been considered by that organization as a potential applicant, she didn’t seriously consider the position. 

“I was approached, but my loyalties lie with the Eighth Congressional District, its families and our communities at home,” the Congresswoman wrote in a prepared statement. “Representing our congressional district is something I’m proud, humbled and honored to do and to continue doing.”

Emerson declined to comment on how the race is going for her at this time.

Sowers said voters “deserve a race for who will represent them, so the way we are approaching it is just working our tail off.”

He plans to be in St. Francois County Saturday and in Fredericktown for the Azalea festival. 

“We are listening to voters’ concerns about rural America,” he said.

Sowers said he is hearing a lot of anti-establishment sentiment from voters presently.

“It’s every where I go,” he said. “I introduce myself and they ask if I’m running for re-election. I say no, I am the challenger, and they tell me that’s good. 

“If you are the incumbent, you are out. Career politicians are just not getting it done. The voters want someone who is actually from here, they want to bring in new blood. They are voting for the person, not the party, in this election.”