ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Republican Peter Kinder has been reelected to a third term as Missouri’s lieutenant governor.

Kinder first survived a tough challenge in the Republican primary, narrowly edging State Senator Brad Lager. He faced off against Democrat and former state auditor Susan Montee who had cruised to victory over seven challengers in the Democratic primary.

Just one Missourian has won the office three times, Democrat Frank Gaines Harris who started his service as lieutenant governor in 1933.

Montee held a fundraising advantage over her Republican challenger for most of the race. Kinder spent heavily in the summer’s GOP primary and reported $18,300 in available cash on Sept. 1. But in the next month, he collected $129,000 from contributions above $5,000. The haul included $25,000 from the Missouri Republican Committee.

Montee had $185,000 in her campaign bank account on Sept. 1. She reported raising $25,000 from large contributions in September.