Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says he is making preparations to run for governor in 2016.
Koster, a Democrat, has served as attorney general since 2009 and previously was a state senator and local prosecutor. He has the potential to move up because Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election again.
Asked Tuesday by The Associated Press whether he will run for governor in 2016, Koster replied: "We are making the necessary preparations and building consensus around the state toward that end."
Koster's statement came a day after the campaign manager for Democratic State Treasurer Clint Zweifel said that Zweifel will not run for governor in 2016. He cited Zweifel's desire to spend time with his teenage daughters and avoid a contentious primary.
So far, Koster has already amassed $285,000 in large contributions, according to his filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
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