State Auditor of Missouri · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Missouri state auditor race?
Scott Fitzpatrick has the strongest record in the Missouri state auditor race. Scott Fitzpatrick scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Scott Fitzpatrick's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Dustin Coffell (4 of 15 criteria) and Quentin Wilson (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Dustin Coffell
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Scott Fitzpatrick
72 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Quentin Wilson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Dustin Coffell
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Scott Fitzpatrick
- On the record2026-07-02
Gave former Gov. Mike Parson's office a "fair" rating, finding no documented state business purpose for 58 of 174 state aircraft flights in the audit period.
Source: ABC 17 News, July 2, 2026
- On the record2024-05-06
Issued a second subpoena to former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to compel her participation in an audit of her former office, saying his staff could not locate her.
Source: STLPR, May 6, 2024
- On the record2023-05
Refused Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's demand to raise the cost estimate for an abortion-rights initiative to billions of dollars, calling the requested figures inaccurate; the dispute went to court.
- Credit2023-11-17
His office received a peer review rating of pass, the highest rating, for September 2022 through August 2023 from an external National State Auditors Association review team.
Quentin Wilson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. Refused in 2023 to inflate the cost estimate for an abortion-rights initiative as demanded by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, while saying he opposes abortion; in 2026 his office rated former Gov. Mike Parson's office, which appointed him treasurer, "fair."
Sources: KCUR, May 4, 2023, KTTN, via Missouri Independent, ABC 17 News, July 2, 2026, Park Hills Daily Journal
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. Has served as a state representative, House budget chairman, state treasurer and, since January 2023, state auditor. No censure or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Park Hills Daily Journal
Quentin Wilson. Has held local, state and federal posts, including Missouri Department of Revenue director and St. Louis County revenue director. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: KCUR, Dec. 6, 2025, Branson Globe
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. Has held sworn state office since 2013, as representative, treasurer and auditor; no misuse-of-office finding found. Held no formal role in certifying election results.
Source: Park Hills Daily Journal
Quentin Wilson. Held appointed state executive office as Missouri revenue director and commissioner of higher education; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Branson Globe
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Dustin Coffell. Chairs the Libertarian Party of Missouri. Has not held public office.
Source: Branson Globe
Scott Fitzpatrick. State auditor since 2023; state treasurer from 2019 to 2023; three terms in the Missouri House, where he chaired the Budget Committee.
Sources: Park Hills Daily Journal, Branson Globe
Quentin Wilson. Former director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, governor's cabinet director, deputy director of economic development, state commissioner of higher education and St. Louis County revenue director.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Dustin Coffell. States a general position favoring the lowest possible taxes; no detailed plans found.
Source: KBIA, Aug. 4, 2026
Scott Fitzpatrick. Chaired the Missouri House Budget Committee and states specific audit priorities: school districts, local governments and federal pass-through programs.
Source: News-Press NOW questionnaire
Quentin Wilson. Proposes a Missouri Government Accountability Office inside the auditor's office to review health care, child care, infrastructure and public safety systems, with a stated savings goal.
Source: News-Press NOW questionnaire
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Dustin Coffell. Posts positions on a Facebook page; has no campaign website. No completed questionnaire found.
Source: KBIA, Aug. 4, 2026
Scott Fitzpatrick. Answered the News-Press NOW candidate questionnaire, holds news conferences on audit findings and publishes a campaign site.
Quentin Wilson. Answered the News-Press NOW candidate questionnaire, gave interviews to KCUR and KBIA, and publishes a campaign site.
Sources: News-Press NOW questionnaire, KCUR, Dec. 6, 2025, KBIA, Aug. 4, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Dustin Coffell. A Missouri resident in the St. Louis area (reported as Lake St. Louis, Hazelwood or St. Louis).
Sources: Branson Globe, News-Press NOW, Aug. 2026
Scott Fitzpatrick. Born in Springfield, raised in Shell Knob, a Cassville High School graduate, and lives in Cassville; represented Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties in the House.
Source: Park Hills Daily Journal
Quentin Wilson. Lives in Kirkwood and has spent decades in Missouri state and local government.
Source: Park Hills Daily Journal
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. Heads the State Auditor's Office, which received a peer review rating of pass for September 2022 to August 2023; founded a marine construction company as a teenager.
Sources: State Auditor external peer review, Nov. 17, 2023, Park Hills Daily Journal
Quentin Wilson. Led the Missouri Department of Revenue and the St. Louis County Department of Revenue; agency size and performance during his tenure were not established from an opened source.
Source: Branson Globe
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. His office reported 109 audit reports issued in 2024 and has completed audits including the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, St. Louis Public Schools and the former governor's office.
Sources: State Auditor 2024 Annual Report, STLPR, Aug. 28, 2026, ABC 17 News, July 2, 2026
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Dustin Coffell. No public record found.
Scott Fitzpatrick. No public record found.
Quentin Wilson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Missouri state auditor race?
Scott Fitzpatrick has the strongest record in the Missouri state auditor race. Scott Fitzpatrick scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Scott Fitzpatrick's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Dustin Coffell (4 of 15 criteria) and Quentin Wilson (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Missouri state auditor race in 2026?
Dustin Coffell (Libertarian), Scott Fitzpatrick (Republican, incumbent), Quentin Wilson (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Dustin Coffell a good candidate for State Auditor?
Dustin Coffell has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Scott Fitzpatrick a good candidate for State Auditor?
Scott Fitzpatrick scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Quentin Wilson a good candidate for State Auditor?
Quentin Wilson has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Missouri race scored, and the Missouri 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.