Mike Kehoe (original) (raw)

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American politician (born 1962)

Mike Kehoe
Official portrait, 2018
58th Governor of Missouri
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2025
Lieutenant	David Wasinger
Preceded by	Mike Parson
48th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
In officeJune 18, 2018 – January 13, 2025
Governor	Mike Parson
Preceded by	Mike Parson
Succeeded by	David Wasinger
Majority Leader of the Missouri Senate
In officeSeptember 15, 2015 – June 18, 2018
Preceded by	Ron Richard
Succeeded by	Caleb Rowden
Member of the Missouri Senatefrom the 6th district
In officeJanuary 5, 2011 – June 18, 2018
Preceded by	Carl M. Vogel
Succeeded by	Mike Bernskoetter
Personal details
Born	Michael Leo Kehoe (1962-01-17) January 17, 1962 (age 63)St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Claudia Kehoe ​(m. 1989)​
Children	4
Website	Government website

Michael Leo Kehoe[1] (born January 17, 1962) is an American politician serving as the 58th governor of Missouri since 2025.[2] A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Missouri from 2018 to 2025. Kehoe previously served in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and was majority leader from 2015 to 2018.[3] On June 18, 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as Missouri's lieutenant governor. Parson and Kehoe were elected to a full term in 2020.

Kehoe won the nomination for governor against State Senator Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.[4] On November 5, 2024, he defeated Democratic nominee Crystal Quade[5] in the general election. He was inaugurated as the 58th governor of Missouri in January 2025.

Kehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single mother, Lorraine Kehoe. He is the youngest of six children. His father left the family when he was one year old. After his father's departure, Lorraine worked multiple jobs simultaneously to support the family. Kehoe attended Catholic schools in the area, including Chaminade College Preparatory School.[6]

At age 25, Kehoe began working for Osage Industries, a company involved with auto parts and manufacturing ambulances.[7] After selling Osage Industries in 1992, he purchased an auto dealership in Jefferson City, Missouri, but sold it shortly after entering politics.[8]

In 2005, Governor Matt Blunt appointed Kehoe to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.[9] In 2010, without having held elected office before, Kehoe ran for the 6th District State Senate seat to succeed Carl Vogel. In a close Republican primary, he defeated three other candidates to advance to the general election, where he was unopposed.[10]

During the 96th General Assembly, Kehoe served on the following committees:[3]

• Vice-Chairman, Transportation Committee
• Member, Education Committee
• Member, Commerce Committee
• Member, Consumer Protection Committee
• Member, Energy & the Environment Committee

Lieutenant Governor of Missouri

[edit]

On June 18, 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as lieutenant governor. The appointment came with legal uncertainty, as a state law (not the Constitution of Missouri) states that the governor can fill all vacancies "other than in the offices of lieutenant governor, state senator or representative, sheriff, or recorder of deeds in the city of St. Louis". The Constitution of Missouri states "The governor shall fill all vacancies in public offices unless otherwise provided by law, and his appointees shall serve until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified." Parson said he believed that the Constitution gave him authority to appoint Kehoe lieutenant governor.[11][12]

The Democrats lost their lawsuit in the Cole County Circuit Court due to lack of standing and the vagueness of state law, which says the governor may not appoint the lieutenant governor but provides no process to fill the position. That lawsuit was on appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court, Appeal No. SC97284,[13] with oral argument held on November 7, 2018. On April 16, 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld Kehoe's appointment by a 5–2 vote. The decision, written by Chief Justice Zel Fischer, said, "Governor Parson was within his constitutional authority when he appointed Kehoe to the office of Lieutenant Governor".[14]

Kehoe was elected lieutenant governor in his own right in 2020.[15]

Governor of Missouri

[edit]

In March 2021, Kehoe announced his intention to run for governor in 2024.[4] As of July 2024, he had raised almost $13 million, receiving significant donations from businesses that bid for state contracts and Rex Sinquefield.[16][17] Opponents criticized Kehoe for renting a charter bus for the campaign from lobbyist Jewell Patek, whose client Smithfield Foods is owned by Chinese agricultural company WH Group.[18]

After Kehoe won the Republican primary, his campaign received donations from Torch Electronics, which has been in a prolonged legal battle with the state of Missouri over its unregulated slot machines, and Good Day Farms, a cannabis company. Both companies are clients of lobbyist Steven Tilley.[19]

In April 2025, Kehoe withdrew his nomination of Tom Prater to the Missouri Board of Education after pressure from right-wing groups and Senator Mike Moon, who raised concerns about Prater's support for public schools and teacher unions and his involvement in a bipartisan civic group in Springfield, Missouri. Prater had already served on the board in an interim role, appointed by Mike Parson, and Kehoe's spokesperson told press that he was confident in Prater's qualifications for the role.[20]

Kehoe and his wife, Claudia, married in 1989 and have four children. He was the second Roman Catholic lieutenant governor of Missouri, after Thomas Eagleton.[21]

Lieutenant governor

[edit]

1. ^ "Journal of the Senate" (PDF). Missouri Senate. March 6, 2003. p. 403. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
2. ^ Ballentine, Summer. "Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe defeats Democratic challenger to win Missouri governorship". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
3. ^ a b "Senator Mike Kehoe Committee Membership". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
4. ^ a b Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (March 22, 2021). "Kehoe announces 2024 gubernatorial run, forgoing US Senate bid". themissouritimes.com. The Missouri Times. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
5. ^ "Missouri Governor Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 6, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
6. ^ Watson, Bob (June 24, 2018). "Lt. Gov. Kehoe talks about transition to statewide job". News Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
7. ^ "Osage Ambulances". Osage Ambulances. April 4, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
8. ^ "Jefferson City Car Dealership Announces Sale of Company". KOMU 8. October 25, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
9. ^ "Kehoe". Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
10. ^ a b "2010 Primary Election – State Senator – District 6". Missouri Secretary of State. August 24, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
11. ^ Hancock, Jason (June 18, 2018). "Gov. Parson picks his replacement as lieutenant governor, reopening a legal debate". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
12. ^ "State senator Mike Kehoe appointed Missouri lieutenant governor". FOX2now.com. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
13. ^ Appellants' Brief. Darrell Cope and the Missouri Democratic Party v. Michael L. Parson and Mike Kehoe, S.W.3d (Mo. August 13, 2018).
14. ^ Ballentine, Summer. "Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Appointment of Lt. Gov. Kehoe". usnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
15. ^ "State of Missouri — General Election, November 3, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State. January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
16. ^ Keller, Rudi (July 16, 2024). "Fundraising in Missouri governor's race tops $21 million, with most going to Kehoe". Missouri Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
17. ^ Keller, Rudi (October 18, 2023). "Kehoe leads fundraising for Missouri governor in latest campaign filings". Missouri Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
18. ^ Keller, Rudi (July 21, 2024). "Kehoe campaign for Missouri governor riding on bus owned by lobbyist for Chinese pork producer". Missouri Independent. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
19. ^ Suntrup, Jack (October 2, 2024). "Missouri gas station slot machine company gives big to PAC for Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
20. ^ Hanshaw, Annelise (April 24, 2025). "Missouri governor drops education board pick after criticism from senator, right-wing groups • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
21. ^ "Senator Mike Kehoe Biography". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
22. ^ "Official Election Returns: State of Missouri General Election – November 2, 2010 General Election" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. November 30, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
23. ^ "State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 05, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. August 5, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
24. ^ "State of Missouri – General Election, November 04, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. December 3, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
25. ^ a b "All Results; Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
26. ^ "State of Missouri - Primary Election, August 6, 2024" (PDF). sos.mo.gov. August 26, 2024. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
27. ^ General Election, November 05, 2024, Official Results, Missouri Secretary of State, December 23, 2024.

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