Michael Leo Kehoe (born January 17, 1962) is an American politician who is the governor-elect of Missouri.[2] A member of the Republican Party, he serves as the 48th lieutenant governor of Missouri, having been in office since June 18, 2018. Kehoe previously served in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and served as Majority Leader from 2015 to 2018.[3] On June 18, 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as Missouri's lieutenant governor. Both Parson and Kehoe were elected to a full term in 2020.
Mike Kehoe | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2018 | |
| Governor-elect of Missouri | |
| Assuming office January 13, 2025 | |
| Lieutenant | David Wasinger (elect) |
| Succeeding | Mike Parson |
| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |
| Assumed office June 18, 2018 | |
| Governor | Mike Parson |
| Preceded by | Mike Parson |
| Majority Leader of the Missouri Senate | |
| In office September 15, 2015 – June 18, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Richard |
| Succeeded by | Caleb Rowden |
| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office January 5, 2011 – June 18, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Carl M. Vogel |
| Succeeded by | Mike Bernskoetter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Leo Kehoe[1] January 17, 1962 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Claudia |
| Children | 4 |
Kehoe won the nomination for governor against State Senator Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.[4] On November 5, 2024, Kehoe defeated Democratic nominee Crystal Quade[5] in the general election, and is expected to be inaugurated as the 58th Governor of Missouri in January 2025.
Early life
editKehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single-parent mother. He was the youngest of six children. His father left the family when he was only one year old. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School.[6]
Missouri Senate
editKehoe was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in 2005.[7] 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 2010 general election, where he ran unopposed.[8]
During the 96th General Assembly, Senator 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
editOn 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 stated that he believed that the Constitution gave him authority to tap Kehoe as lieutenant governor.[9][10]
The Democrats lost their lawsuit in the Cole County Circuit Court due to a lack of standing and the vagueness of the state law which states it cannot be done, but does not provide a process to fill the position. That lawsuit was on appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court, Appeal No. SC97284,[11] with oral argument held on November 7, 2018. On April 16, 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the appointment of Kehoe to lieutenant governor by a vote of 5–2. The decision written by Chief Justice Zel Fischer stated that "Governor Parson was within his constitutional authority when he appointed Kehoe to the office of Lieutenant Governor,".[12]
Kehoe was elected lieutenant governor in his own right in 2020.[13]
Gubernatorial campaign
editIn March 2021, Kehoe announced his intention to run for governor in 2024.[4] As of July 2024, he raised almost $13 million, receiving significant donations from businesses that bid for state contracts and Rex Sinquefield.[14][15] 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.[16]
Following Kehoe's success in the Republican primary, his campaign received donations from Torch Electronics, which has been in a prolonged legal battle with the state of Missouri over their unregulated slot machines, and Good Day Farms, a cannabis company. Both companies are clients of lobbyist Steven Tilley.[17]
Personal life
editAt age 25, Kehoe began working for Osage Industries, a company involved with auto parts and the manufacturing of ambulances.[18] After selling Osage Industries in 1992, he purchased an auto dealership in Jefferson City, Missouri, but sold it shortly after entering politics.[19] Kehoe and his wife Claudia are the parents of four children. He is the second Roman Catholic to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, the first being Thomas Eagleton.[20]
Electoral history
editState senator
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 12,250 | 39.7% | ||
| Republican | Kenny Jones | 10,201 | 33.0% | ||
| Republican | Bill Deeken | 5,133 | 16.6% | ||
| Republican | Harry Otto | 3,282 | 10.6% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 52,402 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 25,142 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 37,561 | 79.1% | ||
| Democratic | Mollie Kristen Freebairn | 9,937 | 20.9% | ||
Lieutenant governor
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 362,442 | 59.41 | ||
| Republican | Mike Carter | 158,914 | 26.05 | ||
| Republican | Aaron Wisdom | 52,810 | 8.66 | ||
| Republican | Arnie C. Dienoff | 35,929 | 5.89 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kehoe | 1,720,202 | 57.11 | ||
| Democratic | Alissia Canady | 1,150,231 | 38.81 | ||
| Libertarian | Bill Slantz | 53,789 | 1.82 | ||
| Green | Kelley Dragoo | 28,183 | 0.95 | ||
| Write-in | 26 | 0.00 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Journal of the Senate" (PDF). Missouri Senate. March 6, 2003. p. 403. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Ballentine, Summer. "Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe defeats Democratic challenger to win Missouri governorship". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "Senator Mike Kehoe Committee Membership". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Missouri Governor Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 6, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Watson, Bob (June 24, 2018). "Lt. Gov. Kehoe talks about transition to statewide job". News Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "Kehoe". Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "State senator Mike Kehoe appointed Missouri lieutenant governor". FOX2now.com. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ Appellants' Brief. Darrell Cope and the Missouri Democratic Party v. Michael L. Parson and Mike Kehoe, S.W.3d (Mo. August 13, 2018).
- ^ Ballentine, Summer. "Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Appointment of Lt. Gov. Kehoe". usnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "State of Missouri — General Election, November 3, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State. January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Keller, Rudi (October 18, 2023). "Kehoe leads fundraising for Missouri governor in latest campaign filings". Missouri Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Osage Ambulances". Osage Ambulances. April 4, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ "Jefferson City Car Dealership Announces Sale of Company". KOMU 8. October 25, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
- ^ "Senator Mike Kehoe Biography". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 05, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. August 5, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "State of Missouri – General Election, November 04, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. December 3, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b "All Results; Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved May 15, 2021.