Mike Kehoe

For the Irish athlete, see Michael Kehoe.

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.

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 office June 18, 2018 – January 13, 2025
Governor	Mike Parson
Preceded by	Mike Parson
Succeeded by	David Wasinger
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 (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

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.

Early life

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]

Missouri Senate

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

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

Campaign

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]

Appointments

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]

Personal life

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]

Electoral history

State senator

Missouri 6th District State Senator Republican Primary 2010^[10]

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%

Missouri 6th District State Senator General Election 2010^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Kehoe	52,402	100.0%

Missouri 6th District State Senator Republican Primary 2014^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Kehoe	25,142	100.0%

Missouri 6th District State Senator General Election 2014^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Kehoe	37,561	79.1%
	Democratic	Mollie Kristen Freebairn	9,937	20.9%

Lieutenant governor

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, August 4, 2020^[25]

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

Missouri Lieutenant Governor General Election, November 3, 2020^[25]

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

Governor

2024 Missouri Republican gubernatorial primary election^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Kehoe	275,139	39.4
	Republican	Bill Eigel	227,257	32.5
	Republican	Jay Ashcroft	162,314	23.2
	Republican	Amber Thomsen	10,653	1.5
	Republican	Chris Wright	9,376	1.3
	Republican	Darrell McClanahan	5,656	0.8
	Republican	Robert Olson	2,985	0.4
	Republican	Jeremy Gundel	2,951	0.4
	Republican	Darren Grant	1,871	0.3
Total votes			698,202	100.0

2024 Missouri gubernatorial election^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Kehoe	1,750,802	59.14%	2.03%
	Democratic	Crystal Quade	1,146,173	38.72%	1.97%
	Libertarian	Bill Slantz	40,908	1.38%	0.25%
	Green	Paul Lehmann	22,359	0.76%	0.19%
	Write-in		24	0.00%
Total votes			2,960,266	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold