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    • Republican Mike Kehoe won the Missouri governor’s race
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    Republican Mike Kehoe won the Missouri governor’s race

    Online Niel Posted on

    Republican Mike Kehoe will be the Show-Me State’s next chief executive.

    Kehoe, who was named lieutenant governor in 2018, took over early Tuesday four person race to become Missouri’s 58th governor. He ended the night with over 59% of the statewide vote.

    He defeated eight Republican challengers in the August primary to reach the November 5th ballot.

    “Our victory tonight — it’s a victory for our police officers, our firefighters, our farmers and our job creators. It’s a win for students who deserve good schools and a brighter future. It’s a win for families who want safe streets and lower taxes,” Governor-elect Kehoe said in a press release. “So to all Missourians, this is your victory. Enjoy tonight because tomorrow morning we can work together for an even safer, stronger and more prosperous Missouri.”

    In prepared remarks at his watch party in Jefferson City, Kehoe thanked family and supporters, including Gov. Mike Parson, and said he would waste no time working for Missourians.

    “As soon as my hand comes off the Bible, the Kehoe administration will be relentless in our efforts to make Missouri safer,” he said. “We will make sure Missouri is a state where it’s easier to be a cop than a criminal, and we won’t rest until the criminals who make our streets and neighborhoods dangerous are held accountable. And to the brave police officers: you always have my back.”

    There was no incumbent in the race. Parson, in office since June 2018, has not run again due to term limits.

    Kehoe’s most vigorous challenger was state Rep. Crystal Quade, a Democrat from Springfield. The other candidates on the ballot included Bill Slantz, a Libertarian; and Paul Lehmann, from the Green Party.

    At a watch party Tuesday night, Quade said it was the “honor of my life” to be the Democratic nominee for the state’s top office. Unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office showed he finished the night with just 39 percent of the vote.

    She said the fight was to move Missouri forward.

    “When we jumped into this race, we did it because we were all sick and tired of Missouri being last in education funding. We are tired of Missourians having to drive over an hour to access healthcare. We are tired of our young people leaving us. stay and run because they are too afraid to live here,” she said. “We have so much to fight for here in Missouri and today the people showed up.”

    Quade said she will take time on Tuesday to be sad.

    “The work continues tomorrow morning, and the day after, and the day after, until Missouri is a place where every person can thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, and who they live for,” she said. “This will be a state we are all proud of.”

    Kehoe, who was elected to a full term in 2020, was raised in North St. Louis City by a single mother and started working at age 15 to help pay the bills. He later owned an ambulance manufacturing firm and then a car dealership.

    Elected to the Missouri Senate in 2010, Kehoe served as Majority Leader. He previously served as chairman of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.

    Kehoe said reducing crime will be his top priority as governor. He wants to hire more law enforcement officers, pass laws that are tougher on fentanyl dealers and address immigration issues. He wants to improve teacher pay and work environments and expand professional training.

    Quade, a state representative who represented a portion of Greene County in the Missouri House for eight years, was the first in her family to graduate from high school. She grew up in southwest Missouri and lives in Springfield, where she served as director of chapter services for Care to Learn.

    First elected to the Missouri House in 2016, Quade was re-elected in 2018, 2020 and 2022. She served as minority leader for much of that time.

    She earned a reputation in Missouri for standing up for the party’s position and helping to elect other progressive candidates. She defeated four Democratic challengers to reach the Nov. 5 ballot.

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