David Wasinger

David Wasinger
David Wasinger
Born	David Gerard Wasinger 9 8, 1963
Birthplace	Hannibal, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, accountant, politician
Known for	49th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri; Countrywide Financial whistleblower case
Education	University of Missouri (BS) Vanderbilt University (JD)

David Gerard Wasinger (born August 9, 1963) is an American attorney, accountant, and politician serving as the 49th lieutenant governor of Missouri since January 13, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Wasinger won the 2024 general election, defeating Democratic nominee Richard Brown to succeed Mike Kehoe, who became governor. Born and raised in Hannibal, Missouri — the hometown of Mark Twain — Wasinger built a career in law and finance before entering public life. He gained national attention for his involvement in a high-profile whistleblower case related to Countrywide Financial, which resulted in one of the largest whistleblower awards in U.S. history. Since taking office, Wasinger has advocated for increased transparency in the Missouri State Senate, pushed for changes to the chamber's filibuster rules, and launched initiatives focused on elder abuse awareness and civic education for Missouri's youth.

Early Life

David Gerard Wasinger was born on August 9, 1963, in Hannibal, Missouri, a small city along the Mississippi River in northeastern Missouri. Hannibal, known historically as the boyhood home of author Mark Twain, is a community with deep roots in Missouri's cultural heritage. Wasinger grew up in the city and maintained ties to the area throughout his career. In August 2025, he returned to Hannibal to address local business leaders, an occasion noted by regional media outlets as a homecoming for the lieutenant governor.

Education

Wasinger attended the University of Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently enrolled at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. His dual background in business and law positioned him for a career that spanned accounting, legal practice, and eventually public service.

Career

Legal and Financial Career

Prior to entering politics, Wasinger worked as an attorney and accountant in the St. Louis metropolitan area. His legal career included involvement in significant financial litigation. Wasinger was connected to a prominent whistleblower case involving Countrywide Financial, the mortgage lending company whose practices contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. In 2014, The Economist reported on the case, describing a $64 million question surrounding the whistleblower award. Later that year, The New York Times reported that the Countrywide whistleblower was set to receive more than $57 million, one of the largest whistleblower payouts in American history at that time. The case drew significant national media attention and highlighted issues of corporate fraud and government accountability in the financial sector.

Campaign for State Auditor

Before running for lieutenant governor, Wasinger launched a campaign for Missouri State Auditor. This initial foray into electoral politics signaled his transition from the private sector to public life and introduced him to Missouri's statewide political landscape.

2024 Lieutenant Governor Campaign

Republican Primary

In the 2024 election cycle, Wasinger entered the Republican primary for lieutenant governor of Missouri. The race attracted significant attention and spending among GOP candidates. According to KBIA, Missouri Republican candidates spent millions of dollars on the primary contest for the lieutenant governor's office, reflecting the competitiveness of the race.

On August 6, 2024, Wasinger won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in the Missouri primary election. Media reports described him as a "St. Louis-area attorney" who secured the party's nomination in a contested field.

General Election

In the November 5, 2024, general election, Wasinger faced Democratic nominee Richard Brown. Wasinger won the race, earning the right to serve as Missouri's 49th lieutenant governor. He succeeded Mike Kehoe, who had served as lieutenant governor before being elected governor of Missouri.

Lieutenant Governor of Missouri

Wasinger was inaugurated as the 49th lieutenant governor of Missouri on January 13, 2025, serving alongside Governor Mike Kehoe.

Senate Transparency and Livestreaming

One of Wasinger's most prominent initiatives as lieutenant governor has been his push for increased transparency in the Missouri Senate. In his constitutional role as president of the Missouri Senate, Wasinger has advocated for the chamber to begin video livestreaming its floor proceedings. As of early 2026, Missouri was one of only two states in the United States that did not livestream Senate floor sessions, a fact Wasinger has cited in calling for reform.

In January 2026, KCTV reported on Wasinger's call for the state Senate to begin video streaming its proceedings, framing the effort as part of a broader push to increase government accountability and public access to the legislative process. Wasinger has argued that allowing citizens to view Senate proceedings in real time would strengthen democratic participation and trust in government.

Push for Senate Rules Changes and Filibuster Reform

In May 2025, Wasinger became involved in a dispute with Missouri Senate leadership over the scope of the lieutenant governor's role in the chamber. The Missouri Independent reported that Wasinger pushed for rules changes that would have secured a larger role for the lieutenant governor in managing Senate business. Senate President Cindy O'Laughlin rebuffed Wasinger's proposal, and the publication noted that the dispute echoed a historical precedent involving former Lieutenant Governor Bill Phelps, who had similarly sought to expand the office's influence over the Senate and lost the effort.

By the end of 2025, Wasinger expanded his reform advocacy to include changes to the Missouri Senate's filibuster rules. In a December 2025 appearance on STLPR's Politically Speaking podcast, Wasinger discussed what he described as dysfunction in the Senate and his desire to see the chamber's rules reformed to address the use of the filibuster, which he indicated had impeded legislative progress.

Elder Abuse Awareness

In July 2025, Wasinger partnered with Missouri State Senator Adam Schelting (R–St. Charles) to host a public forum on elder abuse awareness in St. Charles. The event was intended to raise awareness about issues affecting older Missourians and was covered by the Missourinet.

Student Essay Contest and Civic Education

In February 2026, Wasinger announced a student essay contest timed to coincide with the approach of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will take place on July 4, 2026. The contest, aimed at Missouri students, was designed to encourage civic engagement and knowledge of American history among the state's youth. The announcement was covered by Three Rivers Publishing, which described the initiative as part of the lieutenant governor's efforts to promote patriotism and civic education.

Engagement with Business Community

In August 2025, Wasinger returned to his hometown of Hannibal to address Missouri business leaders at a gathering covered by regional media. The Muddy River News reported that the lieutenant governor spoke to business leaders in the community where he grew up, discussing issues relevant to the state's economic landscape. WGEM similarly noted the homecoming aspect of the visit, describing it as a return for the Hannibal native to address his hometown audience.

Personal Life

Wasinger was born and raised in Hannibal, Missouri, and has maintained connections to the community throughout his career. Before entering politics, he was based in the St. Louis metropolitan area, where he practiced law and worked as an accountant. Details about Wasinger's family life beyond these publicly documented facts have not been widely reported in the sources reviewed.

Legacy

As a relatively new officeholder who took office in January 2025, Wasinger's legacy remains in development. His tenure as the 49th lieutenant governor of Missouri has been marked by several early initiatives that may shape the office's trajectory. His push for Senate transparency — particularly his advocacy for livestreaming Senate floor proceedings — placed Missouri's status as one of only two states without such a practice into public discourse. His effort to expand the lieutenant governor's role in Senate proceedings, while rebuffed by Senate leadership, recalled historical tensions between the office and the chamber and contributed to ongoing debates about the balance of power in Missouri's state government.

Wasinger's involvement in the Countrywide Financial whistleblower case, which resulted in one of the largest whistleblower payouts in U.S. history, remains a notable aspect of his pre-political career and received coverage from major national publications including The New York Times and The Economist.