Mike Kehoe

Mike Kehoe
Official portrait, 2025
Mike Kehoe
Born	Michael Leo Kehoe 17 1, 1962
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Title	58th Governor of Missouri
Known for	58th Governor of Missouri
Children	4
Website	[governor.mo.gov Official site]

Michael Leo Kehoe (born January 17, 1962) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 58th governor of Missouri since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Kehoe's path to the governorship followed a career that took him from the private sector into public service, beginning with his election to the Missouri Senate in 2010 and culminating in a decisive victory in the 2024 gubernatorial election. Before entering politics, Kehoe was a business owner in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he operated an automobile dealership and was involved in ambulance manufacturing. He served as a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission before winning election to the Missouri Senate, where he represented the 6th senatorial district and rose to the position of majority leader. In June 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as the 48th lieutenant governor of Missouri, a position he held until assuming the governorship. Kehoe and Parson were elected to a full term in the 2020 general election. In the 2024 Republican gubernatorial primary, Kehoe defeated State Senator Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and went on to defeat Democratic nominee Crystal Quade in the general election on November 5, 2024. He was inaugurated on January 13, 2025.

Early Life

Michael Leo Kehoe was born on January 17, 1962, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the St. Louis area before eventually settling in Jefferson City, the state capital, where he would build his career in business and later in politics.

Details about Kehoe's childhood and family background in St. Louis reflect a trajectory common among Missouri Republicans of his generation—rooted in the working and middle-class communities of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area before pursuing opportunities in other parts of the state. Kehoe would eventually relocate to the Jefferson City area, where he established both his business enterprises and his political career.

Career

Business Career

Before entering public service, Kehoe established himself as a businessman in Jefferson City, Missouri. He owned and operated a car dealership in the Jefferson City area. He was also associated with Osage Ambulances, an ambulance manufacturing company based in Missouri. His experience in the private sector, particularly in the automotive and transportation industries, informed his later work on transportation policy in the Missouri Senate and as a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission

Prior to his election to the Missouri Senate, Kehoe served as a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, the body responsible for overseeing the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). In this capacity, he gained experience in infrastructure policy and transportation governance, areas that would remain central to his legislative priorities.

Missouri Senate

Election to the Senate

In 2010, Kehoe ran for the Missouri Senate in the 6th senatorial district, which encompasses the Jefferson City area and surrounding communities in central Missouri. He won the general election and took office on January 5, 2011, succeeding Senator Carl M. Vogel.

Tenure and Majority Leadership

During his time in the Missouri Senate, Kehoe served on various committees and established himself as a figure within the Republican caucus. His background in business and transportation policy positioned him for leadership roles within the chamber. On September 15, 2015, Kehoe was elected majority leader of the Missouri Senate, succeeding Senator Ron Richard in the position.

As majority leader, Kehoe was responsible for managing the legislative agenda of the Republican majority in the Senate, coordinating with committee chairs, and facilitating floor debate and votes. He served in this capacity from September 2015 until his appointment as lieutenant governor in June 2018. Upon his departure from the Senate, Caleb Rowden succeeded him as majority leader, and Mike Bernskoetter succeeded him in representing the 6th senatorial district.

Lieutenant Governor of Missouri

Appointment

On June 1, 2018, Governor Eric Greitens resigned from office amid investigations and pending criminal charges. Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson succeeded Greitens as governor, creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. On June 18, 2018, Governor Parson appointed Kehoe to serve as the 48th lieutenant governor of Missouri.

The appointment drew attention as a significant exercise of gubernatorial power, with Parson selecting Kehoe from among Missouri's Republican officeholders to fill the vacancy. Kehoe discussed the transition and his new statewide responsibilities shortly after taking office.

Legal Challenge

Kehoe's appointment was subject to a legal challenge questioning the governor's authority to appoint a lieutenant governor. The case was eventually heard by the Missouri Supreme Court, which in April 2019 upheld the appointment, ruling that Governor Parson had the constitutional authority to fill the vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor.

The Missouri Supreme Court's decision settled the constitutional question and confirmed Kehoe's authority to serve in the role. The ruling established precedent regarding the governor's appointment power for filling vacancies in statewide constitutional offices in Missouri.

2020 Election

In the 2020 general election, the Parson-Kehoe ticket ran for a full term. The ticket was successful, and both were elected on November 3, 2020, allowing Kehoe to continue serving as lieutenant governor through the full term ending in January 2025.

As lieutenant governor, Kehoe's duties included serving as president of the Missouri Senate, chairing the Missouri Tourism Commission, and serving on various boards and commissions. He also maintained a public role as an advocate for Missouri's business community and tourism industry throughout his tenure.

2024 Gubernatorial Campaign

Announcement and Primary

In 2023, Kehoe announced his candidacy for governor of Missouri in the 2024 election cycle, choosing to seek the governorship rather than a seat in the United States Senate. The Republican primary for governor was a competitive contest, with Kehoe facing State Senator Bill Eigel and Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, the son of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Kehoe won the Republican nomination, positioning himself as the candidate of continuity from the Parson administration while drawing on his experience in both the private sector and state government.

General Election

In the November 5, 2024, general election, Kehoe faced Democratic nominee Crystal Quade, who served as the minority leader of the Missouri House of Representatives. Kehoe won the election decisively, continuing the Republican Party's hold on the Missouri governorship.

Governor of Missouri

Inauguration

Mike Kehoe was sworn in as the 58th governor of Missouri on January 13, 2025, succeeding Mike Parson. David Wasinger was sworn in as lieutenant governor on the same day.

Administration and Policy

In his first year as governor, Kehoe focused on a range of policy priorities. The official biography released by the governor's office described his approach as guided by a commitment to public service and building on the economic and governmental foundations of the prior administration.

On January 13, 2026—exactly one year after his inauguration—Governor Kehoe delivered the 2026 State of the State Address, titled "A Foundation for Growth." In the address, Kehoe outlined his administration's priorities and accomplishments during his first year in office, as well as his agenda for the coming year.

Child Welfare Initiative

In February 2025, Governor Kehoe announced that Missouri would be among the first states to join the Trump Administration's "A Home for Every Child" initiative, working with the Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division to support the federal program aimed at finding permanent homes for children in foster care.

Special Session on Redistricting and Initiative Petition Reform

In August 2025, Governor Kehoe announced that he had issued a proclamation to convene the Missouri General Assembly for a special session. The session was called to address two specific issues: congressional redistricting and initiative petition reform. The call for a special session reflected the governor's engagement with both the decennial redistricting process and ongoing debates about the state's ballot initiative process.

Gubernatorial Appointments

Throughout his tenure, Kehoe has made numerous appointments to state boards, commissions, and county vacancies, exercising one of the governor's key administrative powers. These appointments have spanned a range of state agencies and advisory bodies.

Personal Life

Mike Kehoe resides in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he has been based for much of his adult life. He has four children. Before entering politics full-time, Kehoe was active in the Jefferson City business community through his automobile dealership and involvement in the ambulance manufacturing industry.

Kehoe's long tenure in Jefferson City—first as a businessman, then as a state senator, lieutenant governor, and governor—has made him a fixture in the community and in Missouri Republican politics. His business background has been a recurring theme in his political identity, frequently cited in his campaigns and public biography as shaping his approach to governance and economic policy.