JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Mike Kehoe has presumably secured victory in a competitive Republican primary for Missouri governor. Two leading challengers, Jay Ashcroft and Bill Eigel, have announced plans to concede from the election.
Kehoe, after seven years as Missouri Lieutenant Governor under outgoing governor Mike Parson, wins nomination to run as the Republican candidate in the November 2024 general election.
This year’s GOP primary featured nine candidates, with Kehoe’s most notable challengers being Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Missouri U.S. Sen. Bill Eigel.
Others on this year’s GOP primary ballot included:
Chris Wright
Jeremy Gundel
Robert James Olson
Darrell Leon McClanahan
Amber Thomsen
Darren L. Grant
Kehoe became lieutenant governor in 2018 after Parson was appointed governor, following the resignation of Eric Greitens. Kehoe also earned an endorsement in the governor’s race from Parson last month ahead of the primary.
Kehoe has also touted endorsements from public safety and agricultural groups in recent weeks. Education, workforce development and crime reduction among his biggest priorities, according to his campaign website.
Ashcroft is the son of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. He also has experience as an engineer and an attorney. He has served as the Missouri Secretary of State since 2017, but will depart office next winter after running for the governor’s seat.
Eigel is a U.S. Air Force veteran who has served as a state senator since 2017. His campaign focused heavily on addressing immigration, while often criticizing Kehoe and Ashcroft for their stances on key issues.
Crystal Quade won the Democratic nomination for Missouri governor, setting up an election versus Kehoe as the Republican candidate this fall. The Missouri Governor’s Office has been run by Republican leadership since 2017, though it’s been split nearly half-and-half between the GOP and Democratic party since the turn to the 21st century.
