Mike Kehoe

Mike Kehoe (born January 17, 1962) is an American politician currently serving as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, in office since June 18, 2018. A Republican, Kehoe was previously a member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 6th district.[1] On June 18, 2018, Kehoe was appointed by Governor Mike Parson as Missouri's lieutenant governor.

Mike Kehoe
48th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
Incumbent
Assumed office June 18, 2018
Governor	Mike Parson
Preceded by	Mike Parson
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	(1962-01-17) January 17, 1962 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Claudia
Children	4

Early life

Kehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single-parent mother, the youngest of six children. His father left the family when he was only one year old. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School.[2]

Missouri Senate

Kehoe was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission in 2005.[3] 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 2010 general election, where he ran unopposed.[4]

During the 96th General Assembly, Senator Kehoe served on the following committees:[1]

• 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 stated that he believed that the Constitution gave him authority to tap Kehoe as lieutenant governor.[5][6] The Democrats lost their lawsuit in the Cole County Circuit Court due to a lack of standing and the vagueness of the state law which states it cannot be done, but does not provide a process to fill the position. That lawsuit was on appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court, Appeal No. SC97284,[7] with oral argument held on November 7, 2018. On April 16, 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the appointment of Kehoe to Lieutenant Governor by a vote of 5–2. The decision written by Chief Justice Zel Fischer stated that "Governor Parson was within his constitutional authority when he appointed Kehoe to the office of Lieutenant Governor,".[8]

Personal life

At age 25, Kehoe began working for Osage Industries, a company involved with auto parts and the manufacturing of ambulances.[9] After selling Osage Industries in 1992, he purchased an auto dealership in Jefferson City, Missouri, but sold it shortly after entering politics.[10] Kehoe and his wife Claudia are the parents of four children. He is the second Roman Catholic to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, the first being Thomas Eagleton.[11]

Electoral history

Missouri 6th District State Senator Republican Primary 2010[4]

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[12]

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

Missouri 6th District State Senator Republican Primary 2014[13]

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

Missouri 6th District State Senator General Election 2014[14]

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

References

1. "Senator Mike Kehoe". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
2. Watson, Bob (June 24, 2018). "Lt. Gov. Kehoe talks about transition to statewide job". News Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "2010 Primary Election – State Senator – District 6". Missouri Secretary of State. August 24, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
5. Hancock, Jason (June 18, 2018). "Gov. Parson picks his replacement as lieutenant governor, reopening a legal debate". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
6. "State senator Mike Kehoe appointed Missouri lieutenant governor". FOX2now.com. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
7. Appellants' Brief. Darrell Cope and the Missouri Democratic Party v. Michael L. Parson and Mike Kehoe, S.W.3d (Mo. August 13, 2018).
8. Ballentine, Summer. "Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Appointment of Lt. Gov. Kehoe". usnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
9. "Osage Ambulances". Osage Ambulances. April 4, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
10. "Jefferson City Car Dealership Announces Sale of Company". KOMU 8. October 25, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
11. "Senator Mike Kehoe". Senate.mo.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
12. "Official Election Returns: State of Missouri General Election - November 2, 2010 General Election" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. November 30, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
13. "State of Missouri - Primary Election, August 05, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. August 5, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
14. "State of Missouri - General Election, November 04, 2014". Missouri Secretary of State. December 3, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2018.

Missouri Senate
Preceded by Carl M. Vogel	Member of the Missouri Senate from the 6th district 2011–2018	Succeeded by Mike Bernskoetter
Preceded by Ron Richard	Majority Leader of the Missouri Senate 2015–2018	Succeeded by Caleb Rowden
Political offices
Preceded by Mike Parson	Lieutenant Governor of Missouri 2018–present	Incumbent