Mike Kehoe in 2024 MO Governor's race
On Abortion:
Plans to vigorously defend state's abortion restrictions
If Kehoe wins the GOP primary, it's highly possible he would be running while an initiative to legalize abortion is on the ballot. Kehoe said he plans to help vigorously defend the restrictions
Republicans have enacted. "It's something that we're going to defend and defend until we don't know how to do it anymore," Kehoe said.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2023
On Civil Rights:
Voted in favor of LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws
Kehoe voted for legislation that had language in it that allows people to sue if they were fired, denied housing or barred from public accommodations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
While Kehoe noted that the bill was a part of a "larger deal to move something through the Senate," he said the Republican Party needs to be more aligned with younger people who support anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2023
On Crime:
Don't want to defund the police; we want to protect them
[On police reform]: "The first one is working with communities and our police departments to get our communities safe again," he said. "We don't want to defund the police.
We want to protect the police and give them the assets (they need). We want to make sure they have the right tools to make sure they can keep and get these communities back and safe."
Source: MissouriNet on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 22, 2023
On Education:
Expanding school choice is an early priority
Kehoe said his other early priorities are expanding school choice, growing the agriculture industry, and creating a job-friendly environment. "Education is a huge issue, giving parents and children the choice to make sure they're getting the right
educational opportunities," he said. "Growing our state's agriculture industry--I'm a first-generation farmer (so) I have a unique look at what it takes to work with Missouri's 95,000 family farmers."
Source: MissouriNet on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 22, 2023
On Energy & Oil:
Bad Green New Deal experiments endangers private property
Farmers believe in God, hard work, helping a neighbor in need, and the constitutional rights to live, work and raise our families. As an elected official, it is my duty to listen when special interests threaten or
abuse those constitutional rights, in particular efforts to subordinate private property rights for bad Green New Deal experiments. This legislative session, we can ensure common sense takes precedence over nonsense.
Source: The Joplin Globe on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2021
On Foreign Policy:
Response to Ukraine: Russia does not share our values
The "Missouri Stands with Ukraine" initiative, a twofold response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine began with the introduction of HB2913, filed by Rep. Plocher, which prohibits state entities and private businesses from contracting with Russia,
Russian entities, or any other country currently occupying or attacking a NATO ally. The second half of the initiative encourages Missouri retailers to consider voluntarily removing Russian-made or Russian branded products from store shelves,
and replacing them with USA-made and Missouri-made products.
"This initiative is in response to Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine," said Kehoe. "The message we want to send is simple: Russia does not share our values and Russian businesses
funding Putin's war of aggression are unworthy of Missourians' money. Accordingly, we ask Missourians to replace Russian-made and Russian-branded products with American, and preferably Missouri-made, products."
Source: 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial campaign website LtGov.mo.gov
Mar 2, 2022
On Government Reform:
Having proper identification to vote is only reasonable
Voter photo ID will be proposed again. "We feel like if you're going to vote for the most powerful man in the world, having proper identification is only reasonable." Because previous voter photo ID laws have been struck down as unconstitutional in
Missouri, Republicans have pursued a combination of a ballot initiative that would change the Constitution to allow for voter photo ID, and a companion bill that would create the structure for voter photo ID if the ballot issue is passed.
Source: MissouriNet on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 17, 2015
On Health Care:
Allow transgender care for adults, but no government money
While Kehoe said he was in favor of banning gender-affirming care for minors, he said he's not in favor of putting up barriers for transgender adults. "I think once a person is a certain age, in this case,
I think 18 is the number that's out there, they should be able to make decisions for themselves," Kehoe said. "My only caveat to that would be if they make that decision, then they shouldn't rely on state or federal subsidies."
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2023
On Health Care:
Opposed Medicaid expansion: unsupportable and unsustainable
Voters will be presented with the proposal of Amendment 2 which entails Medicaid Expansion in the state of Missouri. Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe have spoken against Medicaid Expansion by stating
it may result in higher taxes for Missourians. "Medicaid Expansion is unsupportable and unsustainable," stated Missouri Lt. Governor, Mike Kehoe.
Source: Macon Home Press on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Aug 4, 2020
On Principles & Values:
I very much enjoy the agricultural way of life
Starting from scratch, the first-generation farmer, who runs cattle and puts up his own hay, is responsible for roughly 750 acres. It's not something he did overnight, spending years building his operation to what it is now. And it's a move he made
simply because he enjoys the work."I very much enjoy the agricultural way of life," said Kehoe. "Just getting out, fixing some fence, working some cows, cutting some hay, splitting some wood…for me is relaxing."
Source: The Missouri Times on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Mar 1, 2019
On Principles & Values:
We are a country built on faith, specifically on God
As a state senator, he occasionally heard from constituents who asserted that his faith should have no bearing on his politics. This often came in light of issues such as abortion and marriage."But I said when I was running that
I'm a Catholic family man with strong values, and the people elected me," he said. "So I'm giving them what they voted for."
"We are a country built on faith, specifically on God," he said.
Source: The Catholic Missourian on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Jul 27, 2018
On Principles & Values:
If you want to do something you can do it in this country
He believes an important part of being American is not taking for granted the freedom and opportunities this country provides. "I believe that's what this country does," he said. "It affords anybody the opportunity who really
wants to succeed--and different definitions of success, I understand, are out there--but if you want to do something, you can do it in this country."
Source: The Catholic Missourian on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Jul 27, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Supported tax increases for transportation projects
As a state senator, he supported proposals that raised either sales or gas taxes to pay for major transportation projects. "I ran for Senate to let Missourians know our infrastructure system is unbelievably underfunded,"
Kehoe said. "And I'm the first guy to push for Missourians to vote to see if that is an appropriate way to fund transportation." He also said he's been in support of legislation that would cut taxes.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2023
On Tax Reform:
I've cut way more taxes than I proposed
Kehoe defended his voting record and tied the gas tax hikes back to the Ashcroft family name. "I think at the end of the day, what Missourians will understand is that either as the leader in the Senate, when I was the floor leader, or as lieutenant
governor presiding over the two of the largest tax cuts that's ever happened in the state of Missouri, I've cut way more taxes than I proposed.""The issue that they're talking about was our proposition to try to increase the fuel tax so that
Missourians could invest more into the roads and investment in our road and bridge system. And when I was proposing that in 2013, nobody had had that conversation since the early nineties, when then John Ashcroft proposed and passed a gas tax on
Missourians as a way to fund infrastructure."
Does Kehoe think gas taxes are too high in Missouri? "As compared to other states? No, not at all. We're still in the lower quartile of what where our gas taxes are compared to other states," he said.
Source: KSDK on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2023
On Foreign Policy:
AdWatch: My opponent allows China owning Missouri ag land
Jay Ashcroft has become a vocal cheerleader for restricting foreign-owned farmland in Missouri. Now, Ashcroft's opponents are using his past advocacy against him.A campaign ad titled "Cows" depicts a Missouri bovine forced to learn a new
language "now that my farm is owned by China." The cow says its herd is wondering why Ashcroft supported a law "allowing the Chinese Communist Party to buy land here in Missouri, even land near sensitive US military bases." Other cows in the ad are
adorned with the flag of China.
Asked to back up the claim about Ashcroft, a spokesman for [the pro-Mike Kehoe PAC funding the ad] pointed to legislation Ashcroft testified for in 2023 that would restrict foreign-owned purchases. The bill would have
reduced the current 1% cap on foreign-owned agricultural land to 0.5%, and also would have barred "any alien or foreign business" from buying land within 30 miles of agricultural land, military installations and more.
Source: StlToday AdWatch on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race, "Cows"
May 31, 2024
On Immigration:
Visit National Guard at the border to understand the issues
State Sen. Bill Eigel promised that he'd call out the militia to round up and deport undocumented immigrants. Jay Ashcroft said he would declare the influx of immigrants an invasion.Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe's spokesperson did not address
questions about whether it was proper to declare an invasion of Missouri or to order mass removal, instead boasting about Kehoe's trip to the Mexican border with members of state national guard. "Mike
Kehoe takes action from the front-lines, not from behind a keyboard and Twitter account," he said.
Kehoe is visiting the approximately 250 National Guard soldiers already in Texas operating under federal orders. Gov. Mike Parson has ordered
200 soldiers and 11 Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers to work with Texas law enforcement at the request of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Parson has asked lawmakers for $2.2 million to cover the cost.
Source: Missouri Independent on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Mar 1, 2024
On Technology:
Taxes to fund the state's transportation infrastructure
Jay Ashcroft and Bill Eigel both alluded to Mike Kehoe's support for boosting either sales taxes or gas taxes to fund the state's transportation infrastructure. Eigel said "to have somebody stand up on this stage today, who has backed the largest tax
increases in Missouri history, tried to present themselves as a tax cutter -- that's why people hate politicians, folks."
Ashcroft also said proceeds from the gas tax were "unaccountable" to the public since they are under the control of appointed
Highways and Transportation Commission members -- as opposed to the legislature.
Kehoe noted that he has supported more than $2 billion in tax cuts for Missourians.
He also said after the forum that funding the state's transportation infrastructure is an important economic and public safety priority. "It's critical to Missouri families, school buses, ambulances that drive across those roads and bridges," he said.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Feb 18, 2024
On Homeland Security:
Never treat our veterans as anything less than heroes
Jay Ashcroft came under withering criticism this week following recent comments suggesting special benefits for veterans are unfair. Ashcroft was asked how Missouri could better support its veterans. He responded that "we need to do what we promised
them," before adding, "I don't think we ought to treat people based on classifications. I think we ought to treat everybody equally. I don't think we ought to say if you're in the military, we give this discount but everybody else has to pay twice as
much. I don't think that's good government."Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is also running for governor, said that for Ashcroft "to treat our veterans as anything less than heroes is disrespectful to all veterans and their families." Kehoe's role
as lieutenant governor includes serving as an advocate for veterans. "Communities across our state value our nation's heroes and their service and sacrifice to our country, and they would want their governor to do the same," he wrote on social media.
Source: Kansas City Star on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Feb 22, 2024
On Gun Control:
Restricting gun rights hurts law-abiding citizens
On guns, Quade said she supports local governments having more authority to set regulations on firearms. Quade drew a contrast between the need for guns in rural areas of the state and the situation in large metro areas. "Of course what's going on in
Webster County where I grew up is different than what's going on in inner city St. Louis," Quade said. Kehoe responded that Second Amendment rights are one of the "most fundamental" rights that American citizens enjoy.
He referred to his upbringing in St. Louis, where he said gang members didn't go to stores to buy guns. "Every time we put more restrictions on a citizen's
Second Amendment rights, we actually hurt the citizens who are trying to do this law-abiding and legally," Kehoe said.
Source: Kansas City Star on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial debate
Sep 20, 2024
On Immigration:
Illegal immigration in Missouri is out of control
Quade said she would like to support bipartisan immigration legislation at the federal level and on the local level, she would like to provide more support to law enforcement to keep communities safe from drug and human trafficking.
Kehoe, who boasted of his two visits to the Mexico-United States border, described illegal immigration in
Missouri as "out of control," especially with an excess of deadly, illegal drugs like fentanyl, entering the country.
Kehoe said he would like to get a handle on the number of undocumented immigrants so state funds can be redirected to Missouri taxpayers.
Source: Springfield News-Leader on 2024 Missouri Governor debate
Sep 20, 2024
Page last updated: Oct 31, 2024