Michael Brooks
As of 2025, the governor of Missouri is Mike Kehoe, a member of the Republican Party. He is the 58th governor of the state and the second Catholic to serve in this position in Missouri's 203-year history. Kehoe is a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City and has described being Catholic as the core of who I am. He is the second Catholic to serve as lieutenant governor of Missouri.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mike Kehoe |
| Religion | Catholic |
| State | Missouri |
| Position | Governor |
| Year | 2025 |
| Party | Republican |
| Previous Position | Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |
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What You'll Learn
Mike Kehoe is the second Catholic governor of Missouri
Mike Kehoe, the 58th governor of Missouri, is the second Catholic to serve in this position. Kehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single mother, Lorraine Kehoe. He is the youngest of six children. Kehoe attended Catholic schools in the area, including Chaminade College Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic high school in St. Louis County. He later served in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and was majority leader from 2015 to 2018.
On June 18, 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as Missouri's lieutenant governor, making him the state's first Catholic lieutenant governor. Kehoe's appointment was met with legal uncertainty due to a state law that prohibits the governor from appointing the lieutenant governor. However, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld Kehoe's appointment in 2019, and he was subsequently elected to a full term in 2020.
As a state senator, Kehoe faced criticism from constituents who believed that his Catholic faith should be separate from his political career. However, Kehoe defended his stance, stating that he ran as a Catholic family man with strong values, and that he was delivering on his campaign promises. Kehoe's faith has played a significant role in his life and career. He has credited his mother and the priests and sisters at his parish school with forming him in the Catholic faith. Kehoe has also stated that being Catholic is "the core of who I am."
In March 2021, Kehoe announced his intention to run for governor of Missouri in 2024. He successfully won the Republican primary and the general election, defeating Democratic nominee Crystal Quade. Kehoe was inaugurated as governor in January 2025, becoming the second Catholic to hold this office after Thomas Eagleton. As governor, he has faced criticism for his connections to special interest groups and for withdrawing his nomination of Tom Prater to the Missouri Board of Education due to pressure from right-wing groups.
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Kehoe is a member of the St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City
Michael Leo Kehoe, the 58th governor of Missouri, is a member of the St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City. He is the second Catholic to serve as governor in the state's 203-year history. Kehoe was born and raised in St. Louis and is a lifelong Catholic. He is only the second Roman Catholic to have served as lieutenant governor of Missouri, the first being Thomas Eagleton.
Kehoe's religious beliefs have been a significant part of his life and have influenced his political career. He once stated that being Catholic is "the core of who I am." Kehoe's inauguration as governor was a momentous occasion for the Catholic community in Missouri, with hundreds of friends, family members, and supporters joining him at Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph the afternoon before Inauguration Day.
The Catholic faith played a prominent role in the inauguration ceremonies. Bishop W. Shawn McKnight offered prayers and invocations, emphasizing the long tradition of Catholics praying for those in positions of trust and responsibility. Msgr. Kurwicki also advised the governor to stay close to his family, predicting that his family would be his greatest achievement and a source of grounding.
Kehoe's political career has been notable for his focus on various issues, including balancing budgets, fully funding schools, and championing laws to protect Missouri's children and seniors. He has also advocated for reducing regulatory burdens, cutting taxes, and creating jobs. Kehoe's term as lieutenant governor was marked by his efforts to highlight Missouri's businesses, agriculture, and tourism, while also advocating for veterans and seniors.
As governor, Kehoe has continued to work towards positive change in Missouri. He has signed several pieces of legislation aimed at benefiting Missouri families and communities. Kehoe's Catholic faith and personal background have undoubtedly influenced his approach to governance and his commitment to serving the people of Missouri.
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Kehoe is the 58th governor of Missouri
Mike Kehoe is the 58th governor of Missouri, inaugurated in January 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party and previously served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Missouri from 2018 to 2025. Kehoe is only the second Catholic to serve as governor in the state's 203-year history. He is a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City and has described his Catholic faith as "the core of who I am".
Kehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single mother, Lorraine Kehoe. He is the youngest of six siblings, and his father left the family when Kehoe was just a year old. Despite these challenges, Kehoe went on to serve in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and was majority leader from 2015 to 2018. During his time in the Senate, he worked to balance budgets, fully fund schools, and champion laws protecting Missouri's children and seniors.
In 2018, Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as lieutenant governor, and the two were elected to a full term in 2020. Kehoe won the Republican nomination for governor in 2024, defeating State Senator Bill Eigel and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. He went on to win the general election against Democratic nominee Crystal Quade, raising nearly $13 million in campaign funds.
As governor, Kehoe has continued to advocate for many of the same issues he focused on as a senator, including reducing regulatory burdens, cutting taxes, and creating jobs. He has also highlighted Missouri's businesses, agriculture, and tourism while serving as a voice for veterans and seniors. In one of his first acts as governor, Kehoe signed several pieces of legislation that he said would "positively impact Missouri families and communities."
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Kehoe was inaugurated in January 2025
Mike Kehoe, a member of the Republican Party, was inaugurated as the 58th governor of Missouri in January 2025. He is the second Catholic to serve as governor in the state's 203-year history, and the second Roman Catholic to have served as lieutenant governor of Missouri. Kehoe is a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City and has been described as a lifelong Catholic. He is the first Catholic governor of Missouri since Joseph Teasdale, who served from 1977 to 1981.
Kehoe was born and raised in the St. Louis area by his single mother, Lorraine Kehoe. He is the youngest of six siblings, and his father left the family when Kehoe was just a year old. Despite these challenges, Kehoe went on to serve in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and was majority leader from 2015 to 2018. He also served on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for four and a half years.
In June 2018, then-Governor Mike Parson appointed Kehoe as Missouri's lieutenant governor. Parson and Kehoe were elected to a full term in 2020, and Kehoe went on to win the Republican nomination for governor in 2024. He defeated Democratic nominee Crystal Quade in the November 2024 general election, securing his place as Missouri's next governor.
As governor, Kehoe has focused on highlighting Missouri's businesses, agriculture, and tourism, as well as advocating for veterans and seniors. He has also worked to balance budgets, fully fund schools, and champion laws protecting Missouri's children and seniors. Kehoe's inauguration in January 2025 was marked by celebration and prayer, with hundreds of friends, family members, and supporters joining him for Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the afternoon before Inauguration Day.
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Kehoe previously served as Missouri's lieutenant governor
Mike Kehoe, a member of the Republican Party, is the 58th governor of Missouri, serving since 2025. He is the second Catholic to serve as governor in the state's history and is a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. Kehoe has stated that being Catholic is "the core of who I am". He is a lifelong Catholic and was joined by hundreds of supporters at Mass in the cathedral the afternoon before his Inauguration Day.
During his time as lieutenant governor, Kehoe served on various committees and commissions, including the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, where he served for four and a half years. He also served in the Missouri Senate, representing the state's 6th senatorial district, and was majority leader from 2015 to 2018. In this role, Kehoe worked to balance budgets, fully fund schools, and champion laws protecting Missouri's children and seniors. He also advocated for reducing regulatory burdens, cutting taxes, and creating jobs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Governor Mike Kehoe identifies as Catholic. He is a member of the Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City and has said that being Catholic is "the core of who I am".
Yes, Governor Mike Kehoe is the second Catholic governor of Missouri. The first was Governor Joseph Teasdale, who served from 1977 to 1981.
As of 2025, of the 50 governors:
- 19 are Catholic
- 6 have not declared a specific religious denomination
- 5 are Christian
- 5 are Jewish
- 3 are Baptist
- 3 are Protestant
- 2 are Episcopalian
- 2 are Lutheran
- 1 is Evangelical
- 1 is Mormon
- 1 is Presbyterian.
