When people talk about Missouri politics, they usually focus on the top of the ticket. The Governor’s race? Sure. The Senate? Every time. But the 2024 race for the second-in-command was actually one of the most fascinating—and crowded—scrambles we've seen in the Show-Me State in decades.
Honestly, the role of Lieutenant Governor is a bit of a Swiss Army knife. You’re the President of the Senate, you’re the first in line for the big chair, and you’re basically the state’s lead advocate for seniors and veterans. Because Mike Kehoe decided to move up to the Governor’s office, the seat was wide open. No incumbent. No "easy" win. Just a massive field of people trying to convince Missourians they were the right fit for a job that’s half legislative and half ceremonial.
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The Republican Primary: A High-Stakes Game of Musical Chairs
You’ve got to look back at the August primary to understand how we got to the general election. It was a dogfight.
On the GOP side, it wasn't just two or three people; it was a six-way split that stayed tight until the very last ballots were counted. We had heavy hitters like State Senator Lincoln Hough and State Senator Holly Rehder. Hough, especially, had a lot of momentum and the backing of much of the "establishment" crowd.
But then there was David Wasinger.
He’s a lawyer and an accountant from the St. Louis area, and he didn't exactly fit the career-politician mold. He leaned hard into being an "outsider" and an "America-first" conservative. He spent a lot of his own money—millions, actually—to make sure every Missourian knew his name. It worked. Wasinger squeezed out a win with about 31% of the vote, beating Hough by a razor-thin margin of about 7,000 votes.
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If you're wondering how someone wins with only 31%, that's just the math of a crowded field. It doesn't mean people didn't like the others; it just means the "conservative outsider" lane was wide enough for Wasinger to drive right through.
The General Election: Missouri Lt Governor Candidates 2024
By the time November 5, 2024, rolled around, the field had narrowed to four main names. It wasn't just a two-party race. Missouri has a habit of keeping things interesting with third-party voices that actually pull significant numbers.
- David Wasinger (Republican): The Brentwood-based attorney who made his name suing big banks after the 2008 financial crisis.
- Richard Brown (Democrat): A retired public school teacher and State Representative from Kansas City.
- Ken Iverson (Libertarian): A retired software engineer and Navy veteran.
- Danielle (Dani) Elliott (Green): A certified medical coder and 6th-generation Missourian.
Richard Brown was really the counterpoint to Wasinger. While Wasinger talked about "Main Street" and business-friendly policies, Brown focused heavily on what he called "common sense" issues. He talked a lot about the teacher shortage, the need for affordable housing, and protecting pensions. Having spent years in the state legislature, he knew the building in Jefferson City inside and out.
What Really Separated the Candidates?
Kinda comes down to what you think the government should be doing.
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Wasinger’s platform was very much about accountability. He wanted to audit state departments and make sure tax dollars weren't being wasted. He also leaned into the social issues that drive GOP turnout in Missouri—Second Amendment rights and pro-life stances.
Brown, on the other hand, argued that the Republican supermajority in the state was actually hurting Missouri’s growth. He felt like the state was focusing on the wrong things while families struggled to find childcare. He was the 2023 "Legislator of the Year" for both the Missouri Nurses Association and the Retired Teachers Association. That’s a lot of institutional support from the folks who actually keep the state running.
Then you had the "spoilers" or the "alternatives," depending on how you see them. Ken Iverson (Libertarian) was all about school choice and getting the government out of the way of the free market. Danielle Elliott (Green Party) brought a really unique perspective as a single mom and medical coder. She was vocal about environmental issues, specifically CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) and their impact on rural water supplies. She was the one candidate who flat-out refused corporate money.
The Final Count and What It Means for 2026
When the dust settled, David Wasinger won decisively. He pulled in about 1.67 million votes—roughly 57% of the total. Brown followed with about 38%.
What’s interesting is that even though the third-party candidates didn't win, they combined for over 120,000 votes. In a closer year, that’s more than enough to flip a seat.
So, where are we now?
Since taking office in January 2025, Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger has been busy. He’s already been active in promoting Missouri tourism and working on those "outsider" promises of government transparency. He and Governor Mike Kehoe actually made a bit of history together: they are the first Catholic Governor and Lieutenant Governor duo in Missouri's history.
Actionable Insights for Missouri Voters
If you're following Missouri politics today, the 2024 race offers a few lessons you can actually use.
- Watch the Primary, Not Just the General: In a state that leans as red as Missouri does, the real decision-making often happens in August. If you waited until November to care about the Lieutenant Governor, you already missed the most competitive part of the race.
- The "Outsider" Strategy Works: Wasinger proved that you don’t need to be a career politician to win if you have a clear message (and the resources to broadcast it).
- Third Parties Matter: 4% of the vote going to Libertarian and Green candidates shows a small but persistent "none of the above" sentiment in the Missouri electorate.
- Track the Senior Advocate Role: Keep an eye on the office's "Year in Review" reports. As the official advocate for seniors, the Lieutenant Governor has a direct impact on how Medicaid and senior services are handled. You can check the official MO.gov site for updates on these programs.
The 2024 election cycle is over, but the policies set by these winners are just starting to hit the ground. Whether you voted for him or not, Wasinger’s focus on business law and "Main Street" is going to be the blueprint for the next few years in Jefferson City.