If you’re looking for a quick answer, here it is: Mike Kehoe is the current governor of Missouri. He took the oath of office as the state’s 58th governor on January 13, 2025. Honestly, if you haven’t been keeping a hawk-like eye on Jefferson City lately, you might still have Mike Parson’s name stuck in your head. Parson was around for a long time, but term limits are a real thing in Missouri, and he officially handed over the keys to the Governor’s Mansion about a year ago.
Right now, as we move through early 2026, Kehoe is firmly in the driver’s seat. He’s not exactly a new face in the Missouri Capitol, though. Before he moved into the top spot, he served as the Lieutenant Governor for years. He’s basically spent the last decade and a half climbing the political ladder in the Show-Me State.
Mike Kehoe: The Man Behind the Desk
Kehoe’s story isn’t your typical "born into a political dynasty" tale. It’s actually kinda interesting. He was raised by a single mother in North St. Louis as the youngest of six kids. Money was tight. He started washing cars at 15 to help out.
Eventually, he worked his way up to owning a Ford dealership in Jefferson City. That business background is something he brings up constantly. He loves the "run the state like a business" mantra. Before he was governor or lieutenant governor, he was in the Missouri Senate and served on the Highway and Transportation Commission.
The 2024 Election That Put Him There
The path to the governorship wasn't exactly a walk in the park. The 2024 Republican primary was a bit of a bruiser. Kehoe had to fend off some heavy hitters, including then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Senator Bill Eigel.
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It was a classic Missouri GOP showdown. You had the establishment-leaning side (Kehoe) vs. the more firebrand, populist wings (Eigel and Ashcroft). Kehoe eventually won that primary and went on to defeat Democrat Crystal Quade in the November 2024 general election with about 59% of the vote.
What is the Current Governor of Missouri Working On?
Now that he’s hit his one-year anniversary in office, the "honeymoon phase" is pretty much over. Just a few days ago, on January 13, 2026, Kehoe delivered his State of the State address.
If you want to know what's actually happening in Missouri right now, you have to look at his budget. He’s proposing a $54.5 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year. That sounds like a ton of money—and it is—but he’s actually pushing for about $600 million in cuts compared to last year.
Here’s the stuff he’s prioritizing right now:
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- Eliminating the Income Tax: This is his big, flashy goal. He wants to phase out Missouri’s individual income tax entirely over the next few years. He thinks it'll make the state more competitive with neighbors like Tennessee or Florida.
- Public Safety: He’s putting a lot of weight behind something called "Operation Relentless Pursuit." It’s basically a task force approach to catching fugitives. He’s also trying to throw more money at police recruitment.
- Education and "School Choice": This is a hot-button issue. Kehoe is a big fan of the MOScholars program, which gives tax credits for donations that fund private school scholarships. Critics say this drains money from public schools; Kehoe says it gives parents options.
- The 2026 World Cup: Believe it or not, the governor is already carving out millions of dollars to prepare for World Cup events in Kansas City later this summer.
The Tax Debate: A Real Friction Point
You can't talk about Kehoe without talking about the tax plan. It’s the centerpiece of his 2026 agenda. He’s basically telling the legislature, "Let’s get rid of the income tax and ask the voters to approve it."
But there’s a catch. To make up for some of that lost revenue, he’s looking at taxing things that aren’t currently taxed—think digital subscriptions like Netflix or even AI platforms. This has led to some pushback from people who worry that the tax burden is just being shifted from the wealthy to everyday consumers. It's a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" argument that you'll be hearing a lot about in the Missouri news cycle this spring.
The Governor’s Team and Daily Life
It’s not just Mike Kehoe running the show. His wife, Claudia, is the First Lady of Missouri, and they are pretty active in the Jefferson City community. They also operate a 700-acre cattle farm. That "farmer-governor" image is very intentional. It resonates with the rural voters who are the backbone of the GOP in Missouri.
When he’s not at the Capitol, he’s usually touring the state. Just this week, he’s been busy making judicial appointments and announcing new funding for broadband expansion in rural areas. He’s definitely trying to be everywhere at once.
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Key Dates to Remember
If you're tracking the governor's progress, keep these milestones in mind:
- January 13, 2025: Sworn in as the 58th Governor.
- January 13, 2026: Delivered the "Foundation for Growth" State of the State address.
- November 2028: The next time his name will (likely) be on a gubernatorial ballot.
Moving Forward in Missouri
So, where does this leave you? If you’re a Missouri resident, the decisions being made in the Governor’s office right now regarding the tax code and school funding will probably hit your wallet or your local school district by the end of the year.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the Tax Proposals: If you're a business owner or just someone with a lot of digital subscriptions, keep an eye on the "joint resolution" for tax elimination. It might end up on your ballot later this year.
- Broadband Updates: If you live in a rural part of the state, check the MO.gov site for the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) maps. Kehoe just approved over $800 million to expand high-speed internet.
- Public Comments: The Missouri legislature is in session right now. If you have strong feelings about the move to "school choice" or the income tax phase-out, now is the time to contact your local state representative or senator while the budget is still being debated.
The office of the governor in Missouri carries a lot of weight, especially with a supermajority in the legislature that generally shares Kehoe's vision. Whether you agree with his policies or not, he’s currently the most powerful person in Missouri politics, and his 2026 agenda is already in full swing.