Power Profile: Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe
Mike Kehoe currently serves as Missouri’s 48th lieutenant governor.
Politics was never the plan for Mike Kehoe. The North St. Louis native spent years working his way up from washing cars to owning car dealerships before being thrust into the political world as a way to serve the communities that had supported him.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be in politics,” said Kehoe, who currently serves as Missouri’s lieutenant governor.
Kehoe’s public service began in 2005, when then-Gov. Matt Blunt appointed him to serve on the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, where he was elected chair in 2009.
In 2010, Kehoe was elected to the Missouri Senate, where he eventually served as assistant majority floor leader and majority floor leader. In 2018, he was appointed lieutenant governor and won a full term in 2020.
As lieutenant governor, Kehoe serves as Missouri’s advocate for seniors and veterans, as well as oversees the Missouri Arts Council and the Buy Missouri Program, which promotes Missouri businesses and manufacturers.
It’s a natural fit for Kehoe, especially with his 35-year experience as a small business owner. That background, along with his knowledge as a first-generation farmer, gives Kehoe a unique perspective on what businesses and farms need from their government.
“I really fell in love with agriculture and what all our farm families do for Missouri and the world,” Kehoe said. “Missouri feeds and clothes the world.”
But in order for Missouri to remain competitive in the eyes of job creators and business owners, Kehoe believes it is critical for the state to have access to reliable and affordable energy.
“You have to have reliable power,” he said, describing it as “a must” for any economic development. “I hear that time and time again.”
During his legislative career, Kehoe worked to modernize the state's electrical grid. While serving in the state Senate, he supported legislation to improve energy infrastructure throughout the Show-Me State, making the state's grid more efficient and reliable. He noted these investments are crucial for fostering statewide business and industrial growth, as access to affordable and reliable power plays an important role when businesses are deciding to relocate.
“It’s critical,” he said.
Kehoe’s other priorities include developing a statewide plan to tackle crime, ensuring Missouri provides the best education possible to children and growing the state’s economy and agriculture industry.
Outside of the office, Kehoe said he enjoys spending time outdoors, visiting Missouri’s many great state parks and being with his family. As a first-generation farmer, much of his spare time is spent working on his farm in Phelps and Pulaski counties.
“I’m kind of an outdoors guy,” he said. “Being outside and working on the farm is my way of relaxing.”
To learn more about Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, please visit his official website at ltgov.mo.gov.