Missouri Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$140,596
2024 FY Budget:	$7,542,015
Term limits:	2 terms
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Missouri Constitution, Article IV, Section I the Executive Department
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder(s)
Governor of Missouri Mike Kehoe Republican Party Assumed office: January 13, 2025
Elections
Next election:	November 7, 2028
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Other Missouri Executive Offices
Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Commissioner of Education •Agriculture Director •Insurance Director •Natural Resources Director •Labor Director •Public Service Commission

TheGovernor of the State of Missouri is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office inMissouri. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two terms.^[1]

Missouri has a Republicantrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

Missouri has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also:Missouri State Legislature,Missouri House of Representatives,Missouri State Senate

Current officeholder

The current Governor of Missouri isMike Kehoe (R). Kehoe assumed office in 2025.

Authority

Thestate Constitution addresses the office of the governor inArticle IV, the Executive Department.^[2]

Under Article IV, Section I:

Qualifications

State Executives
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014

A candidate for governor must be:^[2]

• at least thirty years old
• a citizen of the United States for at least fifteen years
• a resident ofMissouri for at least ten years

Elections

Missouri state government organizational chart

Missouri elects governors in the presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For Missouri, 2016, 2020, 2024, and 2028 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the second Monday in the January following an election.

Term limits

See also:States with gubernatorial term limits

Missouri governors are restricted to two terms in office during their lifetime.^[2]

Missouri Constitution, Article IV, Section 17

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Missouri governors from 1992 to 2013.

2024

See also:Missouri gubernatorial election, 2024

General election

General election for Governor of Missouri

Mike Kehoe defeatedCrystal Quade,Bill Slantz,Paul Lehmann, andTheodis Brown Sr. in the general election for Governor of Missouri on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Kehoe (R)	59.1	1,750,802
		Crystal Quade (D)	38.7	1,146,173
		Bill Slantz (L)	1.4	40,908
	Submit photo	Paul Lehmann (G)	0.8	22,359
		Theodis Brown Sr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	24

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,960,266
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Larry Flenoid II (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri

Crystal Quade defeatedMike Hamra,Eric Morrison,Sheryl Gladney, andHollis Laster in the Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Crystal Quade	50.2	190,228
		Mike Hamra	31.7	119,901
		Eric Morrison	9.8	37,084
		Sheryl Gladney	6.7	25,370
		Hollis Laster	1.6	5,990

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 378,573
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Sarah Unsicker (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Missouri

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Missouri on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Kehoe	39.4	275,139
		Bill Eigel	32.5	227,257
		Jay Ashcroft	23.2	162,314
		Amber Thomsen	1.5	10,653
		Chris Wright	1.3	9,376
		Darrell Leon McClanahan III	0.8	5,656
	Submit photo	Robert Olson	0.4	2,985
	Submit photo	Jeremy Gundel	0.4	2,951
	Submit photo	Darren Grant	0.3	1,871

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 698,202
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri

Bill Slantz advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Slantz	100.0	2,419

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,419
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also:Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020

General election

General election for Governor of Missouri

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Missouri on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Parson (R)	57.1	1,720,202
		Nicole Galloway (D)	40.7	1,225,771
		Rik Combs (L)	1.6	49,067
		Jerome H. Bauer (G)	0.6	17,234
		Theodis Brown Sr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	5
	Submit photo	Arnie Dienoff (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	4
	Submit photo	Martin Lindstedt (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	4

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,012,287
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri

Nicole Galloway defeatedEric Morrison,Jimmie Matthews,Antoin Johnson, andRobin Van Quaethem in the Democratic primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nicole Galloway	84.6	455,203
		Eric Morrison	6.0	32,403
	Submit photo	Jimmie Matthews	3.8	20,586
		Antoin Johnson	3.8	20,254
	Submit photo	Robin Van Quaethem	1.8	9,481

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 537,927
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• La'Ondrill Brown (D)
• Edward Thurman (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Missouri

IncumbentMike Parson defeatedSaundra McDowell,James Neely, andRaleigh Ritter in the Republican primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Parson	74.9	511,566
		Saundra McDowell	12.4	84,412
		James Neely	8.7	59,514
		Raleigh Ritter	4.0	27,264

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 682,756
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Missouri

Jerome H. Bauer advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerome H. Bauer	100.0	862

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 862
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri

Rik Combs advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Missouri on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rik Combs	100.0	4,171

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,171
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Past elections

Expand All

2016

See also:Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016

The general election for governor was held on November 8, 2016.

Eric Greitens defeatedChris Koster,Cisse Spragins,Lester Turilli, andDon Fitz in the Missouri governor election.

Missouri Governor, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Eric Greitens	51.29%	1,424,730
	Democratic	Chris Koster	45.40%	1,261,110
	Libertarian	Cisse Spragins	1.47%	40,718
	Independent	Lester Turilli Jr.	1.07%	29,774
	Green	Don Fitz	0.75%	20,785
		Write-in votes	0.03%	737
Total Votes				2,777,854
Source:Missouri Secretary of State

2012

See also:Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012

On November 6, 2012, incumbentJay Nixon defeatedDave Spence (R) andJim Higgins (L) to win a second term as governor.

Governor of Missouri General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jay NixonIncumbent	54.8%	1,494,056
	Republican	Dave Spence	42.5%	1,160,265
	Libertarian	Jim Higgins	2.7%	73,509
Total Votes				2,727,830
Election results viaMissouri Secretary of State

Vacancies

See also:How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancies are addressed underArticle IV, Sections 11(a), (b), and (c).

Should a Governor-elect die before taking office, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall be sworn in as the Governor. At any time that the sitting governor dies, resign, or is convicted or impeached, theLieutenant Governor shall take over the office. Similarly, in the case of a temporary or permanent disability, the Lieutenant Governor is first in the line of succession.

Regardless of the reason for the vacancy, the line of succession after the Lieutenant Governor is the same:

• the President Pro Tem of theSenate

• the Speaker of theHouse of Representatives

• theSecretary of State

• theState Auditor

• theState Treasurer

• theAttorney General

Whoever serves as Acting Governor shall have the full powers and emoluments of the office.

The Governor may state his or her temporary disability in writing to the Senate President Pro Tem and the Speaker of the House, at which point the governorship shall be vacant until the Governor indicates in writing to the same two officers that he or she is ready to resume the office.

A disability board made up of the same individuals in the line of succession as well as the Majority Floor Leaders in each chamber may convene to challenge a governor's declaration that is fit to resume office or initiate a hearing into the governor's fitness for office. If that board chooses to recommend the governor not discharge the office, they will deliver that decision to the President Pro Tem and the Speaker, who will, in turn, inform the Missouri Supreme Court.

The Court then convenes and has 21 days to reach a decision.

Any state officer who serves as Acting Governor is not considered to have vacated the office; that officer's chief administrative staffer shall discharge the office until the elected officer returns.

Duties

Missouri's governor is commander-in-chief of the state military forces in the state ofMissouri. (§ 6) Thegovernor appoints department heads and members of boards and commissions, including issuing, signing, and sealing the commission. (§ 5)

Additionally, the governor has the power to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses except treason and cases of impeachment. (§ 7) Specifically, the governor's pardon power does not include a power to parole.

Excepting bills to convene or adjourn and proposed Constitutional Amendments, all bills requiring the concurrence of both chambers must be presented to the Governor. (§ 8) In extraordinary circumstances, he or she may convene special sessions of thelegislature. (§ 9)

At the start of each regular legislative session, at the end of the governor's term, and at other times he or she deems prudent, the governor shall address the legislature on the state of the state and make recommendations. (§ 9)^[2]

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• Making all appointments not otherwise provided for by law (§ 4)

• Submitting a budget to the legislature within 30 days of the start of each session (§ 24)

• Exercising a line-item veto on appropriations bills (§ 26) and reducing state expenditures in line with revenue (§ 27)

Divisions

Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Missouri has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.

State budget

Role in state budget

See also:Missouri state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[3]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inJuly of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor byOctober 1.
3. Agency hearings are held fromJanuary through April. Public hearings are held inJanuary and February.
4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature no later than30 days after the legislature convenes.
5. The legislature is required to adopt a budget by thefirst Friday after the first Monday in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.

Missouri is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[3][4]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget. The legislature is not required to pass a balanced budget, but the governor is required to sign one.^[3]

Governor's office budget

The Governor's budget for 2024 was $7,542,015.^[5]

Compensation

See also:Comparison of gubernatorial salaries andCompensation of state executive officers

UnderSection 21 of theMissouri Constitution, the governor's salary is fixed by law and, if changed, does not take effect during the current term. Former office holders are constitutionally barred from making claims.

Section 3, Article XIII of theMissouri Constitution created a Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials, which sets the compensation of elected government officials. The 21-member commission meets every two years, and is not to be comprised of employees of the state or any of its institutions nor immediate family members of any person ineligible to serve on the council.^[6]

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $140,596, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[7]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $137,167, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[8]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[9]

2020

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[10]

2019

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[11]

2018

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[12]

2017

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[13]

2016

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[14]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[15]

2014

In 2014, the governor earned a salary of $133,821, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[16]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $133,821.^[17]

2010

In 2010, the Governor of Missouri was paid $133,821 a year, the 26th highest gubernatorial salary in America at the time.^[18]

Historical officeholders

Since 1820, Missouri has had 58 governors. There have been 38 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 3 Jeffersonian Republicans, 2 Union, 2 Radical Republicans, and 1 Liberal Republican.^[19]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Missouri

Partisan breakdown of the Missouri governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, in Missouri there were Democratic governors in office for 17 years, including the last five, while there were Republican governors in office for five years.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Missouri, theMissouri State Senate and theMissouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

Missouri was one of eight states to demonstratea dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Missouri state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Missouri had Democratic trifectas from 1993-2000 and Republican trifectas from 2005-2008. Of the 22 years studied, Missouri never finished in the top-10 or bottom-10. It received its highest ranking of 13th overall in 2000, the most recent year of a Democratic trifecta. Its lowest ranking of 23rd overall occurred in 1993 and 2008, both years of which had government trifectas. In 1993 it was a Democratic trifecta, and in 2008 it was a Republican trifecta.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 18.75
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 20.00
• SQLI average with divided government: 18.33

Chart displaying the partisanship of Missouri government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Presidential voting pattern

See also:Presidential voting trends in Missouri

Missourivoted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

More Missouri coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Missouri
• United States congressional delegations from Missouri
• Public policy in Missouri
• Endorsers in Missouri
• Missouri fact checks
• More...

Contact information

Office of the Governor, Missouri
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-3222
Fax: (573) 751-1495

See also

• Missouri state executive offices

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Governor of Missouri

Footnotes

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