Republican Mike Kehoe is facing Democrat Crystal Quade for governor of Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe will face Missouri Gov. Crystal Quade on Tuesday.

Kehoe is considered a strong favorite to win in the heavily Republican state, where Quade is the House minority leader. Quade and other Missouri Democrats are hoping to regain political relevance with the help of abortion rights advocates, who may have more momentum for the vote this year via an abortion rights amendment.

Quade supports the amendment, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and, if passed, would likely repeal the state's near-total abortion ban.

Kehoe opposes the amendment. At a debate in September, Kehoe said it was going “way too far.”

Kehoe championed his work as an auto dealer and rancher and said he would focus on improving the state's economy and supporting agriculture if elected. He also presented himself as a law-and-order candidate, promising to fight crime and calling for tighter security at the US southern border.

Kehoe edged out early favorite Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in this year's expensive and competitive GOP primary.

Kehoe, 62, rose from interim state Senate president to lieutenant governor in 2018 when his predecessor, Mike Parson, became the state's chief executive. Parson became governor after former Gov. Eric Greitens resigned following a sex scandal.

Voters first elected Kehoe to the state Senate in 2010 to represent his Jefferson City-area district.

Voters elected Quade, a 39-year-old Springfield resident, to the state House of Representatives in 2016. Her colleagues elected her as minority leader in the House of Representatives beginning in the 2019 legislative session.

The race for attorney general is also on the ballot on Tuesday. Voters will choose between Republican incumbent Andrew Bailey, seeking his first full term, and Democrat Elad Gross, a former deputy attorney general who worked under Missouri's last Democratic attorney general.

Parson named Bailey, who succeeded Eric Schmitt, now a U.S. senator, as the state's top lawyer. Bailey previously worked as general counsel in the governor's office.

Bailey, the heavy favorite, has drawn national attention since taking office in January 2023 for his advocacy on current issues, particularly gender equality in health care and student loan cancellation.

To report a correction or typo, please send an email [email protected]. Please include the item information in the subject line of the email.

Copyright 2024 KY3. All rights reserved.