Mike Kehoe

Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin said Missouri’s Children’s Division has failed in its core mission and needs to be restructured to protect vulnerable children.

The GOP governor-elect also reiterated his support for putting a state board in charge of the St. Louis police department.

Kehoe has served as Missouri's lieutenant governor since 2018.

Of the statewide races in Missouri this election, the gubernatorial contest is the closest, according to polling, but Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe had a commanding 10% lead over Democratic state Rep. Crystal Quade.

Missouri's gubernatorial candidates met in a debate on Friday sponsored by the Missouri Press Association. Democrat Crystal Quade, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, the Republican nominee, Libertarian candidate Bill Slantz and Paul Lehmann, the Green Party candidate, squared off in what could be the campaign's sole debate.

Newly reported campaign finance data shows that having the most money wasn’t an automatic ticket to success at the polls.

Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel, who heads the state's umbrella organization for most unions, said organized labor wants to see candidates who protect workers.

Starting salaries for Children’s Division investigators are often much lower than those in other governments and the private sector.

Sen. Josh Hawley and Lucas Kunce will be on the same ballot as a measure to legalize abortion in Missouri, which could boost Democratic turnout compared to the last two presidential elections.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe beat eight opponents to win the nomination, including Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.