Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe says he's planning to seek a second term in 2028, telling reporters in Jefferson City that the decision came after discussing it with his family and praying on it together. The Republican governor, who cruised to victory in 2024, framed his path forward in personal terms even as he brushed aside speculation about a potential primary challenge from a familiar face in state politics.
A Family Decision, Kehoe Says
Speaking Wednesday in Jefferson City, Kehoe said the choice to run again was not made lightly. According to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV, the governor described discussing his reelection plans with his family and said the decision ultimately came down to prayer. He indicated he wants to continue representing Missouri if voters support him again, according to the same report.
Kehoe enters the conversation from a position of electoral strength. He won the November 2024 general election with 59.1% of the vote — 1,750,802 ballots — which stands as the largest vote share for a Missouri gubernatorial candidate since 1988, according to MultiState Elections. Before that, Kehoe had to survive a crowded August 2024 Republican primary, winning a nine-candidate field with 39.4% of the vote over state Senator Bill Eigel, who received 32.5%, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who took 23.2%, per the Missouri Secretary of State.
Bailey's Return Stirs Primary Speculation
Part of what's fueling chatter about a potential primary fight is the recent return of Andrew Bailey, Missouri's former attorney general, to the state. Bailey officially stepped down as co-deputy director of the FBI effective October 2, ending a year-long tenure under FBI Director Kash Patel, according to Axios. Bailey has not announced that he's seeking any office, FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV reports.
Kehoe, for his part, had warm words for his former attorney general. The governor praised Bailey and described himself as a fan, per the station's report, while acknowledging that a primary challenge simply comes with the territory of elected office. Kehoe pointed to his own history of fighting to achieve his goals as evidence he's not rattled by the prospect, the outlet adds.
Bailey built a conservative record during his time as Missouri's attorney general, a post he held from 2023 to 2025 after being appointed by then-Governor Mike Parson, according to Wikipedia. His tenure at the FBI included leading Operation VIPER, a two-week law enforcement surge across the St. Louis metropolitan area that ran from April 20 through May 1 and brought together federal agents and local police across four Missouri counties, resulting in 91 arrests and 36 seized firearms, according to The Missouri Times.
Term Limits and a Rocky Policy Year
Missouri limits governors to two four-year terms in a lifetime. That means a second term would be Kehoe's last under current law.
Kehoe heads into his reelection push after a bruising setback on his signature economic priority. In August 2026, Missouri voters rejected Amendment 5, a constitutional measure Kehoe supported, according to KSDK. The measure would have authorized state lawmakers to broaden transaction tax policies to offset lost income tax revenue; the five-year window concerned that expansion, the station reported.
Budget Pressures Loom Over a Second Term Bid
Kehoe's reelection announcement also arrives against a backdrop of tightening state finances. In his January 2026 State of the State address, the governor proposed cutting more than $600 million from Missouri's core general revenue operating budget to offset a projected future deficit exceeding $2 billion, Hoodline previously reported.
Before entering statewide politics, Kehoe had an automotive-industry background.
