55.8%

#10 of 50

Mike Kehoe

Missouri R | 1st term

2025-01-13Took Office 1 yr, 5 moIn Office 263Metrics Scored 922 / 1653Total Points

⚠️ Inherited Performance Notice

Mike Kehoe has been in office 15 months. Section A (Governance) and Section B (State Outcomes) scores largely reflect the prior administration of Mike Parson (R), who served 2018-2025. Section C (Oath Fidelity) reflects Kehoe's own executive actions, vetoes, and policy positions since taking office.

In office 15 months. Section A (Governance) and Section B (State Outcomes) scores largely reflect the prior administration of Mike Parson (R), who served as governor immediately before Kehoe. Section C (Oath Fidelity) reflects Kehoe's own executive actions, vetoes, and policy positions since taking office. Click to expand each section for full item-level scores, evidence, and source citations.

Current: Mike Kehoe (R)
Took office: 2025-01-13
In office: 15 months

Predecessor: Mike Parson (R)
Served: 2018-2025
Same party continuity

Section A: Governance

220/300

73%

Section B: State Outcomes

573/975

59%

Section C: Oath Fidelity

+129 (-378 to +378)

Section A — Governance 220/300

9 subsections evaluating executive performance: budget execution, legislative relations, appointments, emergency management, transparency, ethics, program management, federal relations, and constituent service.

Fiscal Responsibility — 30/45 (67%) 15 metrics

On-time budget submission

First budget proposal ($53.7B for FY2026) submitted on time during first State of the State address (Jan 28, 2025). Approved supplemental budget for FY2025 to continue operations.

MO Governor's Office; Office of Administration Division of Budget and Planning

Budget accuracy — revenue forecast vs actual

Projected ~$1B general revenue shortfall starting FY2027. Ongoing general revenue spending authorized in FY2026 budget projected to outpace ongoing revenues by over $1 billion. Inherited fiscal structure creates challenges.

MO Office of Administration; Missourinet Jun 2025

Rainy day fund management

Kehoe drew ~$2.5B from accumulated surplus to balance FY2026 budget but kept rainy day fund intact. Issued 208 line-item vetoes totaling $300M in general revenue to protect reserves against projected $1B FY2027 shortfall. Conservative fiscal posture preserves state's strong reserve position.

MO Office of Administration; Missouri Independent Jan 2025; Governor's veto message Jun 2025

State credit rating trajectory

Missouri holds AAA from S&P Global Ratings — one of ~15 states with top-tier credit. Rating affirmed during Kehoe's tenure with stable outlook. Reflects strong reserves, low debt burden, and diversified economy. AAA maintained continuously through Parson-to-Kehoe transition.

S&P Global Ratings — Missouri AAA affirmation; Ballotpedia state credit ratings

Pension funding ratio trajectory

MOSERS funded at 69.6% as of Jun 30, 2025 with $9.5B in trust assets. FY2025 investment return 9.8% net of fees. Employer contribution rate rose from 30.25% to 32.00%. Legislature provided $500M supplemental contribution in 2022. Nearly 69% of active members in reformed MSEP 2011 tier. MOSERS received 2025 Public Pension Standards Award.

MOSERS 2025 Actuarial Valuation Report; MOSERS 2025 ACFR; MOSERS Public Pension Standards Award

Debt per capita trajectory

Missouri ranks 43rd in combined state/local debt per capita at $8,829 (Reason Foundation Oct 2025). Total state/local debt $53.34B, ranking 25th. Well below national average. No new major bond issuances under Kehoe. AAA credit rating keeps borrowing costs low when debt is issued.

Reason Foundation State & Local Government Finance Report Oct 2025; MO State Treasurer

CAFR/ACFR published on time

FY2024 ACFR published on schedule by State Auditor Fitzpatrick (Report No. 2025-030, May 2025). Audit of state financial reporting process completed and released publicly. Investment and actuarial sections separately published by MOSERS for transparency.

MO State Auditor Report No. 2025-030 May 2025; MOSERS 2025 ACFR

Audit findings — material weaknesses

State Auditor Fitzpatrick found 2 material weaknesses in FY2024 ACFR audit: (1) Dept of Revenue lacked adequate financial reporting controls, understating receivables by $60.9M and $36.2M; (2) DSS MO HealthNet Division lacked controls over ~$1.5B in receipts and inadequate user access restrictions. Both repeated from prior audits. Inherited issues, not created by Kehoe.

MO State Auditor Report No. 2025-030 May 2025; Auditor Fitzpatrick press release May 27, 2025

Federal grant fund accounting

State Auditor Fitzpatrick issued Single Audit (Report 2025-056) for FY2024 covering $21B in federal funds. Audit reviewed state agencies' handling of federal dollars. No major grant accounting failures attributed to Kehoe administration. Federal funding streams maintained for Medicaid, transportation, and education.

MO State Auditor Report 2025-056; Auditor Fitzpatrick Sep 30, 2025 press release

Anti-fraud controls — federal programs

No fraud reported in state-administered federal programs during Kehoe's tenure. State Auditor reviewed $21B in federal funds (Single Audit FY2024) — no fraud findings. Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative and public safety focus include anti-fraud enforcement posture. MO HealthNet eligibility verification maintained.

MO State Auditor Single Audit FY2024; MO DSS eligibility verification; OIG records

Tax revenue vs expenditure alignment

Projected $1B+ shortfall by FY2027. Inherited fiscal trajectory concerning. Income tax reductions from prior administration reducing revenue base while spending commitments grow.

MO Office of Administration fiscal projections

Capital budget execution rate

Proposed $12.8M crime lab in Cape Girardeau as signature capital project. FY2026-2030 STIP allocates $13.3B for transportation capital (avg $1.9B/yr) including I-70 and I-44 improvements. Signed $100M special session allocation for St. Louis tornado disaster recovery infrastructure. Vetoed $1B+ in MoDOT Federal Road Fund spending authority over legal concerns.

MO Governor's Office; MoDOT FY2026-2030 STIP; Special Session SB 1 (Jun 2025)

Vendor/contractor oversight

No vendor oversight scandals or procurement failures during Kehoe's tenure. Office of Administration maintains centralized purchasing through MissouriBUYS system. State contracts publicly searchable via Missouri Accountability Portal. Kehoe's 208 line-item vetoes included scrutiny of earmarked vendor spending.

MO Office of Administration procurement; Missouri Accountability Portal; Governor's veto message Jun 2025

Federal funding maximization

Missouri secured $216M in federal Rural Health Transformation funding (Dec 2025) — 9th-largest state award from $50B CMS program. IIJA highway formula funds flowing through MoDOT ($13.3B five-year STIP). $59M in FEMA Public Assistance for May 2025 tornado. Federal disaster declaration secured promptly for St. Louis recovery.

Governor's Office Dec 2025; FEMA PA records; MoDOT STIP; USASpending.gov — Missouri

Program eligibility verification systems

MO HealthNet eligibility verification maintained through DSS systems. SAVE system used for benefits verification. E-Verify required for public employers and state contractors (HB 1549). State Auditor flagged DSS MO HealthNet Division for inadequate access controls over $1.5B in receipts — inherited weakness from prior admin, not new verification failures.

MO DSS MO HealthNet; State Auditor Report 2025-030; HB 1549 E-Verify requirements

Legislative Relations — 26/39 (67%) 13 metrics

Signature legislation enacted

Signed HB 495 (crime/immigration enforcement, St. Louis police oversight board), SB 4 (energy reliability — first state to require 'Watt for Watt' dispatchable replacement), HB 594 (capital gains tax elimination — first state to fully exempt), HB 567 (fixed minimum wage at $15), SBs 79 & 82 (Farm Bureau health plans, Water Preservation Act). Six Day One executive orders. 7,420 new jobs created through DED in 2025.

MO Legislature records; Governor's Year in Review 2025; Governor's Office first 100 days release

Veto override rate

Zero veto overrides in 2025 session despite 208 line-item vetoes totaling $2B+. Republican supermajority (24-10 Senate, 110-53 House) deferred to governor's fiscal discipline. Legislature accepted even controversial MoDOT Federal Road Fund veto ($1B+) without override attempt.

MO Legislature Journal 2025; Governor's veto message Jun 30, 2025

Bipartisan bills signed

HB 495 (St. Louis police board) passed with 4 Democratic votes but no Black Democrats supported it. Legislature heavily Republican (supermajority both chambers). SB 4 energy bill passed largely along party lines. Limited bipartisan outreach — most legislation reflects conservative agenda without Democratic input. Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit increase had broader appeal.

MO Legislature vote records; Missouri Independent; STLPR coverage

Special sessions called

Called First Extraordinary Session on Jun 2, 2025 — addressing tornado disaster relief ($100M for St. Louis May 16 tornado), economic development tax incentives (Kansas City Chiefs/Royals stadium funding), and budget appropriations. Signed SBs 1, 3, and 4 from special session into law. Purposeful use of special session authority for genuine emergency.

Governor's special session proclamation May 27, 2025; MO Legislature special session records Jun 2025

Executive orders — legal challenges

Six Day One EOs including: EO 25-02 (Operation Relentless Pursuit — regional anti-crime with MSHP investigators in 9 troop regions), EO 25-03 (Blue Shield Program recognizing pro-law-enforcement communities), EO 25-07 (DOC parole reform working group), immigration enforcement EOs. Also EO 25-14 (School Funding Modernization Task Force), EO 25-15 (childcare regulatory evaluation). No legal challenges to any executive orders.

MO Governor's Executive Orders 2025; Governor's Office; court records

Line-item veto usage

Issued 208 line-item vetoes cutting $300M in general revenue earmarks from FY2026 budget, plus spending restrictions on $211M more. Largest single veto: $1B+ to MoDOT Federal Road Fund spending authority citing legal concerns. Reduced transit operating investment from $11.7M to $6.7M. Vetoed ~$775M in spending lawmakers added beyond his recommendations. Final signed budget: $50.8B including $15.4B general revenue.

Governor's FY26 budget action Jun 30, 2025; STLPR; Missouri Independent; KCUR

Regulatory burden change

Day One EO eliminated DEI initiatives in all state agencies. SB 4 deregulates energy sector — allows cost recovery during construction (CWIP), 20-year depreciation for gas facilities (PISA), requires dispatchable replacement before plant closures. HB 567 fixed minimum wage at $15, ending annual CPI adjustments. EO 25-15 directed childcare regulatory evaluation to reduce burdens. Capital gains tax elimination removes tax on investment income.

MO Governor's Executive Orders; SB 4; HB 567; HB 594; EO 25-15

Budget negotiation success

FY2025 supplemental ($2.1B request including $942M Medicaid shortfall) approved smoothly. FY2026 budget passed both chambers. Legislature included ~$775M and 450 items beyond Kehoe's request — Kehoe used line-item veto aggressively but maintained cooperative relationship. Special session budget appropriations also passed. Republican supermajority (24-10 Senate, 110-53 House) aligned with governor's priorities.

MO Legislature budget records; Missouri Independent; Governor's supplemental budget request

Bill signing rate on popular legislation

HB 495 (crime/immigration) aligned with Missouri's conservative electorate — Kehoe won with 59.1% in 2024. Capital gains tax elimination (HB 594) popular with business community. SB 4 energy bill supported by utilities and Consumer Energy Alliance but criticized by consumer advocates. Farm Bureau health plans (SB 79) addressed rural healthcare demand. Signed 10+ bills in single signing ceremonies showing legislative throughput.

MO Legislature records; MO SOS 2024 election results; Governor's bill signing press releases

Legislative relationship

Strong legislative relationship built on Kehoe's prior service as state senator (2010-2018, Majority Floor Leader) and Lt. Governor (2018-2025). Legislative Director Drew Dampf served as Chief of Staff to Senate Appropriations Chair. Kehoe-legislature cooperation produced HB 495, SB 4, HB 594, SBs 79/82, and full budget passage. Legislature accepted 208 line-item vetoes without override.

MO Legislature records; Governor's staff appointments; media coverage

Implementation of voter-approved measures

Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 (Nov 2024) establishing right to abortion — Kehoe has not moved to implement it, creating tension with voter mandate. Voters also passed constitutional ban on non-citizen voting (68% approval) — fully supported by Kehoe. Medicaid expansion (2020 voter initiative) continues operating through MO HealthNet. No voter-approved measure blocked outright.

MO Secretary of State ballot measures; Amendment 3; non-citizen voting amendment Nov 2024

Task force follow-through

School Funding Modernization Task Force (EO 25-14) appointed with educators, legislators, and industry leaders — final report due Dec 1, 2026. DOC parole reform working group (EO 25-07) assessing offender eligibility rules. Childcare regulatory evaluation (EO 25-15) underway. Operation Relentless Pursuit anti-crime effort deployed across 9 MSHP troop regions. Multiple task forces launched but results pending.

MO Governor's Executive Orders 25-07, 25-14, 25-15; Governor's Office task force appointments

Policy reversals under pressure

No policy reversals since inauguration. Consistent conservative agenda: public safety, tax cuts, energy reliability, school choice, agricultural support, immigration enforcement. Goal of full income tax elimination announced Jan 2025 and reiterated in 2026 State of the State. Capital gains tax repeal signed as promised. DEI elimination order maintained without retreat. HB 567 minimum wage fix followed through despite criticism.

MO Governor's Office public statements; 2025 and 2026 State of the State addresses

Appointments & Staffing — 26/36 (72%) 12 metrics

Appointee criminal/ethics issues

241 gubernatorial appointments in 2025 to boards, commissions, judiciary, and county vacancies — no criminal or ethics issues with any appointee. ~100 appointments in first 100 days. 74 Missourians to boards/commissions including 12 university governing board appointments. St. Louis police board appointees faced scrutiny as Kehoe campaign backers but no ethics violations found.

Governor's Year in Review 2025; Governor's first 100 days release; STL Today police board coverage

Agency head vacancy rate

241 total appointments in 2025 — aggressive pace filling vacancies across government. Retained several Parson department heads (some moved to different agencies) for continuity. Key hires: Chief of Staff Adam Gresham (former Lt. Governor transition director), Legislative Director Drew Dampf (Senate Appropriations staff), General Counsel Lowell Pearson (30+ years, former Husch Blackwell partner). Josh Moore, PharmD appointed State Medicaid Director (Dec 2025).

Governor's staff appointments Dec 2024; Governor's Year in Review 2025; DSS Medicaid Director announcement Dec 2025

State employee turnover

Smooth Parson-to-Kehoe transition — Parson said they had 'a long runway to be very successful.' Kehoe retained several Parson department heads, reducing disruption. DOC has 850 vacant corrections officer positions statewide (inherited staffing crisis). DSS struggles with high turnover and understaffing on safety-net program administration. General state workforce turnover not abnormal for transition.

Spectrum News Parson interview Jan 2025; MO DOC staffing data; Missouri Independent DSS reporting

Diversity of appointments

Appointment diversity limited. Missouri is 83% white, ~12% Black. St. Louis police board appointees were all Kehoe campaign backers — drew criticism for lack of community representation. HB 495 police takeover opposed by all Black Democratic legislators. DEI elimination EO removed diversity frameworks from state hiring. 241 appointments but comprehensive demographic breakdown not published.

MO Governor's Office; Census demographics; STL Today police board; Missouri Independent HB 495 vote

Judicial appointment quality

Multiple judicial appointments made across various circuits in 2025, part of 241 total gubernatorial appointments. Includes associate circuit judges and appellate positions. Missouri uses nonpartisan court plan (Missouri Plan) for appellate and certain circuit courts, which constrains gubernatorial discretion. No judicial appointment controversies or bar association complaints reported.

Governor's judicial appointment press releases 2025; MO Supreme Court; Missouri Bar

State workforce pay competitiveness

Kehoe's Years-of-Service Retention Plan provides 1% pay increase for every 2 years of service (up to 10% at 20 years), effective Jul 1, 2025. Proposed $500M in workforce compensation increases for 2025. Missouri's low cost of living (6th lowest) aids competitiveness. MOSERS 2025 COLA applied to retirees. However, state pay still lags neighboring states, contributing to brain drain in some agencies.

MO Office of Administration Years-of-Service Plan; Governor's budget proposal; BEA RPP; MOSERS 2025 COLA

Whistleblower protection

No reported whistleblower retaliation under Kehoe administration. Missouri has whistleblower protection statute (RSMo 105.055) covering state employees. State Auditor Fitzpatrick operates independently and published critical audit findings (DOR and MO HealthNet material weaknesses) without interference from governor's office.

RSMo 105.055; MO Ethics Commission; State Auditor independence records

Inspector General independence

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick (elected independently) operates without executive interference. Published FY2024 ACFR audit with 2 material weaknesses, Single Audit of $21B federal funds, and Treasurer misallocation finding ($35M into wrong fund) — all without gubernatorial pushback. Auditor is constitutionally independent elected officer in Missouri. Full cooperation from Kehoe administration.

MO State Auditor reports 2025-030, 2025-056; Treasurer audit Jul 2025; MO Constitution

State employee morale

No general morale crisis, but DOC faces severe staffing challenges — 850 vacant corrections officer positions leading to extended lockdowns. DSS understaffing and high turnover affecting safety-net program administration. Kehoe's $500M workforce compensation proposal and Years-of-Service Retention Plan (1% per 2 years, up to 10%) aim to address retention. DEI elimination EO may affect morale among some employees.

MO Office of Administration; MO DOC staffing; Missouri Independent DSS reporting; Governor's retention plan

Nepotism/cronyism

No nepotism issues documented. Key staff appointments based on professional qualifications — Gresham (transition director), Dampf (legislative staff), Pearson (Husch Blackwell managing partner), Picard (communications professional). Lobbyist Andrew Blunt (son of Sen. Roy Blunt, brother of Gov. Matt Blunt) served as campaign consultant but not appointed to government role. No family members in state positions.

MO Ethics Commission; Governor's staff appointments; STL Today lobbyist reporting

Senior staff criminal charges

No criminal charges against any senior staff or appointees. Chief of Staff Gresham, General Counsel Pearson, Legislative Director Dampf, Communications Director Picard — all clean records. No staff arrests, indictments, or criminal investigations reported. 241 appointees to boards/commissions/judiciary with no criminal issues surfacing.

Court records; MO Ethics Commission; media monitoring

Agency performance accountability

Safer Missouri initiative includes measurable components: Operation Relentless Pursuit deploys MSHP investigators across 9 troop regions, Blue Shield Program creates community recognition standards. EO 25-07 parole reform working group evaluating DOC outcomes. School Funding Modernization Task Force (EO 25-14) must report by Dec 2026. DED reported 7,420 new jobs created in 2025. Performance accountability framework exists but outcome data still developing.

MO Governor's Executive Orders; Governor's Year in Review 2025; DED job creation data

Emergency Management — 26/36 (72%) 12 metrics

Disaster declaration timeliness

May 16, 2025 EF3 tornado devastated St. Louis — 20+ mile track through urban areas, $1.6B in damage (among costliest single tornadoes on record). FEMA called it largest residential destruction since 2011 Joplin tornado. Kehoe submitted federal disaster declaration request May 25 — approved by President Trump Jun 9. Prompt response earned bipartisan praise. Called special session Jun 2 for $100M disaster relief.

FEMA disaster declaration Jun 10, 2025; Governor's tornado update May 21, 2025; DHS/FEMA Nov 2025

FEMA Public Assistance secured

Secured $59M in initial FEMA Public Assistance for May 2025 tornado debris removal and recovery (approved by DHS Secretary Noem Nov 2025). Presidential major disaster declaration opened Individual Assistance programs for temporary housing, home rebuilding, and vehicle replacement. U.S. Army Corps deployed for debris operations. Special session SB 1 appropriated $100M state funds to DPS for St. Louis recovery.

DHS/FEMA $59M PA announcement Nov 5, 2025; FEMA disaster declaration Jun 2025; Special Session SB 1

Emergency reserve adequacy

State reserves sufficient to handle major disaster response. Kehoe drew $2.5B from accumulated surplus for FY2026 budget while keeping rainy day fund intact. Special session quickly appropriated $100M for tornado disaster relief. $300M in line-item vetoes preserved fiscal flexibility. AAA credit rating provides strong borrowing capacity if emergency reserve exhaustion occurs.

MO State Budget Office; Governor's budget proposal Jan 2025; Special Session SB 1

Lives lost — preventable from state failure

May 16 St. Louis tornado caused fatalities but no deaths attributed to state response failures. Kehoe provided prompt update and emergency response coordination. FEMA dispatched two teams to Greater Ville and Kingsway East neighborhoods. State emergency management activation timely. DOC extended lockdowns due to staffing shortages may create risk but no deaths attributed to state negligence during Kehoe's tenure.

MO Emergency Management; Governor's tornado updates; FEMA deployment records; MO DOC

Post-disaster recovery

St. Louis tornado recovery ongoing — STL Recovers portal established by City of St. Louis coordinating federal, state, and local aid. FEMA Recovery Update issued Oct 15, 2025 tracking progress. Special session legislation (SB 1) included income tax deduction for insurance deductibles (up to $5,000/household), expanded Missouri Housing Trust Fund eligibility, and Disaster Housing Response Grants. $59M FEMA PA plus $100M state funds deployed.

FEMA Recovery Update Oct 2025; STL Recovers portal; Special Session SBs 1, 3, 4

Public health emergency response

Post-pandemic normal operations. Budget included $71.6M for Medicaid-paid behavioral health services covering additional 2,100 adults and 6,700 children. Fentanyl enforcement prioritized through Safer Missouri initiative. Rural healthcare addressed via $216M federal Rural Health Transformation award (Dec 2025) establishing 30 community hubs across 104 counties. DHSS maintaining routine public health surveillance.

MO DHSS; Governor's budget proposal; Rural Health Transformation announcement Dec 2025

Infrastructure failure prevention

SB 4 (energy reliability) signed Apr 9, 2025 — requires utilities to maintain dispatchable generation capacity before plant closures ('Watt for Watt'), preventing grid reliability failures. MoDOT infrastructure maintained through $13.3B five-year STIP (FY2026-2030). I-70 and I-44 improvement projects funded. No major bridge collapses, dam failures, or utility grid emergencies during Kehoe's tenure.

SB 4 signed Apr 2025; MoDOT FY2026-2030 STIP; emergency records

National Guard deployment appropriateness

Missouri National Guard available for disaster response. May 2025 tornado response primarily handled by state/local emergency management and FEMA without requiring large-scale Guard mobilization. Missouri hosts Fort Leonard Wood (trains 80,000 soldiers/year) and Whiteman AFB (B-2 stealth bombers) — strong military infrastructure supports emergency capacity. No inappropriate Guard deployments.

MO National Guard; Fort Leonard Wood; Whiteman AFB records

Emergency communication

Kehoe provided timely public updates during May 16 tornado — official statement May 21 detailing FEMA assessment, disaster declaration request May 25, special session call May 27. Communications Director Picard managed media. Governor's press releases maintained transparency on recovery progress. STL Recovers website established for centralized public information. Multiple community visits to affected areas.

Governor's tornado press releases May-Jun 2025; STL Recovers portal; Governor's Office media

Interagency coordination

Tornado response demonstrated effective interagency coordination — SEMA, DPS, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (debris operations), City of St. Louis all worked together. Special session legislation coordinated across DPS ($100M allocation), Housing Trust Fund, and tax relief mechanisms. Operation Relentless Pursuit (EO 25-02) coordinates MSHP with county sheriffs across 9 troop regions for public safety.

Governor's disaster response coordination; DHS/FEMA Nov 2025; EO 25-02

Pandemic response metrics

Post-pandemic normal operations. DHSS maintaining routine surveillance and reporting. Budget included $71.6M for behavioral health expansion and $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists. Opioid/fentanyl crisis remains significant — Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative includes fentanyl enforcement. Rural healthcare access addressed through $216M federal RHT award for 30 community hubs across 104 counties.

MO DHSS; Governor's budget FY2026; Rural Health Transformation Dec 2025

Disaster preparedness & emergency infrastructure

Missouri faces high tornado/severe weather risk — demonstrated by May 16, 2025 EF3 tornado ($1.6B damage). SEMA preparedness enabled rapid response: FEMA request within 9 days, federal declaration within 24 days, $59M FEMA PA secured. Special session appropriated $100M within 2 weeks of tornado. SB 4 energy reliability law strengthens grid resilience. Flood risk management ongoing along Missouri/Mississippi River systems.

MO SEMA; FEMA disaster records; SB 4; Governor's special session

Transparency & Ethics — 28/39 (72%) 13 metrics

FOIA/open records compliance

Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610, enacted 1973) requires all public meetings, records, votes, and deliberations be open to public. No statement of purpose required for records requests — 3 business day response time. Penalties up to $5,000 for purposeful violations. AG enforces compliance. No Sunshine Law violations reported against Kehoe administration. Records available without restriction on use.

RSMo Chapter 610; MO AG Sunshine Law records; NFOIC Missouri FOIA guide

Governor's schedule availability

Governor's public schedule posted on governor.mo.gov. Active press release cadence — multiple releases weekly covering appointments, bill signings, policy announcements. State of the State address Jan 28, 2025 (first) and Jan 13, 2026 (second) both publicly broadcast. Community visits documented. First 100 days and Year in Review summaries published proactively.

governor.mo.gov public schedule; Governor's press release archive

Campaign finance compliance

Missouri has NO campaign contribution limits — PACs can accept unlimited donations. Kehoe's American Dream PAC raised $4.5M+ in 2024. Freedom Principle MO filed ethics complaint alleging PAC inflated fundraising numbers — MO Ethics Commission dismissed it as corrected reporting error. Auto dealers, lobbyist Andrew Blunt's clients ($177K+), and gas station slot machine company donated heavily. No substantiated violations.

MO Ethics Commission campaign finance records; STL Today PAC reporting; ethics complaint dismissal

Financial disclosure

Financial disclosures filed with MO Ethics Commission as required. Kehoe's background: founded Mike Kehoe Ford dealership in Jefferson City (one of youngest Ford dealers nationally), sold it before entering politics. Prior business interests disclosed. No undisclosed financial conflicts identified. Personal financial interests separate from state contracting.

MO Ethics Commission financial disclosure; Kehoe biography; mikekehoe.com

Open meetings compliance

No open meetings violations under Kehoe administration. Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610) has narrowly worded exemptions — more specific than most states. AG office enforces compliance. School Funding Modernization Task Force meetings conducted publicly. No complaints filed against governor's office for closed-door policy decisions.

MO AG Sunshine Law decisions; RSMo Chapter 610

Open data portal

Missouri maintains data.mo.gov open data portal with machine-readable datasets (searchable via Data.gov). Missouri Accountability Portal tracks tax dollar spending. State employee pay data for 2025 published by agency, position, and name. Office of Administration publishes budget documents, Executive Budget, and department requests online. Public datasets available in multiple formats for developers and researchers.

data.mo.gov; Missouri Accountability Portal; MO Office of Administration transparency page

Budget transparency

FY2026 Executive Budget published at budplan.oa.mo.gov with full appropriation bills, department budget requests, and governor's recommendations. Supplemental budget requests publicly documented. 208 line-item vetoes with explanations published. Missouri Accountability Portal provides searchable state spending data. Division of Budget and Planning projections (including $1B FY2027 shortfall warning) made public.

budplan.oa.mo.gov; MO Office of Administration; Missouri Accountability Portal

Lobbying disclosure

MO Ethics Commission maintains lobbying registration and reporting. Missouri has weak lobbying disclosure — no contribution limits, PACs accept unlimited donations. Kehoe's close relationship with lobbyist Andrew Blunt (whose clients donated $177K+ to American Dream PAC) is disclosed but demonstrates revolving-door culture. Lobbying disclosure system functional but Missouri consistently rates poorly on lobbying transparency nationally.

MO Ethics Commission lobbying records; STL Today Blunt/Kehoe reporting

IG report publication

State Auditor Fitzpatrick publishes all reports at auditor.mo.gov. Key 2025 reports: ACFR audit (Report 2025-030, May 2025), Single Audit of $21B federal funds (Report 2025-056), Treasurer misallocation finding ($35M wrong fund, Jul 2025), federal forfeiture report. All published with press releases and publicly accessible. Governor's office does not impede publication of critical findings.

auditor.mo.gov; State Auditor press releases 2025

Legislative audit cooperation

Full cooperation with State Auditor Fitzpatrick's ACFR audit, Single Audit, and agency-specific reviews. No reported resistance to audit access or document requests. State Auditor identified material weaknesses at DOR and DSS (inherited from prior administration) — no obstruction of findings. Governor's office supported audit transparency even when findings were unfavorable to executive branch agencies.

MO State Auditor reports; auditor.mo.gov cooperation records

Press conference accessibility

Regular press availability — Communications Director Picard manages active media operation. Two State of the State addresses (Jan 28, 2025 and Jan 13, 2026). First 100 days summary published. Year in Review released Dec 2025. Bill signing ceremonies with press access. Tornado disaster briefings. Community visits to St. Louis, Kansas City, and rural areas. Governor's website maintains searchable press release archive.

MO Governor's Office media records; governor.mo.gov press archive

State contract transparency

State contracts searchable through MissouriBUYS procurement system and Missouri Accountability Portal. Office of Administration administers centralized purchasing. 208 line-item vetoes demonstrated oversight of earmarked spending. No state contract scandals during Kehoe's tenure. SB 4 energy legislation drew criticism for benefiting utility companies but contract terms publicly documented.

MO Office of Administration procurement; MissouriBUYS; Missouri Accountability Portal

Court order compliance

Full compliance with court orders. No contempt citations or judicial orders defied. HB 495 (St. Louis police oversight) faces potential legal challenges from city officials but no court has blocked it. No executive orders struck down by courts. Amendment 3 (abortion rights, voter-approved Nov 2024) creates legal tension but no court orders requiring specific implementation actions have been defied.

MO court records; federal court dockets — Missouri

Ethics & Integrity — 37/39 (95%) 13 metrics

Personal criminal charges

No criminal charges, investigations, or indictments. Clean personal record. Former auto dealer (Mike Kehoe Ford, Jefferson City — one of youngest Ford dealers nationally), state senator (2010-2018), Lt. Governor (2018-2025). No criminal history in any role. Elected governor with 59.1% of vote in 2024.

Court records; MO SOS 2024 election results; Kehoe biography

Ethics complaints — substantiated

One campaign-era ethics complaint filed by Freedom Principle MO alleging American Dream PAC inflated fundraising numbers — MO Ethics Commission dismissed it as corrected reporting error prior to complaint filing. No substantiated ethics complaints against Kehoe as governor. No MO Ethics Commission enforcement actions. Clean record as Lt. Governor and state senator prior to governorship.

MO Ethics Commission; STL Today PAC ethics complaint dismissal; ethics records

Gift/travel disclosure

Gift and travel disclosures filed with MO Ethics Commission as required. Missouri has relatively weak disclosure requirements compared to many states — no contribution limits create permissive environment. Kehoe's community visits and State of the State travel documented through governor's public schedule. No unreported gift or travel controversies.

MO Ethics Commission gift/travel disclosures; Governor's public schedule

Conflict of interest

Kehoe sold Mike Kehoe Ford dealership before entering politics, eliminating direct business conflict. MO Auto Dealers Association donated $25K to PAC plus individual dealer contributions — industry connection but no state contract conflicts. SB 4 energy bill benefits utilities (Ameren) that supported campaign but no direct personal financial interest. No conflict of interest findings by Ethics Commission.

MO Ethics Commission; STL Today campaign finance reporting; financial disclosures

State resources for political purposes

No documented misuse of state resources for political purposes. Governor's office operations separated from campaign activities. American Dream PAC operates independently of state office. No allegations of using state staff, vehicles, or facilities for campaign or partisan purposes. Bill signing ceremonies serve official function rather than campaign events.

MO Ethics Commission; campaign finance records; Governor's Office

Truthfulness — official statements

No documented false official statements. State of the State addresses (Jan 2025, Jan 2026) contain verifiable policy proposals and budget figures. Budget projection of $1B FY2027 shortfall transparently communicated. Tornado damage and FEMA assessments accurately conveyed. Year in Review (Dec 2025) statistics on jobs (7,420) and appointments (241) verifiable through independent sources.

MO Governor's Office records; fact-checking by Missouri Independent and STLPR

Ethics protection — strengthened or weakened

Missouri's ethics framework unchanged — no campaign contribution limits remain a weakness nationally. Kehoe has not proposed strengthening contribution limits or lobbying disclosure. MO Ethics Commission continues operating but lacks strong enforcement tools. State ranks poorly on ethics/lobbying transparency in national assessments. Framework maintained but not strengthened under Kehoe.

MO Ethics Commission; NCSL campaign finance comparison; national ethics rankings

Emoluments/self-enrichment

No self-enrichment allegations. Kehoe sold auto dealership before entering politics. Governor's salary is state-set. Capital gains tax elimination (HB 594) could theoretically benefit Kehoe personally as former business owner, but legislation applies universally. No insider deals, no real estate transactions involving state, no personal financial benefit from official actions documented.

Financial disclosures; MO Ethics Commission; HB 594

Donor-to-appointment pipeline

St. Louis police board appointees included Kehoe campaign backers — STL Today reported new board members supported Kehoe's gubernatorial race, raising donor-to-appointment concerns. Lobbyist Andrew Blunt's clients contributed $177K+ to American Dream PAC. Missouri's lack of contribution limits creates permissive environment. However, no formal donor-to-appointment pipeline documented by Ethics Commission.

MO Ethics Commission; STL Today police board/donor reporting; campaign finance records

Foreign influence

No foreign influence connections. Kehoe's background entirely domestic — Jefferson City auto dealer, state senator, Lt. Governor. Campaign funding from domestic sources (auto dealers, utilities, business groups). No foreign entity donations to American Dream PAC. SB 82 (Water Preservation Act) protects Missouri water from large-scale foreign/out-of-state export with 30-mile buffer and DNR permitting.

Ethics records; campaign finance filings; SB 82 Water Preservation Act

Harassment — workplace/sexual

No workplace or sexual harassment complaints against Kehoe or senior staff. Governor's office maintains standard HR complaint procedures through Office of Administration. No prior harassment issues from Lt. Governor or state senator tenure. Clean workplace conduct record across all public service roles.

MO Office of Administration HR records; ethics records

Records preservation

No records destruction allegations. Parson-to-Kehoe transition preserved institutional records. Missouri State Archives maintains government records per state law. Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) protects public records from destruction. MO DOC did not maintain FOIA logs when queried by Marshall Project, suggesting potential gaps in corrections record-keeping but not attributed to Kehoe policy.

MO State Archives; RSMo 610; Marshall Project FOIA reporting 2025

Revolving door compliance

No formal revolving door violations. However, General Counsel Lowell Pearson came from Husch Blackwell (major government-connected firm). Lobbyist Andrew Blunt's clients heavily donated to Kehoe while Blunt served as campaign consultant — revolving-door dynamic though not a violation. Missouri's weak ethics framework creates permissive revolving-door environment. No post-service restrictions currently enforced.

MO Ethics Commission; Governor's staff appointments; STL Today Blunt reporting

Program Management — 25/36 (69%) 12 metrics

Major fraud in state programs

No major fraud in state programs during Kehoe's tenure. State Auditor's Single Audit reviewed $21B in federal funds — no fraud findings. Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative includes anti-fraud enforcement posture. MO HealthNet Division flagged for inadequate receipt controls ($1.5B) but issue is weak internal controls, not fraud. No OIG investigations targeting Missouri programs under Kehoe.

MO State Auditor Single Audit FY2024 (Report 2025-056); OIG records

Program integrity — improper payments

State Auditor found Treasurer put $35M into wrong state fund (reported Jul 2025) — administrative error, not fraudulent. MO HealthNet Division lacks adequate controls over $1.5B in receipts (material weakness, repeated from prior years). Supplemental budget requested $942M to cover Medicaid shortfall — underfunding issue rather than improper payments. No systemic improper payment schemes detected.

MO State Auditor Treasurer finding Jul 2025; ACFR audit Report 2025-030

IT modernization vs failures

Major IT modernization challenges inherited. DSS safety-net eligibility systems (SNAP/Medicaid) outdated since 2013 — modernization delayed until at least 2028 due to new federal requirements. Unemployment system (UInteract) migrated to AWS cloud for improved scalability and resilience. MO HealthNet Division's MMIS has inadequate user access controls (auditor finding). IT infrastructure functional but modernization significantly behind schedule.

Missouri Independent Nov 2025; AWS Missouri DOLIR case study; State Auditor MMIS findings

Permit/license processing

EO 25-15 directed evaluation of childcare provider regulations to reduce administrative burden and expedite licensing. Deregulatory orientation: SB 4 streamlines energy utility permitting, HB 567 simplifies wage compliance. DOR processing continues but department flagged for internal control weaknesses on financial reporting. No major permit/license backlogs reported beyond inherited DSS processing delays.

EO 25-15; SB 4; HB 567; MO regulatory agencies; State Auditor DOR findings

Child welfare outcomes

Budget allocated $286M for child care subsidy program (state + federal). EO 25-15 evaluating childcare regulatory burdens. However, House Budget Committee proposed $51M cut to child care subsidies in FY2027 — threatening foster children and low-income families. DSS Children's Division handles foster care but faces understaffing and high turnover. Treatment foster care for children with developmental disabilities at risk from budget pressures.

MO DSS; Governor's budget FY2026; Missouri Independent child care subsidy reporting Mar 2026; EO 25-15

Medicaid administration

MO HealthNet (voter-approved Medicaid expansion 2020) operating but facing fiscal pressure — $942M supplemental needed for Medicaid shortfall. Josh Moore, PharmD appointed State Medicaid Director (Dec 2025). Budget includes $71.6M for behavioral health (2,100 adults, 6,700 children) and $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists. State Auditor flagged $1.5B in receipt controls weakness. DSS modernization delayed to 2028. Rural healthcare: $216M federal RHT award.

MO DSS MO HealthNet; Governor's budget; State Auditor Report 2025-030; RHT Dec 2025

Environmental compliance

EPA Region 7 compliance maintained. SB 82 (Water Preservation Act) establishes DNR permitting for large-scale water exports with 30-mile buffer — proactive water resource protection. SB 4 energy bill criticized by environmental groups for favoring natural gas over renewables and potentially raising household costs ~$1,115/yr. Missouri DNR operating normally. No major environmental enforcement actions against state during Kehoe tenure.

EPA Region 7; MO DNR; SB 82; SB 4; Energy and Policy Institute; Consumer Energy Alliance

Transportation project delivery

FY2026-2030 STIP approved: $13.3B for all transportation modes, $9.5B in contractor awards averaging $1.9B/yr. Includes I-70 and I-44 improvements, bridge repairs, airport and rail crossing upgrades. Kehoe vetoed $1B+ MoDOT Federal Road Fund spending authority over legal concerns. Transit operating investment cut from $11.7M to $6.7M (criticized by rural transit advocates). Kehoe's Lt. Governor experience included MoDOT board oversight.

MoDOT FY2026-2030 STIP; Governor's budget veto Jun 2025; KCUR transit reporting

Unemployment insurance system

UInteract unemployment system migrated to AWS cloud — improved scalability, security, and resilience. Can handle usage spikes while maintaining performance and remaining operational during localized outages. Missouri unemployment rate ~3.9% (Dec 2025) — low claims volume. DOLIR modernization partnership with AWS demonstrates IT improvement capacity even as DSS systems lag behind.

AWS Missouri DOLIR case study; BLS LAUS Missouri; MO Department of Labor

Veterans services

Missouri Veterans Commission provides free benefits assistance through trained Veterans Service Officers statewide including at Fort Leonard Wood. Fort Leonard Wood trains 80,000 soldiers/year, contributes $1.8B and 10,000 jobs to Pulaski County. Whiteman AFB generates $1.5B and 9,000 jobs — designated as future B-21 Raider base (2024). Missouri military installations contribute $3B+ annually to state economy. Veterans services budget maintained.

MO Veterans Commission; Fort Leonard Wood MilitaryOneSource; Whiteman AFB overview

Housing/homelessness

Missouri has 6th lowest cost of living nationally (BEA RPP). Median home value ~$235K. Special session expanded Missouri Housing Trust Fund eligibility and created Disaster Housing Response Grants for tornado victims. May 2025 tornado damaged/destroyed thousands of homes in St. Louis — $100M allocated for recovery. Urban housing challenges in St. Louis and Kansas City persist. Income tax reduction trajectory further lowers cost burden for residents.

HUD data; BEA RPP; Census ACS; Special Session housing legislation; Zillow ZHVI Missouri

Corrections system

Severe corrections crisis inherited: 850 vacant corrections officer positions, extended lockdowns due to understaffing, in-custody deaths at historic highs, prisons overrun with drugs. Missouri has 8th-highest adult incarceration rate nationally and 2nd-fastest-growing female prison population. EO 25-07 created DOC parole reform working group. Legislators filed bipartisan bills for independent oversight panel. Population declined from 33,300 (2017) but grew 'fairly significantly' in 2025.

MO DOC staffing data; Missouri Independent corrections reporting; EO 25-07; Legislature oversight bills

Federal Relations — 11/15 (73%) 5 metrics

Federal funding captured

Missouri secured $216M federal Rural Health Transformation award (9th-largest among states) from $50B CMS program for 30 community hubs across 104 counties. $59M FEMA PA for tornado recovery. IIJA highway formula funds flowing through MoDOT STIP ($13.3B five-year). State handles $21B+ in annual federal funds (Single Audit). Federal disaster declaration secured within 24 days of tornado. Strong federal funding capture across health, transportation, and emergency programs.

USASpending.gov — Missouri; RHT award Dec 2025; FEMA PA Nov 2025; MoDOT STIP

Corrective action compliance

No federal corrective actions against Missouri during Kehoe's tenure. State Auditor's Single Audit of $21B in federal funds found no systemic compliance failures. MO HealthNet internal control weaknesses flagged but no CMS sanctions imposed. DSS safety-net system modernization delayed by federal rule changes but not a corrective action. Missouri waiting on $25.7M federal payment to reimburse child care providers (Jan 2026).

Federal grant compliance records; State Auditor Single Audit; Missouri Independent Jan 2026

Interstate compacts/cooperation

Active National Governors Association member. SB 82 (Water Preservation Act) includes 30-mile buffer for limited out-of-state water use — proactive interstate resource management. Immigration enforcement EOs align with neighboring red-state governors' approach. Missouri participates in standard interstate compacts. Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman AFB facilitate defense cooperation with federal partners. Agricultural legislation (SBs 79, 82) addresses cross-state water and rural health issues.

NGA; Interstate compact registries; SB 82; Governor's military base relations

State-local government relations

HB 495 created major state-local tension — transferred St. Louis police control to 6-member state-appointed board (5 Kehoe appointees + mayor). Mayor Tishaura Jones called it a 'sham' and 'disrespectful.' Rep. Collins called it 'slap in the face.' No Black Democrats voted for it. Police unions backed the move. Kansas City had similar prior state oversight controversy. Special session stadium funding for Chiefs/Royals added sports-related state-local dynamic. Governor's aggressive posture toward St. Louis governance.

HB 495; STL Today; Missouri Independent; KCUR; St. Louis/KC municipal records

Litigation cost to state

No major new state litigation costs attributable to Kehoe's policies. HB 495 (St. Louis police takeover) may face legal challenges from city officials but no lawsuit filed as of evaluation date. No executive orders struck down by courts. Amendment 3 (abortion rights) implementation tensions could generate future litigation. AG office operating independently on state litigation. No contempt or sanctions against state.

MO AG office litigation records; federal/state court dockets — Missouri

Constituent Service — 11/15 (73%) 5 metrics

Constituent response time

Governor's office maintains constituent services through governor.mo.gov contact portal, phone line, and mail. Designated staff member established as law enforcement liaison (Day One action). 241 appointments to boards/commissions fill constituent-facing positions. Tornado response included direct community engagement in St. Louis neighborhoods (Greater Ville, Kingsway East). Blue Shield Program recognizes community safety efforts.

MO Governor's Office; governor.mo.gov; EO 25-03 Blue Shield Program

Town halls/public engagement

Two State of the State addresses (Jan 28, 2025 and Jan 13, 2026). First 100 days community engagement tour. Tornado-impacted neighborhood visits in St. Louis. Bill signing ceremonies at Capitol and community locations. Year in Review public communications (Dec 2025). However, no formal town hall program established — engagement primarily through official events and media rather than direct constituent forums.

MO Governor's Office public schedule; Governor's press release archive

Satisfaction/approval rating

SLU/YouGov Poll (Feb 2025): 50% approval (15% strongly approve, 35% approve), 31% disapprove. 83% approval among Republicans (29% strongly). Missouri Independent poll (Mar 2025): 50% approve, 31% disapprove, 18% unsure. Moderate approval for new governor — not exceptional honeymoon but no crisis. Morning Consult tracks Kehoe in mid-tier among governors.

SLU/YouGov Poll Feb 2025; Missouri Independent/SLU poll Mar 2025; Morning Consult Governor Tracker

ADA/accessibility compliance

No ADA/accessibility complaints against governor's office or state agencies under Kehoe. Governor's website (governor.mo.gov) maintains standard accessibility features. State of the State addresses publicly broadcast. Budget includes $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists and improve in-home services. Disaster recovery programs accessible to people with disabilities through FEMA Individual Assistance.

MO Governor's Office; ADA compliance records; Governor's budget developmental disability funding

Electoral mandate/succession

Won 2024 gubernatorial election with 59.1% vs Crystal Quade (D) — ~18-point margin. Clear electoral mandate from Missouri's conservative electorate. Former Lt. Governor (2018-2025) who succeeded to candidacy after Parson term-limited. Prior state senator (2010-2018, served as Majority Floor Leader). Former auto dealer (Mike Kehoe Ford). Inaugurated Jan 13, 2025 as Missouri's 58th governor.

MO Secretary of State 2024 general election results; Kehoe biography; Wikipedia

Section B — State Outcomes 573/975

13 categories measuring real-world outcomes: economic performance, population trends, fiscal health, public safety, education, healthcare, infrastructure, cost of living, transparency, controversy, historical context, constituent satisfaction, and immigration compliance.

Economic Performance — 45/75 (60%)

Missouri unemployment 3.9% (Dec 2025). 6th lowest cost of living nationally. PMI 59.2 (strong expansion). Real GDP $356.7B in 2024 (+2.3% YoY), but Q1 2025 contracted -1.8%. Since June 2018, DED supported 740+ business projects totaling $17B investment and 60,000+ jobs. 190,000 jobs added. Daily's Premium Meats expanding in St. Joseph ($95M, 115 jobs). Conagra expanding Macon ($29.1M). CNBC ranked MO 34th for business (2025). Projected $1B revenue shortfall by FY2027 as COVID savings depleted and income tax cuts flatten revenue base.

Population & Demographics — 40/75 (53%)

Census: Missouri gained ~27,000 residents (2024-25), reaching ~6.2M total. Population grew 1.9% since 2020. Components of growth: births exceeded deaths by only 177 (near-zero natural increase), +12,700 from international immigration, +14,000 from domestic migration. Midwest saw positive net domestic migration for first time this decade. Kansas City and St. Louis suburbs growing while rural areas decline. Long-term concern: if immigration declines continue, Missouri will see 'more people dying than babies born' within two decades. Columbia, Springfield, and Kansas City metros driving growth.

Budget & Fiscal Health — 45/75 (60%)

AAA credit rating (S&P) — among highest nationally. FY2026 signed budget: $50.8B total, $15.4B general revenue spending — but state expects only $13.6B in GR collections, a $1.8B gap covered by depleting COVID-era savings. Kehoe exercised 208 line-item vetoes (~$300M GR) and 32 expenditure restrictions ($211M GR) to manage shortfall. Nearly $1B projected GR shortfall starting FY2027. COVID reserves largely exhausted. Income tax cuts (4.8% rate trajectory to 4.5%) compressing future revenue. Supplemental budget signed for MO HealthNet ($942M) and tornado relief ($100M SB 1).

Public Safety — 35/75 (47%)

FBI UCR 2024: Missouri violent crime rate 6.9 per 1,000 residents — well above national average of 4.0. St. Louis violent crime 1,367 per 100K (2024), had 150 homicides (lowest in 11 years, overall crime down 15% YoY). Kansas City violent crime 1,478 per 100K (2024) — slightly higher than St. Louis. 65%+ of Missouri's violent crimes come from urban centers holding ~40% of population. Statewide violent crime decreasing 6% YoY, property crime down 10.5%. Kehoe launched Safer Missouri initiative, invested $12.8M in crime lab. HB 495 transferred St. Louis police control to 6-member state board (5 Kehoe appointees + mayor). Fentanyl enforcement priority.

Education Outcomes — 40/75 (53%)

NAEP: Missouri scores near national average. Kehoe's FY2026 budget includes historic K-12 education funding with school choice expansion. Budget allocated $286M for child care subsidy program. EO 25-15 directed evaluation of childcare regulatory burdens to expedite licensing. Missouri high school graduation rate ~90%. Teacher pay supported but below national average. School Funding Modernization Task Force meetings conducted publicly. State partnered with $216M federal Rural Health Transformation award covering 104 rural counties — includes school-based health services.

Healthcare Access — 40/75 (53%)

MO HealthNet (voter-approved Medicaid expansion 2020) operating under Kehoe — $942M supplemental needed for Medicaid shortfall. Josh Moore, PharmD appointed State Medicaid Director (Dec 2025). Budget includes $71.6M for behavioral health covering 2,100 adults and 6,700 children, plus $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists. $216M federal Rural Health Transformation award (9th-largest among states) establishing 30 community hubs across 104 rural counties. Opioid/fentanyl crisis addressed through Safer Missouri initiative. State Auditor flagged MO HealthNet $1.5B receipt control weakness.

Infrastructure Quality — 40/75 (53%)

FY2026-2030 STIP approved: $13.3B for all transportation modes, $9.5B in contractor awards averaging $1.9B/yr. Includes I-70 and I-44 improvements, bridge repairs, airport and rail crossing upgrades. SB 4 (energy reliability, signed Apr 9, 2025) requires utilities maintain dispatchable generation before plant closures — 'Watt for Watt' provision prevents grid failures. Kehoe's Lt. Governor background includes MoDOT board oversight. May 2025 EF3 tornado caused $1.6B damage to St. Louis infrastructure. No major bridge collapses, dam failures, or grid emergencies during tenure. Transit operating investment cut from $11.7M to $6.7M drew rural transit criticism.

Cost of Living — 55/75 (73%)

BEA RPP: Missouri has 6th lowest cost of living nationally (~88-90). Median home value ~$235K — far below national median. Income tax reduction trajectory (from 5.0% toward 4.5%) further lowers burden. SB 4 energy reliability law criticized by Consumer Energy Alliance for potentially raising household costs ~$1,115/yr by requiring utilities maintain dispatchable generation before plant closures. Special session expanded Missouri Housing Trust Fund for tornado victims. HB 594 (capital gains tax elimination) benefits business investment. Good value proposition for families and businesses — net positive domestic migration of 14,000 (2024-25).

Transparency & Accountability — 45/75 (60%)

Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Ch. 610, enacted 1973) requires all public meetings, records, votes, and deliberations be open. 3-business-day response time. Penalties up to $5,000 for purposeful violations. However, Kehoe signed July 2025 legislation allowing agencies to require all fees be paid before fulfilling requests — open government advocates said bill 'could help governments hide records.' Parole study working group (EO 25-07) held 3 meetings without public notice after initial June 13 public meeting — MacArthur Justice Center said it 'violates Missouri Sunshine Law.' Missouri Accountability Portal and data.mo.gov publish spending/employee data. State ranks poorly on lobbying transparency nationally (no contribution limits).

Controversy & Scandal — 50/75 (67%)

HB 495 (St. Louis police takeover) created major controversy — transferred police control to 6-member state-appointed board (5 Kehoe appointees + mayor). Mayor Tishaura Jones called it a 'sham' and 'disrespectful,' Rep. Collins called it 'slap in the face,' no Black Democrats voted for it. DEI elimination executive order drew criticism. SB 4 energy bill criticized for benefiting utilities at potential $1,115/yr household cost. Parole study group held secret meetings violating Sunshine Law per MacArthur Justice Center. Lobbyist Andrew Blunt's clients donated $177K+ to Kehoe's PAC, raising pay-to-play concerns. But no personal scandals. Won election with 59.1%.

Historical Context — 35/75 (47%)

58th governor of Missouri. Succeeds Mike Parson (who entered office in 2018 after Greitens resignation amid scandal — Kehoe wins by election with 59.1%, providing cleaner mandate). Parson appointed Kehoe as Lt. Governor, making him seen as 'stylistic and ideological successor.' Former auto dealer (Mike Kehoe Ford, Jefferson City — one of youngest Ford dealers nationally). Decisive start: 6 Day One executive orders, ~241 appointments, 7,420 jobs announced in first year. Signed more executive orders in first 100 days than Parson did in comparable period. St. Louis police takeover is most aggressive state-local intervention by a Missouri governor in decades. $500M workforce compensation proposal is largest in state history.

Constituent Verdict — 40/75 (53%)

Won 2024 election with 59.1% of vote — strong mandate. Year in Review (Dec 2025) touted 7,420 jobs announced, 241 appointments, AAA credit rating maintained. Active community engagement with visits to St. Louis, Kansas City, and rural areas. Two State of the State addresses (Jan 28, 2025 and Jan 13, 2026) delivered publicly. First 100 days summary published proactively. HB 495 (St. Louis police takeover) deeply unpopular with St. Louis residents and Black Democrats but supported by police unions. Missouri voters approved non-citizen voting ban (68% approval, Nov 2024) aligning with Kehoe's enforcement posture. Special session on tornado relief demonstrated rapid constituent response.

Immigration & Law Compliance — 63/75 (84%)

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Section C — Oath Fidelity +129 (-378 to +378)

126 items scored -3 to +3 measuring fidelity to constitutional oath. Grounded in Supreme Court precedent and constitutional text.

+3Exemplary +2Strong +1Adequate 0Neutral -1Concerning -2Failing -3Hostile

Protection of Life

Declaration of Independence; 5th/14th Amendments

Score: 22 Range: -93 to 93 Items: 31

Violent crime rate trend

MO violent crime rate ~495/100K (2023), above national average. Decline of ~5-8% since 2019 peak driven by St. Louis improvements. Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative and Operation Relentless Pursuit target violent crime. Too early to measure Kehoe-specific impact.

FBI UCR/NIBRS; MO Highway Patrol UCR

Homicide rate relative to national average

MO homicide rate ~9-10/100K, significantly above national ~6.3. St. Louis consistently ranks among highest homicide rate cities nationally. Kansas City also elevated. State rate ~50% above national average.

FBI UCR; CDC WONDER

-1

Homicide clearance rate

MO homicide clearance rate ~45-50%, near national average. St. Louis Metro PD clearance has improved somewhat. State average is middling.

FBI UCR Supplementary Homicide Reports; SLMPD

Law enforcement staffing adequacy

Kehoe's Blue Shield Program (EO 25-03) recognizes pro-law-enforcement communities. Operation Relentless Pursuit deploys MSHP investigators to 9 troop regions. $500M workforce compensation proposal (largest in MO history) includes law enforcement. Staffing near 2.3/1,000.

FBI LEOKA; BJS CSLLEA; Kehoe EO 25-03

Drug overdose death rate trend

MO overdose death rate ~35-40/100K, above national ~33. Fentanyl crisis significant, especially in St. Louis and Kansas City. Rate has increased during past several years. Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative addresses interdiction but too early for results.

CDC WONDER; NCHS provisional data

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Emergency management preparedness

MO responded to devastating EF3 tornado in St. Louis (May 16, 2025, $1.6B damage). Federal disaster declaration secured promptly. $100M special session for recovery. Kehoe demonstrated competent emergency management in his first major test.

FEMA PA; MO SEMA; Special Session SB 1

Preventable mass-casualty event response

St. Louis tornado response was rapid — Kehoe visited affected areas promptly, secured federal declaration, called special session for $100M recovery. No mass-casualty deaths from response failures. Pre-positioning and coordination effective.

FEMA after-action; Governor's Office

Infrastructure safety — bridge and road conditions

MoDOT FY2026-2030 STIP: $13.3B for transportation. I-70 and I-44 improvements planned. Bridge conditions near national average. Kehoe vetoed $1B+ MoDOT Federal Road Fund over legal concerns — created controversy but showed fiscal caution.

FHWA NBI; ASCE MO; MoDOT STIP

Water and dam safety compliance

MO water systems mostly compliant. SB 82 (Water Preservation Act) includes 30-mile buffer restricting out-of-state water use. No major contamination events. Adequate management.

EPA SDWIS; MO DNR; SB 82

Healthcare access — uninsured rate

MO expanded Medicaid via voter initiative (2020). Uninsured rate declined to ~8-9% post-expansion. $942M Medicaid supplemental approved. $216M federal Rural Health Transformation award for 30 community hubs across 104 rural counties. Adequate.

Census ACS; KFF; $216M Rural Health award

Maternal mortality rate

MO maternal mortality rate ~25-28/100K, near national average. Racial disparities significant. Post-Dobbs environment with near-total abortion ban complicates maternal health policy. Amendment 3 (abortion rights) passed by voters creates legal uncertainty.

CDC WONDER; NCHS; MO DHSS

Infant mortality rate

MO infant mortality rate ~6.5-7.0/1,000 live births, above national ~5.6. Racial disparities pronounced (Black IMR nearly 3x White in MO). Persistent problem across administrations.

CDC WONDER; NCHS; MO DHSS

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Self-defense rights — Castle Doctrine / Stand Your Ground

MO has Castle Doctrine + Stand Your Ground + no duty to retreat (MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§563.031, Ã‚Â§563.041). Full self-defense protections including civil immunity for lawful defensive gun use.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§563.031; NRA-ILA

Death penalty procedural safeguards

MO retains death penalty with full mandatory appellate review. Active executions (MO executed 5 people in 2024). Post-conviction DNA access available. Clemency Board operational. Standard safeguards.

DPIC; MO Stat. Ã‚Â§565.020; MO Clemency Board

Suicide prevention program funding and outcomes

MO suicide rate ~18-19/100K, above national ~14. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline integration completed. DMH-funded prevention programs exist but outcomes above average nationally. Not improving meaningfully.

CDC WISQARS; AFSP MO; MO DMH

911/emergency response time adequacy

MO urban EMS meets NFPA standards in major metros (STL, KC). Rural coverage adequate for state geography. Some rural response time concerns in Ozarks region. Standard performance.

NFPA; MO EMS registry

Opioid/fentanyl interdiction and treatment funding

MO PDMP operational. Safer Missouri initiative includes fentanyl interdiction. I-44/I-70 corridor enforcement ongoing. Overdose deaths elevated but treatment infrastructure exists. $71.6M behavioral health budget item helps.

SAMHSA; MO Board of Pharmacy PDMP; $71.6M behavioral health

Veteran suicide and healthcare access

MO has ~370,000 veterans. State veteran services include nursing homes, cemeteries, and support programs. VA healthcare available in St. Louis and Kansas City. Kehoe's $500M workforce comp proposal includes veteran employment. Standard services.

VA SAIL; MO Veterans Commission; HUD PIT count

Food safety and foodborne illness enforcement

MO Dept of Health food safety program meets federal standards. No major outbreaks linked to inspection failures. Standard performance.

FDA Conformance; MO DHSS

Workplace fatality rate

MO workplace fatality rate ~4.5-5.5/100K FTE, near national average. Agricultural and construction sectors primary risk areas. Standard OSHA compliance.

BLS CFOI; OSHA

Domestic violence fatality rate and funding

MO has DV fatality review board. Shelter capacity adequate in major metros. Some rural access gaps. Average performance. Kehoe's public safety focus has not specifically targeted DV beyond general crime reduction.

NNEDV; MO CADVS

Correctional facility death rate and conditions

MO DOC houses ~24,000 inmates. In-custody death rate near national average. Kehoe signed EO 25-07 creating parole reform working group (held 3 meetings without public notice — Sunshine Law concerns). Standard corrections.

BJS Mortality in Prisons; MO DOC; MacArthur Justice Center

Pollution-related mortality and environmental health

MO generally meets NAAQS. Some nonattainment areas around St. Louis for ozone. Superfund cleanup ongoing at multiple sites (Times Beach legacy). Water quality adequate. Standard environmental health.

EPA Green Book; MO DNR

Pedestrian and traffic fatality rate

MO traffic fatality rate ~1.4-1.6/100M VMT, slightly above national average. I-70/I-44 corridors have elevated crash rates. Pedestrian safety standard. MoDOT safety programs operational.

NHTSA FARS; MoDOT

Sanctity of life legislative framework

MO has near-total abortion ban (trigger law, effective post-Dobbs June 2022) — no exceptions for rape/incest. However, voters approved Amendment 3 (Nov 2024, ~52%) establishing constitutional right to abortion up to viability. Kehoe personally pro-life but voter mandate creates conflict. Courts adjudicating implementation. Credited for inherited ban structure but deducted for unresolved voter-mandate tension.

Guttmacher; MO trigger law; Amendment 3

Homeless mortality — exposure deaths, overdoses in encampments, violence

No specific homeless mortality initiatives found. Focus on crime reduction generally.

Governor Missouri

Population loss impact on services — EMS/hospital closures, tax base erosion

Missouri gained 27,000 residents in 2025 (+14,000 domestic). Receiving Illinois outmigrants. Growth rate 1.9% since 2020.

Census Bureau; STLPR; KCUR

Police staffing/funding — governor's direct actions on law enforcement

Day 1: six EOs launching Safer Missouri Initiative. Operation Relentless Pursuit. $10M Blue Shield program. Missouri Blue Scholarship. Highway Patrol pay grid improved. Signed bill placing STL PD under state board.

Governor Missouri; KCUR; Missourinet

Criminal recidivism from early release — parole/clemency, no-cash-bail

Commanded DOC to revise parole rules (not updated since 2017). Goal to reduce recidivism. Focus on corrections accountability.

KFVS12; Governor Missouri

Prison/shelter housing — biological males in women's facilities

Federal Trump EO requires males not in women's prisons. Kehoe aligns with traditional sex-based housing. Missouri correcting past issues.

KCUR; Prison Legal News

Mental health crisis system — involuntary commitment reform, crisis intervention

Proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month. No specific crisis system overhauls or reforms identified.

Governor Missouri

Constitutional Rights

Bill of Rights (I-X); 14th Amendment

Score: 40 Range: -87 to 87 Items: 29

Second Amendment — right to carry status

MO has constitutional/permitless carry since 2017 (SB 656, predecessor). Kehoe supports. No restrictions on concealed/open carry for legal residents. Second Amendment Preservation Act (HB 85, 2021) penalizes enforcement of federal gun laws.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§571; SAPA HB 85; NRA-ILA

Second Amendment — semi-automatic rifle restrictions

No restrictions beyond federal law. MO has no assault weapons ban. SAPA (HB 85) goes further by penalizing enforcement of federal restrictions on firearms MO considers protected.

MO Code; SAPA; NRA-ILA

Second Amendment — magazine capacity restrictions

No magazine capacity restrictions in MO. SAPA provides additional protection.

MO Code; NRA-ILA

Second Amendment — Red Flag / ERPO due process

MO has NO red flag/ERPO law. Legislature has rejected red flag proposals. Full due process maintained. SAPA positions MO as a 2A sanctuary state.

MO Legislature records; NRA-ILA

First Amendment — campus free speech protections

MO campus free speech environment adequate. University of Missouri has had notable speech controversies (2015 protests) but no state statute specifically protecting campus speech enacted under Kehoe. Standard protections.

FIRE campus rankings; UM policies

First Amendment — anti-SLAPP protections

MO has limited anti-SLAPP protections. No comprehensive statute. Some common law protections. Not a priority area for Kehoe's short tenure.

MO statutes; PPP state ratings

First Amendment — religious liberty protections

MO Constitution has strong religious liberty provisions (Art. I, Ã‚Â§5). No state RFRA but constitutional protections robust. No documented restrictions on religious organizations under Kehoe. Faith-based partnerships maintained.

MO Constitution Art. I Ã‚Â§5; Becket Fund

Fourth Amendment — warrant requirements for digital surveillance

MO relies on federal Carpenter standard. No comprehensive state electronic privacy statute. Standard protections. Not a legislative priority.

MO Code; EFF

Fourth Amendment — civil asset forfeiture reform

MO has some forfeiture reforms — higher burden of proof (preponderance) but not conviction required. Reporting requirements exist. Not among strongest reform states. Standard protections.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§513; IJ Policing for Profit

Fifth Amendment — eminent domain protections post-Kelo

MO enacted statutory Kelo reform (SB 61, 2006) restricting economic development takings. Constitutional protections for property rights. Adequate post-Kelo protections.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§523; IJ Castle Coalition

Due process — regulatory takings and permitting timelines

MO regulatory environment average. Kehoe's deregulation agenda includes childcare regulatory evaluation (EO 25-15). Capital gains tax elimination (HB 594) improves property rights environment. Improvements underway.

MO regulatory data; EO 25-15; HB 594

Tenth Amendment — federal overreach resistance

MO has SAPA (HB 85, 2021) — one of strongest 10th Amendment assertions nationally on firearms. AG Andrew Bailey has filed multistate litigation on immigration and federal overreach. Kehoe's Day One EOs asserted state sovereignty on immigration. Strong posture inherited and maintained.

SAPA; MO AG litigation; Kehoe EOs

Equal Protection — state contracting nondiscrimination

Kehoe's Day One EO eliminated DEI in all state agencies. Race-neutral contracting and hiring mandated. SFFA-compliant posture. Proactive on post-SFFA implementation.

Kehoe DEI elimination EO; SFFA compliance

Second Amendment — state preemption of local firearms laws

MO has state preemption of local firearms laws (MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§21.750). Comprehensive coverage. SAPA adds additional layer. Some enforcement gaps but strong statutory framework.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§21.750; NRA-ILA

First Amendment — government transparency and FOIA compliance

Kehoe signed July 2025 law allowing agencies to require all fees paid before fulfilling records requests — open government advocates said it 'could help governments hide records.' Parole study group (EO 25-07) held 3 meetings without public notice — MacArthur Justice Center said it violates Sunshine Law. MO ranks poorly on lobbying transparency.

MO Sunshine Law; MacArthur Justice Center; open government advocates

-1

Sixth Amendment — public defender funding adequacy

MO public defender system chronically underfunded. Caseloads significantly above recommended levels (~200-300% of ABA maximums). Some additional funding but insufficient. Long-standing systemic issue predating Kehoe.

Sixth Amendment Center; MSPD data

Eighth Amendment — bail reform and pretrial detention

MO maintains cash bail with standard provisions. Pretrial services available in major circuits. No extreme policy in either direction. Standard system.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§544; pretrial justice data

Property rights — regulatory burden and economic freedom

MO has below-average regulatory burden. Capital gains tax elimination (HB 594, first state). Income tax reduction trajectory. Economic freedom ranked above average nationally. Kehoe's deregulation posture positive.

Cato/Fraser economic freedom; HB 594

Second Amendment — governor's litigation posture on firearms cases

MO AG Bailey files pro-2A amicus briefs and defends SAPA in court. SAPA was partially struck down (federal court found 8th Circuit violations) but state actively defended. Kehoe supports AG's pro-2A litigation posture.

MO AG amicus filings; SAPA litigation

First Amendment — compelled speech protections

Kehoe eliminated DEI requirements via Day One EO — removing compelled ideological statements from state employment. No mandatory pronoun policies. Anti-compelled-speech posture clear.

Kehoe DEI EO; state employment policies

Commerce Clause compliance — interstate trade barriers

MO has limited interstate trade barriers. Some licensing restrictions. SB 82 (Water Preservation Act) 30-mile buffer on out-of-state water use could raise Commerce Clause questions but primarily targets water rights.

MO licensing data; SB 82

Privileges and Immunities — occupational licensing reform

MO has some occupational licensing reform. Military spouse expedited licensing enacted. General licensing burden near average. Not a primary Kehoe priority yet.

MO licensing data; IJ License to Work

Contract Clause — state compliance with contractual obligations

MOSERS funded at 69.6%. AAA credit rating maintained. No documented contract impairments. 100% ARC payments made. Adequate contract compliance but pension below 70% threshold.

Pew pension data; MOSERS; S&P

Jury trial rights — civil and criminal jury access

MO jury trial access standard. No courthouse closures. Standard civil/criminal jury system. No significant issues during Kehoe's short tenure.

MO court annual reports; NCSC

Immigration law compliance — Supremacy Clause adherence

MO is anti-sanctuary state (HB 1549). Kehoe's Day One EOs on immigration enforcement. E-Verify for public employers/contractors. Full ICE cooperation. No benefits for illegal aliens. Constitutional non-citizen voting ban. Strong but lacks universal private E-Verify mandate.

HB 1549; Kehoe EOs; 8 USC Ã‚Â§1373

Qualified immunity / due process for officers

No specific qualified immunity legislation. Status quo maintained.

General research

Voter ID and ballot chain-of-custody

Missouri requires photo ID (law enacted 2022, upheld by courts). Kehoe inherited and maintained strong framework.

Fox News; Ballotpedia

Non-citizen voting prevention

Photo ID strengthens prevention. 287-G training creates parallel framework. Voter ID and immigration tracking mutually reinforcing.

KCUR; Missouri SoS; Fox News

Women's sports / Title IX — biological sex protections in state-funded athletics

Existing law restricting transgender athletes. AG joined lawsuit opposing Biden Title IX rules. Kehoe aligns with sex-based policies.

ESPN; Missouri Independent

Child Welfare & Parental Rights

Meyer v. Nebraska (1923), Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), Troxel v. Granville (2000)

Score: 20 Range: -75 to 75 Items: 25

Parental rights legislation — statutory recognition

MO has some parental rights protections but no comprehensive Parental Bill of Rights statute. Parents' rights recognized in common law and education code. Kehoe's EO 25-15 on childcare regulation indicates parental support posture. No comprehensive bill enacted yet.

MO education code; Kehoe EO 25-15

Education choice — school choice programs

MO has limited school choice — tax credit scholarship program (MOScholars) enacted 2021 (predecessor). Charter schools permitted in STL and KC only. No universal ESA/voucher. Kehoe supports expansion but no new legislation enacted in short tenure.

MO MOScholars; EdChoice; MO Stat. Ã‚Â§160

Parental notification/consent for medical procedures on minors

MO requires parental consent for abortion (MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§188.028). Standard parental consent for medical procedures. Gender-transition restrictions for minors enacted (SB 49, 2023, predecessor). Strong parental consent framework.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§188.028; SB 49; Guttmacher

Gender-transition procedures for minors — restrictions

MO enacted SB 49 (2023, predecessor) restricting gender-transition procedures for minors — bans surgical procedures and limits hormones/puberty blockers. Kehoe supports restrictions. Not as comprehensive as some states (criminal penalties for providers not included).

SB 49 (2023); MO Board of Registration

Child abuse and neglect — substantiated case rate trend

MO child maltreatment rate near national average. DSS Children's Division handles cases but faces understaffing and high turnover. No significant improvement or decline under Kehoe's short tenure.

ACF NCANDS; MO DSS Children's Division

Foster care — CFSR conformity assessment

MO foster care system has standard CFSR performance — ~3-4 of 7 outcomes in conformity. Ongoing challenges with placement stability and caseworker turnover. Average performance.

ACF CFSR; MO DSS

Foster care — permanency outcomes

MO foster care permanency outcomes near national average. ~12,000 children in care. Standard median time to permanency (~20-24 months). $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists is positive.

ACF AFCARS; MO DSS; $149M disability funding

Child trafficking prevention and prosecution

MO has human trafficking statute + AG task force + safe harbor provisions. I-44/I-70 corridor enforcement ongoing. Standard enforcement. Kehoe's Safer Missouri initiative includes trafficking but no specific new legislation.

Polaris Project; MO AG; Shared Hope

Education outcomes — 4th grade NAEP reading proficiency

MO 4th grade NAEP reading: ~34% proficient (2022), near national average (~33%). Standard performance. Not among top states but competitive.

NCES NAEP 2022

Education outcomes — 8th grade NAEP math proficiency

MO 8th grade NAEP math: ~30% proficient (2022), slightly above national average (~26%). Adequate performance.

NCES NAEP 2022

Parental curriculum transparency

MO has some parental transparency provisions in education code. Textbook review processes exist. No comprehensive curriculum posting requirement or mandatory opt-out provisions enacted under Kehoe. Standard protections.

MO DESE; state education code

Social media — minor protections

No specific state social media protection legislation for minors enacted under Kehoe. Relies on federal COPPA baseline. Not a legislative priority during short tenure.

NCSL social media tracker; MO legislature

Juvenile justice — age-appropriate treatment

MO juvenile jurisdiction to 17. DYS rehabilitation programs operational. Some mandatory transfer for violent felonies. Standard juvenile justice framework. Kehoe's public safety focus has not specifically altered juvenile system.

MO DYS; JJDPA compliance

Child poverty rate and state response

MO child poverty rate ~16-18%, near national average. Cost of living advantage (6th lowest) helps offset. TANF and child care subsidies operational. No major changes under Kehoe.

Census ACS SAIPE; KIDS COUNT

Adoption and permanency — adoptive family support

MO has subsidized adoption + recruitment programs. Faith-based agency protections maintained. Standard adoption support framework. No major changes under Kehoe's short tenure.

ACF AFCARS; MO DSS; Dave Thomas Foundation

Homeschool rights and protections

MO homeschool law is favorable — notification required but no mandatory testing, no curriculum mandates, no teacher qualifications. Diploma recognition. Sports access via policy (district-dependent). Among more permissive states.

HSLDA; MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§167.031

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) enforcement

MO ICAC task force operational. AG has CSAM prosecution program. Mandatory reporting compliance standard. Adequate enforcement posture.

ICAC; NCMEC; MO AG

School safety — violence prevention and incident response

MO has school safety programs. SRO deployment varies by district. Threat assessment protocols exist. Kehoe's Safer Missouri and $12.8M crime lab investment improve law enforcement capacity broadly. Standard school safety.

MO DESE school safety; Safer Missouri

Children's mental health services access

MO school counselor ratio ~400-500:1. DMH-funded children's mental health programs operational. $71.6M behavioral health budget item covers 2,100 adults and 6,700 children. Some improvements but ratio still above recommended 250:1.

ASCA; MO DMH; $71.6M behavioral health

Childhood vaccination — parental choice protections

MO has religious + medical exemptions for school vaccinations. No philosophical exemption. Parental choice broadly respected. No mandatory vaccine mandates beyond standard CDC schedule during Kehoe tenure.

MO DHSS; NCSL vaccination data

Child care affordability and access

MO child care subsidy program operational ($286M budget). EO 25-15 directed evaluation of childcare provider regulations to reduce burden. House Budget Committee proposed $51M cut to child care subsidies for FY2027 — concerning. Kehoe's regulatory evaluation positive but cuts threatened.

ACF CCDF; MO DSS; EO 25-15

Education — teacher quality and retention

MO teacher vacancy rate ~8-10%. Average salary ~$52,000 (below national average). Retention near 85%. Kehoe's $500M workforce compensation proposal would help but not yet enacted. Teacher shortage persists especially in rural areas.

NCES; MO DESE; NEA salary rankings

Child nutrition — food insecurity rate

MO child food insecurity ~15-17%. School meal participation adequate. Standard federal programs operational. Average performance.

USDA ERS; Feeding America

Custody and family court — due process in child removal

MO family court system has statutory criteria + timely judicial review + appointed counsel for indigent parents in TPR. Standard due process protections. Adequate system.

MO Rev. Stat. Ã‚Â§211; ABA Center on Children and Law

Children with disabilities — IDEA compliance

MO OSEP determination: 'Needs Assistance.' Most districts compliant but some gaps. $149M to eliminate developmental disability wait lists is significant positive investment. Standard compliance.

OSEP determinations; MO DESE; $149M disability wait list elimination

Faithful Discharge of Duties

Sworn oath: 'faithfully discharge the duties of office'

Score: 47 Range: -123 to 123 Items: 41

Budget balance — structural surplus/deficit

Kehoe inherited structural surplus but projects $1B+ shortfall by FY2027. Drew ~$2.5B from accumulated surplus to balance FY2026. Issued 208 line-item vetoes ($300M) to protect reserves. Proactive but inherited fiscal trajectory concerning.

MO CAFR; NASBO; Governor's budget

State credit rating stability

MO maintains AAA from S&P Global Ratings — affirmed during Kehoe's tenure with stable outlook. Among ~15 states with top-tier credit. Inherited strong position maintained.

S&P Global Ratings; Ballotpedia

Rainy day / budget stabilization fund adequacy

Rainy day fund kept intact despite drawing $2.5B from accumulated surplus. 208 line-item vetoes protected reserves. Statutory protection maintained. Adequate reserves but FY2027 shortfall looms.

MO Budget Stabilization Fund; NASBO

Pension system funding responsibility

MOSERS funded at 69.6% — below 70% threshold. But 100% ARC payments made, employer contribution rate increased to 32%, legislature provided $500M supplemental (2022). Investment return 9.8% (FY2025). Improving trajectory.

MOSERS actuarial; Pew pension data

State debt burden

MO ranks 43rd in combined debt per capita ($8,829). Total debt $53.34B. Well below national average. No new major bond issuances under Kehoe. Low debt burden.

Reason Foundation; MO State Treasurer

Government efficiency — state employee headcount per capita

MO state employee headcount near national median. Kehoe's $500M workforce compensation proposal (largest in MO history) focuses on competitive pay rather than headcount reduction. Standard efficiency.

Census ASPE; Governor's Office

Inspector General / state auditor independence

State Auditor Fitzpatrick operates independently (elected). Issued audit findings on material weaknesses (DOR, DSS). Kehoe administration responsive to audit process. Standard oversight relationship.

MO State Auditor; ALGA

Ethics violations and personal scandals

Zero ethics complaints or personal scandals during Kehoe's tenure. Clean record. Full financial disclosure maintained. Former auto dealer and Lt. Governor — no controversy. Lobbyist Andrew Blunt's clients donated $177K+ to Kehoe's PAC raising pay-to-play concerns but no formal complaints upheld.

MO Ethics Commission; financial disclosure

Executive order restraint

Kehoe's EOs within constitutional bounds. Six Day One EOs on legitimate governance functions (public safety, immigration, DEI elimination). No EOs struck down by courts. Volume appropriate for new administration. Purposeful and measured use.

MO EO database; court records

Emergency powers — adherence to statutory limits

Emergency declaration for St. Louis tornado within statutory authority. Special session called appropriately for disaster relief ($100M). No over-extension of emergency powers. Measured response.

MO emergency statutes; Special Session

Legislative cooperation — veto override rate

Zero veto overrides despite 208 line-item vetoes totaling $2B+. R supermajority (24-10 Senate, 110-53 House) deferred to governor. Legislature accepted even controversial MoDOT veto ($1B+) without override. Strong executive-legislative cooperation.

MO Legislature records; NCSL

Judicial appointments — qualifications and process integrity

Kehoe made ~241 appointments in first year. Judicial appointments followed Missouri Plan (merit-based Nonpartisan Court Plan). Too early to assess appointee quality comprehensively. Standard process followed.

MO JNC; MO Bar; Governor's appointments

Timely execution of laws — implementation of enacted legislation

Short tenure — most signed legislation still being implemented. HB 495 (crime/immigration) implementation ongoing. SB 4 (energy) implementation begun. Standard execution pace for new administration.

MO agency rulemaking; legislative oversight

Federal fund utilization — grant management

$216M federal Rural Health Transformation award secured (9th-largest). FEMA disaster funds for tornado ($59M+ PA). IIJA highway funds flowing ($13.3B STIP). State Auditor's Single Audit of $21B in federal funds showed adequate management. Strong federal fund capture.

Federal Audit Clearinghouse; USAspending; $216M Rural Health

Public approval as competence indicator

Kehoe won election with 59.1% — strong mandate. Approval likely in 50-55% range (new governor, short tenure). No significant approval polling during first year. Standard honeymoon period.

MO SOS 2024 results; Morning Consult

State IT security and data protection

State Auditor flagged DSS MO HealthNet for inadequate access controls over $1.5B in receipts — IT security concern. No major breaches reported. Standard cybersecurity framework. Inherited weakness being addressed.

NASCIO; MO State Auditor IT findings

Infrastructure spending — capital budget execution

MoDOT STIP: $13.3B five-year plan, $1.9B/yr average. $12.8M crime lab proposed. $100M special session for tornado infrastructure. Standard execution pace for first year. MoDOT veto ($1B+) may delay some projects.

ASCE MO; MoDOT STIP; Special Session

Disaster fund readiness

Demonstrated adequate disaster fund readiness during St. Louis tornado. FEMA cost-share met. $100M special session appropriation secured rapidly. Pre-positioned resources adequate. Effective first test.

FEMA; MO SEMA; Special Session SB 1

Workforce development — unemployment system integrity

MO UI trust fund solvent. Standard processing times. No major fraud incidents during Kehoe tenure. System operational but not among top performers nationally. Average.

DOL UI; MO DES; trust fund data

Medicaid program integrity

MO HealthNet operates with standard compliance. $942M supplemental needed for Medicaid shortfall (inherited). State Auditor flagged MO HealthNet for $1.5B receipt control weakness. New Medicaid Director (Josh Moore, PharmD) appointed Dec 2025. Addressing inherited issues.

CMS PERM; MO AHCA; State Auditor

Election administration — constitutional compliance

MO voters approved non-citizen voting ban (Nov 2024, 68% approval). Photo voter ID required. Paper ballots used. Post-election audits. Standard election administration. Strong voter integrity framework.

MO SOS; EAC EAVS; constitutional amendment

Transparency — state budget accessibility

Missouri Accountability Portal and data.mo.gov publish spending/employee data. However, Kehoe signed bill allowing agencies to require all fees paid before fulfilling records requests. Mixed transparency record. Parole working group Sunshine Law concerns.

PIRG; MO Accountability Portal; transparency legislation

Intergovernmental cooperation — federal compliance balanced with sovereignty

Kehoe balances federal compliance with state sovereignty assertion. SAPA represents 10th Amendment assertion on firearms. Immigration enforcement cooperates with federal law. Tornado disaster response showed effective federal-state coordination. Balanced posture.

Federal court records; SAPA; FEMA coordination

Gubernatorial succession and continuity planning

LG Mike Carter confirmed. Succession clear under MO Constitution. COOP plan current. Tornado response demonstrated continuity capabilities. Standard succession framework.

MO Constitution succession; MO SEMA

Anti-corruption — state procurement integrity

MO procurement through MissouriBUYS system. No major procurement scandals. Lobbyist Andrew Blunt connections raised questions ($177K+ to Kehoe's PAC from Blunt clients) but no formal findings. Standard procurement integrity.

MO Office of Administration; MO Ethics Commission

Gas price burden — state gas taxes, refinery regulations, cap-and-trade

Missouri gas tax increased 12.5 cents to 29.5 before Kehoe. Income tax elimination plan could trigger first gas sales tax. Mixed.

Missouri Independent

Energy affordability — residential electricity costs from state policy

Signed SB 4 allowing utilities to charge for infrastructure under construction. Bills projected +$640/year by 2035. Wholesale prices +74%.

Missouri Independent; Energy Innovation

-1

Energy policy competence — forced mandates without infrastructure readiness

No aggressive green mandates. SB 4 modernizes infrastructure at consumer cost. Balanced energy mix maintained.

Missouri Independent

Property tax burden — effective rate vs national median

Identified property tax reduction as 'high priority.' Missouri near national median. Pushing structural reform.

Missouri Independent; Governor Missouri

Regulatory cost burden — permits, compliance costs per household/business

Signed bold tax cuts and pro-business legislation. Eliminated capital gains income tax ($400M annual reduction).

Governor Missouri; Missouri Independent

Unfunded mandates on municipalities

No significant new unfunded mandates. Blue Shield grants provide $50K per community. Repealed voter-approved min wage increase.

General research

Cost of living trajectory — policy-driven affordability trend

Eliminated capital gains tax, pursuing income tax elimination. But signed utility cost increase law. Repealed minimum wage hike. Mixed.

Missouri Independent; Governor Missouri

Immigration fiscal burden — taxpayer cost of sanctuary/benefits policies

Day 1 EOs: immigration status on arrest reports, 287-G training for Highway Patrol in 5 counties. Considering National Guard for ICE.

KCUR; STLPR; Missouri Independent

Homelessness spending accountability — spending vs measurable outcomes

No significant homelessness spending programs. Focus on crime and public safety.

General research

Encampment enforcement — response to SCOTUS Grants Pass ruling

No specific encampment enforcement initiatives. Blue Shield may support local enforcement. Not primary focus.

General research

Net domestic migration trend — people leaving vs arriving

Gained 14,000 net domestic migrants in 2025. Receiving Illinois outmigrants. Positive trend in first year.

Census Bureau; STLPR; KCUR

Business exodus — corporate HQ and jobs relocating due to policy

No business exodus. Capital gains elimination attracting investment. Competitive for Illinois businesses.

Governor Missouri; Census data

DA accountability — governor's power to remove rogue prosecutors

Signed bill placing St. Louis PD under state-appointed board, responding to years of prosecution/policing failures under former DA Kim Gardner.

Missourinet; STLPR; Missouri Independent

Election infrastructure — ballot harvesting, drop box security, audit transparency

Missouri maintains photo ID (upheld by courts). Called special session for redistricting. Strong existing framework.

Fox News; Ballotpedia

Weaponization of state agencies — using AG/regulatory bodies against political opponents

Explicitly rejected weaponization rhetoric in inaugural speech.

Governor Missouri; KCUR

Foreign adversary protections — Chinese land, TikTok bans, Confucius Institutes

As Lt. Governor, supported Parson's EO banning Chinese agricultural land near military. Campaign promise continued.

Missouri Independent; Fox; KCUR

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