Mike Kehoe passes on 2022 Senate run to focus on 2024 Missouri governor’s race

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Monday morning he would not seek the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, the second prominent Republican to forgo the race.

Kehoe, who was appointed lieutenant governor in 2018 and won a full term last year, said he will instead focus his attention on a run for governor in 2024. The incumbent, Gov. Mike Parson, cannot run again because of term limits.

“I will work to unify the party behind a strong nominee committed to representing Missouri’s conservative, common-sense views and values in the United States Senate,” Kehoe said in a statement.

There are no shortage of potential Republican candidates for the Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, with most expecting a hotly contested primary next year.

But Kehoe’s decision might mean a messy primary in 2024 as well. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced last week that he wasn’t running for Senate, and the consensus is that he will take a shot at the governor’s race in three years.