Missouri primary sets up Kehoe-Quade gubernatorial race

ST. LOUIS – After last night’s decisive Missouri primaries, it’s now Quade versus Kehoe in the Missouri governor’s race. Both candidates are hoping to get a boost from another big race: Harris versus Trump.

Just hours after Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris officially named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, Missouri State Representative and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade declared victory over her opponent, Mike Hamra, a businessman who outspent Quade by millions of dollars, mostly his own money.

Quade won in a landslide, 50% to 32%. The day after her stunning victory, she discussed with FOX 2 how she pulled it off.

“My job has always been to show up and ask what Missourians want from their state government,” she said. “By doing so and listening, and being present and taking that feedback, shifting what we talk about and what our priorities are based on what citizens want, is how we won this race. That’s how I know we can do it again in November.”

Russ Carnahan, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, drew a parallel with Walz joining the top of the ticket.

“Tim and I served together in Congress,” he said. “Just his Midwestern, rural, background, I think, is going to be a great complement to our national ticket. We look forward to working with them.”

Kehoe won a primary that drew nearly 700,000 total votes; almost double the number of total votes cast in the Democrat race. He had a nearly 50,000 vote (6%) cushion over State Senator Bill Eigel and a 112,000+ vote (16%) edge over Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in a race Kehoe said he earlier trailed by more than 30 points.

Kehoe reposted a message of congratulations from former President Donald Trump on social media. He gave Trump a nod in his primary victory speech hours earlier.

“Missouri must work with state and federal officials when Donald Trump is our president once again to close the border,” Kehoe said.

He later spoke with FOX 2 about the importance of his hometown, St. Louis.

“St. Louis is my home. I’m just happy that I’m here and I can represent them. We’re going to make that city incredible,” he said.

The matchup is set. Missouri elects a new governor the same day the nation elects a new president.

The results could very well go hand in hand.

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