Missouri
Kehoe in fundraising lead in Missouri GOP governor’s race
MISSOURI – FOX 2 is following the money pouring into one of the top races in Missouri: the Republican primary for governor.
Campaign finance records with the Missouri Ethics Commission reveal Lt. Mike Kehoe taking a massive lead in fundraising.
Political consultants say it’s fueling his rise in polls, with the money almost as important as the message.
Kehoe had trailed the front-runner, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, by 15%, 20%, or more in polls over the past year.
Our Missouri Nexstar, The Hill, and Emerson College Poll this month shows Kehoe pulling within 3% of Ashcroft, which is within the margin of error.
Ashcroft is touting an endorsement from former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee this month.
Third-place candidate in our poll, Missouri State Senator Bill Eigel of St. Charles County, just debuted his first TV ad Tuesday.
However, Kehoe continues to win big in the fundraising derby.
Records show his “Citizens for Kehoe” campaign committee had $1.74 million on hand for the quarter ending in March, compared to $656,000 for Ashcroft’s campaign committee and $727,000 for Eigel’s committee.
Ashcroft has a huge edge in name recognition from his father, John Ashcroft, the former Missouri Governor, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Attorney General.
Still, we’ve found fundraising gap is even more dramatic when it comes to the political action committees (PACs) supporting the three candidates.
The Committee for Liberty PAC, which supports Ashcroft, had $1.9 million on hand at the end of the quarter, taking in less than $61,000 so far in June. Its top donors in 2024 are California real estate developer Steven Craig, August Busch III, and Ashcroft’s mother, Janet.
Believe in Life and Liberty (BILL) PAC, which supports Eigel, had a little more than $1 million on hand at the end of the quarter but has raised $445,000 this month. Its top donors this year are St. Louis pro-life activist Joan Langenberg, Trial Lawyers for Justice of Montana and the Edelman-Thompson Law Firm of Kansas City.
American Dream PAC, which supports Kehoe, dwarfs the others, with $4.5 million on hand at the end of last quarter and more than $2 million raised so far this month.
St. Louis Political Financier Rex Sinquefield has donated $1.25 million to the PAC this year. Herzog Rail and Highway Construction of St. Joseph, Mo., has donated $1 million, and Waycrosse Inc. of Minnesota, the investment arm of agribusiness giant Cargill, has kicked in $500,000.
Kehoe contends that his lead among small donors tells the real story.
“The fact of the matter is we’ve outraised all seven other opponents in the Republican field by three to one with Missouri dollar donors, small dollar donors (under $2,825), people who say, ‘We like Mike’s message; we think his leadership skill fits what Missouri needs right now,’” he said.
Early absentee voting, with an excuse, began Tuesday. The August 6 primary is now six weeks away.
Juneteenth 2024: How to celebrate
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here’s how to prep for and celebrate the important holiday.
Problem Solved
Juneteenth is marking five years since it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Given the holiday’s relatively recent federal designation, it may not be clear to many what will be open/closed on Juneteenth. Will the post office be open? Will my trash get collected? Can I go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license?
Here’s a guide to what is open and closed on Juneteenth in Missouri.
When is Juneteenth 2026?
This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Friday, June 19. The holiday is also often celebrated on the third Saturday of June, with many events taking place on that day.
Communities use this day to honor resilience, culture and progress through various events, gatherings and activities. These can include church services, picnics, barbecues, parades and festivals, to name a few.
Are federal or Missouri state offices open on Juneteenth?
Given that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, non-essential federal offices will be closed.
It’s also a state holiday in Missouri, so all local governments and state offices will be closed, as well.
Will major retailers be open on Juneteenth?
Most major retailers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurants should be open on Juneteenth, but you may want to check with your local stores to confirm business hours, as they can vary by location.
Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?
All post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.
FedEx and UPS will operate more or less as usual, and their stores will be open.
Are banks open on Juneteenth?
Most banks will be closed on Juneteenth, as most follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule.
Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?
Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be closed on Juneteenth.
Will trash pickup happen on Juneteenth?
Trash pickup on Juneteenth varies from city to city, so it’s best to check with your local waste management service to see whether they observe the holiday.
Trash pickup can be delayed by one day if the scheduled pickup falls on a federal holiday.
Columbia will have normal trash pickup on Friday, according to the city’s website. Each hauler in Springfield sets its own holiday schedule. Ozark Refuse, Republic Services and Waste Management are not delayed for the holiday.
Are libraries and DMV offices open on Juneteenth?
Holiday hours can vary among Missouri’s libraries, so it’s best to check whether the ones in your area will be open on Juneteenth.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library network in Columbia and Springfield-Greene County Library District branches will be closed.
All Missouri Department of Revenue offices will be closed on Juneteenth, including driver examination stations. With that being said, some license offices will be operating during the holiday, so check the Missouri License Office Locator to see if your local office is open.
PETTIS COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Sedalia man is dead and a woman is recovering after a single-vehicle crash, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the crash happened around 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, near the intersection of Route M and Whiteman Rd.
Investigators add that a 2018 Dodge Challenger, driven by a 30-year-old Sedalia man, was traveling north on the highway when it veered off the right side of the road.
MSHP notes that the vehicle struck a tree and a fence before rolling over.
First responders say they pronounced the driver dead at the scene around 11:55 p.m. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Authorities indicate that a 26-year-old female passenger, also from Sedalia, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No further information has been released.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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