SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — According to The Associated Press, Mike Kehoe, a Republican, has secured the position of governor in Missouri.

Kehoe, who was appointed as lieutenant governor in 2018, quickly took the lead on Tuesday in the four-candidate race for Missouri’s 58th governorship, capturing 56% of the votes by 9:51 p.m., while Democratic state Rep. Crystal Quade had approximately 42% of the votes.

This race did not have an incumbent, as Governor Mike Parson, who has been in office since June 2018, chose not to seek re-election due to term limits.

In the August primary, Kehoe successfully defeated eight other Republican candidates to secure his spot on the ballot for the November 5 election.

His main competitor, Democrat Crystal Quade, hails from Springfield. The ballot also featured Libertarian candidate Bill Slantz and Green Party candidate Paul Lehmann.

Kehoe, who was elected to a full term in 2020, grew up in North St. Louis City under the care of a single mother and began working at 15 to contribute to the household expenses. He later owned an ambulance manufacturing business and subsequently a car dealership.

First elected to the Missouri Senate in 2010, Kehoe later rose to serve as the majority floor leader and has also acted as chair of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.

As governor, Kehoe intends to prioritize crime reduction, aiming to recruit additional law enforcement personnel, implement tougher measures against fentanyl dealers, and tackle immigration concerns.

Furthermore, he plans to enhance teacher salaries and working conditions while expanding opportunities for career training.