Abortion

Kehoe has a firmly anti-abortion record despite some professed moderation on exceptions for rape, incest

February 2024: Kehoe Said He Voted For Every Anti-Abortion Bill That Came Across His Desk When He Was A State Senator

Video: Kehoe Said He Voted For Every Anti-Abortion Bill That Ever Came Across His Desk. At a Republican gubernatorial candidates’ forum at Kansas City Lincoln Days, Kehoe said, “I voted for every pro-life bill that’s ever come across my desk, believing that we do have to protect innocent life.” [Facebook, Ann Kelley 2/18/24]

Kehoe, As Missouri Senate Majority Leader, Passed A Law That Added Strict Restrictions And Regulations To Missouri’s Abortion Providers

2017: Senate Bill 5 Was Passed And Signed Into Law, And Pro-Choice Groups Sued To Prevent The Law’s Implementation. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “The groups moved for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against the ‘same-physician’ provision in the law, which will require the doctor providing an abortion to be the one who tells a woman of medical risks 72 hours in advance of the abortion. […] The plaintiffs, arguing the provision violated women's constitutional rights, argued the same-physician rule would force out-state women to travel twice to faraway abortion clinics, and force doctors into scheduling conflicts which will delay care. They also argued the law was ‘vague and conflicting’ in spots, and said the scope of the law was in conflict with the original intent of the bill, a violation of the state constitution.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/23/17]

Kehoe, Then Senate Majority Leader, Led The Charge On Moving The Anti-Abortion Legislation Senate Bill 5. According to a Press Release from Missouri State Senator Andrew Koenig, “Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said while this is an issue many of his colleagues are very passionate about, it was the recent court decisions that have added urgency to the legislation. 'This bill contains strong protections for women and innocent unborn children,' said Kehoe. 'I'm very grateful to everyone who helped us get this legislation to the governor's desk.'” [Missouri Senate, 7/26/17]

An Anti-Abortion Activist Wrote An Op-Ed In The Springfield News-Leader Arguing That Kehoe Would Be The Most Anti-Abortion Governor Of The Available Candidates

HEADLINE: “Missouri Needs To Defend Anti-Abortion Laws With An Anti-Abortion Governor” [Springfield News-Leader, 2/25/24]

An Anti-Abortion Activist Wrote An Op-Ed In The Springfield News-Leader Arguing Mike Kehoe Would Be The Most Anti-Abortion Governor Of The Available Candidates. According to an op-ed in the Springfield News-Leader, “Mike Kehoe’s experience and voting record demonstrate that he says what he believes and does what he says. Mike Kehoe is the candidate we want to have in the Governor’s Mansion. For Missourians who have worked to put in place laws to protect the health and safety of women there is no one more pro-life than Mike Kehoe.” [Op-Ed, Springfield News-Leader 2/25/24]

Anti-Abortion Activist’s Op-Ed Praised Kehoe For “Perfect Voting Record” On Anti-Abortion Policies. According to an op-ed in the Springfield News Leader, “Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is the Republican candidate with the most experience protecting life. During his eight years as Missouri senator, he maintained a perfect voting record on pro-life issues. Before the Missouri ban was in place, Lt. Gov. Kehoe moved the needle on life-saving initiatives. He voted in favor of placing requirements for the administration of abortion-inducing drugs and he voted yes on extending the waiting period prior to an abortion.” [Op-Ed, Springfield News-Leader 2/25/24]

Kehoe Said He Would Be Open To Amending Missouri’s Total Abortion Ban To Include Exceptions For Rape And Incest If Elected Governor

HEADLINE: “Republican Kehoe Open To Amending Missouri Abortion Ban To Add Exceptions If Elected Governor” [Kansas City Star, 7/27/23]

Kehoe’s Campaign Manager Told The Kansas City Star That Kehoe Would Consider Signing Legislation That Added Exceptions For Rape, Incest And Life Of The Mother To Missouri’s Existing Total Ban On Abortion. According to the Kansas City Star, “As governor and the father of three daughters, Kehoe would consider approving legislation brought forward by the General Assembly that contains exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother,’ Derek Coats, the Republican’s campaign manager, said in an email to The Star this week.” [Kansas City Star, 7/27/23]

Kehoe Spoke At A Rally In Celebration Of The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade And The Activation Of Missouri’s Trigger Law, Which Banned Abortion In All Cases Except Some Medical Emergencies.

Kehoe Spoke At A Rally After The Overturning Of Roe, Calling It An “Incredibly Emotional Day” According to the Springfield News-Leader, “Around 50 people gathered on the steps of the Missouri Supreme Court hours after the ruling, praying and praising the Supreme Court for what they described as a monumental victory decades in the making. A number of them were leaders or members of anti-abortion or other conservative organizations and groups. […] Lt. Gov Mike Kehoe, who is running for governor in 2024, also spoke to the crowd, calling it an "incredibly emotional day" as rain fell in the state capital.” [Springfield News-Leader, 6/24/22]

Another Speaker At The Anti-Abortion Rally Kehoe Participated In Said “Lost Lives Of Unborn Children” Would “Haunt Us For Decades.” According to the Springfield News-Leader, “‘We know that the fight has been long,’ said Rep. Doug Richey, an Excelsior Springs Republican, while reciting a prayer. ‘The sacrifices that have been made over these five decades are real. The lost lives of unborn children will haunt us into the coming decades.”’ [Springfield News Leader, 6/24/22]

KEHOE’S 2020 REELECTION WAS CELEBRATED BY MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE PRESIDENT STEVE RUPP, WHO WROTE REPEATEDLY OF STEM CELL RESEARCH AND IVF AS “KILLING” OF “HUMAN EMBRYOS”

Kehoe’s 2020 Reelection Was Celebrated By Missouri Right To Life President Steve Rupp In A Press Release Following The Election

Missouri Right To Life President Steve Rupp Celebrated Kehoe’s Reelection In 2020. According to a press release from Steve Rupp, president of Missouri Right to Life, “We also celebrate victories for all the pro-life, statewide office holders who won their re-election bid with pro-lifers turning out in huge numbers. Congratulations to Governor Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, […] We look forward to working with these pro-life leaders in the months and years to come!” [Missouri Right to Life 11/4/20]