Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe wins Republican nomination for governorship

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters have nominated Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe to be the Republican candidate for governor, making the governor’s race his to lose.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Jefferson City, Kehoe described himself as an “underdog” and said people doubted his campaign from the start.

“We proved, once again, the American dream is still alive,” Kehoe said.

Kehoe edged out Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel to win the GOP nomination, a huge advantage in a strongly conservative state currently without any Democratic statewide officials.

Kehoe will face off in the general election against state House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, who won the Democratic nomination. She immediately framed herself as “a champion of reproductive freedom and access to abortion” in a Tuesday statement, linking her gubernatorial bid to a November ballot measure that would restore abortion in the state.

Abortion is currently banned in Missouri at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.

“Missourians deserve a governor who will fight for working families — a leader who will restore our rights, not strip us of them,” Quade said. “Missourians are sick of the extremism, sick of the government overreach of their rights.”

Republican Gov. Mike Parson is barred from seeking reelection by term limits.

Here’s a breakdown of Missouri’s top statewide Republican primaries:

The GOP fight for the governorship had appeared to be between Ashcroft, who comes from a Missouri political dynasty, and Kehoe, a powerhouse in fundraising who was endorsed by Parson to be his successor.

Ashcroft had considerable name recognition after serving as secretary of state since 2017. His father, John Ashcroft, served as Missouri governor, a U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general under former President George W. Bush.

But Ashcroft performed poorly Tuesday, coming in third after Eigel — who has only ever won election to his suburban state Senate seat.

“This is obviously not the result we expected,” Ashcroft spokesman Jason Roe said in a text. He said Ashcroft called Kehoe to congratulate him and offered his support.

Kehoe and his supporters had poured money into his campaign and advertisements to make up for Ashcroft’s lead in name identification. Roughly a week before Tuesday’s primary, his campaign reported raising $4.2 million over the election cycle, more than three times what Ashcroft raised.

Pro-Kehoe political action committee American Dream PAC also brought in more than $7 million, more than double the close to $3 million raised by Committee 4 Liberty, which backs Ashcroft.

Kehoe assumed the lieutenant governor’s seat in 2018. He was appointed to the position following a government reshuffling when former Gov. Eric Greitens resigned in the face of potential impeachment that year. Mike Parson was serving as lieutenant governor but ascended to the governor’s office when Greitens left. Parson then tapped Kehoe to replace him as lieutenant governor. Kehoe had been serving as the second-highest ranking state senator at the time.

Kehoe was first elected to the state Senate in 2010 after years as a car dealership owner. As majority floor leader, he oversaw legislation that restricted unions and that Republicans said would help local businesses.

As lieutenant governor, Kehoe oversees work in the GOP-led state Senate, where Republican infighting played out dramatically this year.

On Tuesday, he called for unity.

“This campaign has also exposed some deep divisions within our party," Kehoe said. "So let me say this, the future of Missouri is too important for the Republican Party to be reduced to finger-pointing and name-calling."

Attorney General Andrew Bailey fought off a challenge from Trump lawyer Will Scharf to clinch the GOP nomination and, presumably, keep his seat.

Tuesday was voters’ first chance to weigh in on Bailey, another Parson appointee named to the position after Eric Schmitt resigned to become a U.S. senator in 2022.

Big money groups with connections to key Republican campaign financier Leonard Leo had backed Scharf. Both candidates take conservative positions, but Bailey has gone through the Missouri political system while much of Scharf’s career has been in Washington.

Secretary of State Ashcroft’s and Lt. Gov. Kehoe’s political ambitions leave their seats open and have drawn super-sized fields of Republican hopefuls.

In the GOP race for secretary of state, state Sen. Denny Hoskins defeated state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, state Reps. House Speaker Dean Plocher and Adam Schwadron, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, and political newcomers Jamie Corley and Valentina Gomez.

It was too early to call the lieutenant governor's GOP primary Tuesday, with David Wasinger and Lincoln Hough leading.

Associated Press reporter David A. Lieb contributed to this report from Jefferson City, Missouri.

Voters gather in support of Bill Eigel on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at Columbia Jet Center in Columbia. (Sarah Voyles/Missourian via AP)

Bill Eigel greets supporters on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at Columbia Jet Center in Columbia. (Sarah Voyles/Missourian via AP)

Jay Ashcroft escorts his wife Katie Ashcroft away from the podium on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, in Springfield, Mo. (Sarah Voyles/Missourian via AP)

Jay Ashcroft makes a statement about his standing in the governor election on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Springfield, Mo. (Sarah Voyles/Missourian via AP)

Jay Ashcroft makes a statement about his standing in the governor election on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Springfield, Mo. (Sarah Voyles/Missourian via AP)

Mike Kehoe interacts with a supporter on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. (Alix Queen/Missourian via AP)

Mike Kehoe points to the crowd after announcing his win of Missouri Governor on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. (Alix Queen/Missourian via AP)

Mike Kehoe speaks to a crowd of supporters during his primary election watch party on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 at Capital Bluffs Event Center in Jefferson City, Mo. (Alix Queen/Missourian via AP)

Mike Kehoe speaks to a crowd of supporters during his primary election watch party on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 at Capital Bluffs Event Center in Jefferson City, Mo. (Alix Queen/Missourian via AP)

Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe talks to supporters after winning the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe celebrates after winning the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

FILE - Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe applauds as Gov. Mike Parson delivers the State of the State address, Jan. 24, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

FILE - Missouri Sen. and Republican candidate for Missouri governor Bill Eigel poses for a photo, July 18, 2024, in St. Charles, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

FILE - Missouri's Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks, Nov. 7, 2017, in Valley Park, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Alison Lee sparked a shirtless caddie celebration by spinning a wedge into the cup for eagle. Andrea Lee holed a bunker shot to set up Rose Zhang’s walk-off eagle one hole later. And Megan Khang paused for 10 seconds to let gravity help her out on a critical birdie putt.

The wait was worth it for the United States, which maintained a four-point lead over Europe in the Solheim Cup on Saturday.

With top-ranked Nelly Korda getting an afternoon break after winning the leadoff point in three consecutive sessions of team matches, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis watched her role players excel, and the Americans concluded a warm, breezy day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 10-6 advantage.

“They’re playing the way I expected them to play, so I’m not surprised at all,” Lewis said. “But at the same time, to do it on this stage and in these moments and to pull these shots off and to make the putts and to do it with the joy that they’re doing it with, it’s the coolest part to me.”

Europe, which has captured the Solheim Cup the last three times, won the last two matches to conclude a 4-4 day. But the team in royal blue and yellow will need its largest comeback in Sunday singles to make it a record four in a row. The U.S. rallied from four points down to win in Germany in 2015.

The U.S. needs 4 1/2 points from a dozen singles matches to win the cup, and Europe needs eight points to retain it. Captain Suzann Pettersen drew inspiration from the European Ryder Cup team's rally from the same deficit to win at Medinah in 2012.

“I was on the opposite side in Germany, and I know what it feels like,” Pettersen said. “Everyone remembers Medinah. I mean, it’s a tough task.”

Lewis has relied on data to find the right combinations, whether keeping Korda and Allisen Corpuz together for alternate shot; sending rookie Lauren Coughlin out with three partners; or giving Zhang a comfortable pairing with Andrea Lee, her fellow Stanford Cardinal.

“I know their games backwards and forwards, and it’s allowed me to create some really good pairings,” Lewis said.

Korda and Corpuz fell behind early against Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen but turned it around on the back nine and got a break when Corpuz hit a worm-burner of a fairway wood into the par-5 14th hole that avoided the water and settled within 20 feet. Korda put her hands on her head in disbelief and Lewis gave Corpuz a shoulder rub in the fairway.

Korda holed the putt for eagle, her second in a row on a hole the U.S. has dominated, and she and Corpuz became the first American duo to go 4-0 in foursomes after winning twice last year in Spain.

“The Americans have played unbelievable. I don’t know how many eagles they’ve had. It seems like they’ve had double figures,” Hall of Famer and European assistant captain Laura Davies said. “They’ve just played great golf. Out-putted us at the moment. Deep squad of players. We’ll never say never, but it is going to be very, very difficult to get the cup back.”

A day after transportation problems prevented most fans from getting to the golf course for the opening tee shots, a situation that LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan took responsibility for, the grandstands surrounding the first tee were full and fans lined the gallery ropes shortly after 7 a.m.

The only thing that kept them quiet was a slow start by the Americans, but it got loud once Korda started rolling.

In the first afternoon better-ball match, Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom were 2 down to Khang and Alison Lee when Nordqvist birdied the par-3 11th hole. Khang's tying putt hung on the lip for 10 seconds before dropping, and she confirmed with a rules official that she had not waited too long for the ball to move.

Needing two putts to win the 14th, Khang made her 15-footer for eagle anyway, setting up the latest fist-pumping celebration for the Americans’ loudest cheerleader, who was next to the green in a cowboy hat when Corpuz hit her approach hours earlier.

Khang and Lee closed it out on the next hole for a 4-and-3 victory, Lee's first in a Solheim Cup match since 2015. She gave the U.S. an early lead with her wedge from 86 yards for an eagle 2 on the second hole, and the Americans’ caddies stripped from the waist up and chest-bumped to pay off a bet with Lee that they agreed to on the tee box.

“Literally holed out five minutes after that conversation. Great motivation,” Lee said.

Zhang and Andrea Lee never trailed in their 6-and-4 victory over Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. Zhang, the youngest U.S. player at 21 who had a forgettable Solheim debut last year, joined Korda and Coughlin by winning all three of her matches.

Pettersen benched Leona Maguire, a valuable contributor in the last two Solheim Cups who has played poorly this year, for both sessions. Rookie Albane Valenzuela also sat out all day, while Charley Hull and Pedersen played four matches each.

Hull delivered. The excitable English player hit a 300-yard-plus drive on the par-4 18th to set up a wedge to tap-in range by Esther Henseleit for a 1-up victory in foursomes over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, then did it again as she and Georgia Hall beat Corpuz and Lilia Vu 2 up in better ball.

Lexi Thompson improved her record in alternate shot to 7-2-1 in what is likely her final Solheim Cup, teaming with the unbeaten Coughlin to make four birdies in six holes on the back nine and beat Maja Stark and Hall, 4 and 3.

Thompson and Ewing were beaten 2 and 1 by Ciganda and Pedersen in fourballs. Ewing has lost her last six Solheim Cup matches.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from a bunker on the 15th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang smiles after winning a fourball match on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Emily Pedersen celebrates winning a fourball match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

United States' Rose Zhang celebrates after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang, right, is congratulated by teammate United States' Andrea Lee after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Alison Lee, center, reacts flanked by celebrating caddies after finding the cup from the fairway on the second hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Megan Khang celebrates after making a putt on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from the fifth tee during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lexi Thompson smiles after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lauren Coughlin hits from a bunker on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Ally Ewing hits from the 18th fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Esther Henseleit celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Charley Hull celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda hits from the first fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda celebrates after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda, left, is celebrates with teammate Allisen Corpuz after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)