September 12, 2024

In 2013, then-Missouri Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a GOP bill lifting a near-total ban on foreign ownership of Missouri’s farmland. In September of that year, then-state senator and current Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Kehoe cast the deciding vote in overriding the Governor’s veto to sell Missouri’s farmland to the highest foreign bidder. As of December 2023, it was estimated foreign entities own more than 118,762 acres across the state. 

Despite this year’s campaign promise to ‘stop China from buying up our farmland,’ reporting by the Missouri Independent outed that Lt. Governor and GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Kehoe has been campaigning in a bus owned by a lobbyist for Chinese backed interest, which owns a large chunk of Missouri’s farmland. Kehoe and other lawmakers sold out Missouri agriculture with the GOP’s elimination of the ban on foreign ownership of Missouri farmland. 

“Yesterday was the anniversary of Mike Kehoe’s fourth vote to sell out Missouri farmers and Missouri farmland to the highest foreign bidder,” said Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus Chair Joshua Dunne. “Stunningly and shamelessly, Kehoe lied to Missourians about his record during the primary while he made campaign promises to ‘stop China from buying our farmland’ to serve the people of Missouri.” 

“When he was overriding Governor Nixon, Kehoe supported Chinese-owned farmland. But now that he’s running for governor, he’s against it. This type of gross behavior is entirely unacceptable and Missouri deserves better.” 

BACKGROUND

Kehoe Cast Deciding Votes To Lift The Ban On Selling Missouri Farmland To Foreign Entities At Least Four Times, Including To Override Governor Nixon’s Veto On September 11, 2013. [Missouri State Senate Journal, 2013 Veto Override, Passed 23-10, 9/11/2013; Missouri Times, 9/11/2013; Missouri State Senate Journal, Conference Committee Adoption, Passed 33-0, 5/16/2013; Missouri State Senate Journal, Third Read & Passage, Passed 32-1, 5/16/2013;  Missouri State Senate Journal, Third Read & Passage, Passed 23-7, 2/18/2013]

• American Dream PAC: “China is the Enemy” (VIDEO)
• Missouri Independent: Kehoe Campaign For Missouri Governor Riding On Bus Owned By Lobbyist For Chinese Pork Producer 
• Kansas City Star: Mo Governor’s Race Erupts Over Foreign-Owned Farmland After New Restrictions Fail To Pass
• KY3: Fact Finders: Did Eric Schmitt Vote Twice To Sell Missouri Farmland To Foreigners?

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Media Contact: 

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org