Gov. Kehoe Opposed Out-of-State Dark Money, Then Accepted It
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe spent months warning voters that out-of-state special interests were corrupting the state constitution through citizen-led ballot initiatives. A political action committee supporting his own ballot measure was backed by a Delaware nonprofit that does not disclose the identities of its donors.
The contradiction emerged around two constitutional amendments Kehoe placed on the August 4, 2025 primary ballot. Amendment 4 would have made it harder for Missourians to amend their constitution through citizen-led initiatives. Amendment 5 would put Missouri on a path toward eliminating the state income tax.
“Our constitution shouldn’t be the victim of out-of-state special interests who spend millions to deceive voters and pass out-of-touch policies.”
Gov. Mike Kehoe, video posted to X, 2025
Kehoe’s framing targeted prior ballot initiatives that legalized recreational marijuana, expanded Medicaid, and restored abortion rights. All three passed with significant out-of-state funding. His argument was that citizens, not outside money, should drive constitutional change.
Amendment 5 Was Backed by Undisclosed Donors Through Delaware Nonprofit
A PAC supporting Amendment 5 received financial backing from a Delaware nonprofit that is not required to disclose its donors under federal or Missouri law. Delaware is a common incorporation state for nonprofits that want to move money into state politics without public attribution.
Opponents of Amendment 5 warned that phasing out the income tax would shift the burden onto working-class families by imposing new sales and use taxes on goods and services not currently taxed. Critics in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas also raised concerns that higher sales taxes would send consumers across state lines into Kansas and Illinois for major purchases.
The arrangement illustrates a core weakness in Missouri’s campaign finance law. A governor can condemn the exact funding mechanism he benefits from, and no disclosure rule currently forces him to name who is paying for it.
What you can do now
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Call the Missouri Governor’s office at (573) 751-3222. Ask Kehoe to publicly disclose all donors to PACs supporting his constitutional amendments. The August 2025 votes are past, but Kehoe’s office continues to advance tax policy, and the same funding networks remain active.
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Contact your Missouri state legislators. Find them at house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov. Ask them to pass a dark money disclosure bill requiring any nonprofit that funds Missouri ballot measure campaigns to disclose donors above $1,000. Twelve other states already require this.
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File a public records request with the Missouri Ethics Commission at mec.mo.gov. Request all financial disclosure filings for PACs tied to Amendment 4 and Amendment 5. The Commission is required to respond within 3 business days under Missouri’s Sunshine Law.
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Contact the Missouri Press Association at mopress.com and ask them to push for statehouse coverage of dark money disclosure reform. Local investigative pressure has historically moved Missouri ethics legislation when federal enforcement is absent.