Ashcroft announces campaign for governor

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft made his campaign for governor official Thursday.

Ashcroft had already filed paperwork to seek statewide office in 2024 and had been long-rumored to be making a run at the governorship. On Thursday, his campaign sent out emails making the official announcement and soliciting donations. Ashcroft also unveiled a video ad as part of the campaign launch.

“Missouri stands at a crossroads,” Ashcroft in a statement. “Red states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, even Indiana and Arkansas, have become examples of conservative leadership while Missouri Republicans, who control every statewide office and have supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, have failed to deliver. I’m running to change that.”

The Republican secretary of state has come under fire for his conservative policies, such as a rule to remove certain books from libraries. He also pushed for voter ID policies that were opposed by Democrats and voter-rights advocates.

Ashcroft has been secretary of state since 2017.

He will have competition in the Republican primary, with current Gov. Mike Parson term-limited out of office. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City has already announced his own run for governor.