Ashcroft concedes Republican gubernatorial nomination

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jay Ashcroft conceded the governor's race to Mike Kehoe Tuesday night.

Ashcroft made the announcement at about 9:40 p.m. at his Springfield watch party, about an hour and twenty minutes the race officially was called. Kehoe took the stage at his own Jefferson City watch party a little after 10 p.m.

Alongside his wife, Katie, Ashcroft congratulated Kehoe in pulling off the win. He said he wishes him well moving forward, and asked fellow Missourians to join him in doing the same.

Ashcroft also expressed his gratitude in having the opportunity to run for governor.

"I'm thankful we got this close and so many people would allow me to serve as the secretary of state and would help me," Ashcroft said. "And,I thank my wife Katie especially for all the time I was gone as I traveled the state but really I just wanna say thank you."

A group of about 50 people showed up to his watch party in Springfield Tuesday night.

Ashcroft was running for the Republican nomination to become Missouri's next governor as current Gov. Mike Parson's term is ending.

Ashcroft was running against two other well-funded Republican candidates in the August primary election, including current Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and State Sen. Bill Eigel. All three candidates were endorsed by former president Donald Trump but Roe says Ashcroft was the only one who had also been endorsed by Missouri Right to Life.

Election results show Kehoe won with 39% of the votes, while Eigel had 33% and Ashcroft 23%.

Jason Roe with Ashcroft's campaign described the last five days leading up to Tuesday as the "lightest" he's ever seen the candidate during the campaign.

That is something Roe said the campaign emphasized and reminded people before polls closed Tuesday.

Roe said the campaign's last efforts heading into Tuesday night included making robocalls, sending text messages and posting to social media, and reminding people to vote for the "consistent conservative."

Ashcroft and Kehoe were tied at 26% for voter support as of July 31, according to polling site 538.

Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016 and again in 2020.

Ashcroft told ABC 17 News that he wanted to run for governor because he didn't want to run for secretary of state again because he doesn't like the idea of people staying in one position. He said he also felt there were things in the state that needed to be done.

Ashcroft said three main areas he hoped to improve if elected included putting parents in charge of education, improving public safety across the state and cutting the government.

He also said he would work to eliminate the state's income tax, would support banning any foreign purchase of Missouri farmland and said he would work to curb the effects of illegal immigration on Missouri.