Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder fell short of clinching the Republican nomination in the race for governor. To a large crowd Tuesday night, Kinder delivered an impassioned speech, praising his supporters and staff for their hard work and contributions to his campaign.
“I am filled with an emotion that is very hard to express tonight with overwhelming gratitude,” Kinder said.
Although he did not come out on top in his seventh political race, Kinder said he ran an honest campaign that did not stoop to what he calls “mudslinging.”
“I owe what I think the record books will show to be a positive and honorable campaign this year,” Kinder said. “A campaign that did not engage in mudslinging.”
While his loss was a hard pill to swallow, Kinder believes “both victory and defeat are imposters” that don’t define who he is or what he stands for.
“Victory certainly is more fun, but it's also an impostor,” Kinder said. “You can get carried away in victory and you can get an outside sense of importance that should not be attached to those who hold public office.”
Before running for governor of Missouri, Kinder previously served as a Missouri Senator for 12 years. And since 2004, Kinder has carried the title of being Missouri’s 46th lieutenant governor. Currently, the title for lieutenant governor is up for grabs.
But Kinder made one thing overwhelmingly clear, Southeast Missouri was the only place he wanted to be last night.
“My team and I came to the conclusion [that] there's only one place I should be tonight,” Kinder said. “And that's here in Southeast Missouri. Win or lose I should be here.”
Kinder wrapped up his speech congratulating Republican nominee Eric Greitens on winning the primary election. As of now, Kinder hasn’t formally announced his plans for what he will do once his term in office has ended.
During Kinder’s watch party, we asked his supporters why they believed he was the right man for governor. This is what they had to say:
Angie and Anthony Keele
Cathy
Here are some of the reactions supporters gave us after hearing the news Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder would not be the Republican nominee for governor.
Doug Hunt
Josh Bill
State Rep. Kathy Swan
