In his latest bid for public office, state Sen. Lincoln Hough is banking on his track record, in many respects, in a run for the lieutenant governor's office. A Hough win would also impact Springfield's representation in Jefferson City.
The Springfield Republican, who announced his candidacy on Feb. 22 after weeks of speculation, called Missouri's No. 2 position an “easy progression” from his role as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which deliberates and drafts the state budget.
Hough said he is confident that his legislative track record and election history will aid that progression and a “continuity of leadership” in Jefferson City. Hough commended the work of Gov. Mike Parson, who is terming out of office, and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is running for governor.
“When it really came down to it, I just got a lot of positive feedback and a lot of people reaching out saying, now's a good time for someone like you to step into this,” Hough said.
Reelected in 2022, Hough is set to term out of the Missouri Senate in 2026. If Hough is elected lieutenant governor, the governor would call a special election to fill the District 30 vacancy.
“The big, overarching, principal message for me is we need leaders who are willing to talk about and do the good things that are happening in this state and continue building on those good things, rather than constantly just tearing us all apart,” Hough told the Hauxeda. “Politics is mean spirited enough.”
Campaign to focus on ‘good things' amid GOP fissures
Hough’s time in the Senate has been marred by gridlock, as the hard-right lawmakers have repeatedly clashed with the Senate’s GOP leadership. Some members of the Freedom Caucus, the latest coalition of ultra-conservative senators in the Republican dominated legislature, are also running for statewide offices.
Hough has been critical of the faction’s “my way or the highway” approach, and has faced criticism from the group.
“What I would say about some of the tactics that have been used by a super minority of members up here is that I don't believe they are helpful, I don't believe they are worthwhile, I don't think they are long-term productive to the functionality of state government,” Hough told the Daily Citizen prior to announcing his candidacy.
Though Hough plans to focus on Missouri in his campaign, he is prepared to provide his takes on national issues that have become pillars of other statewide races, granting that securing the U.S.-Mexico border is “rightfully” a hot button issue.
“I would hope that that kind of stuff wouldn't be completely overshadowing of all the good things we've been doing here in Missouri,” Hough said.
Appropriations chairmanship pivotal to statewide recognition
Hough touted his role in securing $2.8 billion to widen Interstate 70 across the state, funding for education and workforce development and his sponsorship of a $764 million income tax cut.
Looking ahead, Hough hopes to continue investments in Missouri Area Agencies on Aging and veterans homes and hospitals as lieutenant governor, who serves as the official “Elderly Advocate” of the state, in addition to presiding over the Senate when necessary.
While he represents Senate District 30 — which encompasses Springfield — in the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly, Hough emphasized that he writes the budget for Missouri, a role he says enabled him to build relationships across the entire state.
“You get to know people from all over the state, you get to know communities from all over the state,” Hough said. “You get to know people in Hannibal, but you get to know people in Poplar Bluff and get to know people in Liberty.”
Appealing beyond Greene County
Hough said people from around Missouri have joined his campaign team, which he commended for having a “very good track record over the last several years, obviously.”
Since 2010, Hough has won six primaries and six general elections. His only loss came in the 2008 Republican primary for Greene County associate commissioner, a race Hough lost to Roseann Bentley by 2,054 votes.
Hough served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives between 2011 and 2016, before being elected Greene County associate commissioner in 2016, and state senator in 2018.
Prior to being named chairman of the Appropriations Committee in 2023, he served as vice-chair under Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby. Hough also sits on the Insurance and Banking, General Laws and Economic Development and Tax Policy committees.
Hough enters race with deep pockets
Hough is expected to be challenged in the Republican primary by Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, Franklin County Clerk Tim Baker, St. Louis-area businessman Paul Berry, attorney David Wasinger and Philip Cotrone. State Rep. Richard Brown and Anastasia Syes are vying for the Democratic nomination.
Candidate filing opened on Feb. 27 and closes on March 26.
Hough’s campaign finance committee reported more than $405,000 on hand in its January quarterly report. His joint fundraising political action committee, Lincoln PAC, has raised nearly half of its $367,000 in the previous reporting period.
Only Plocher, who is subject to an ongoing ethics investigation for allegations of misconduct, has raised more money, with nearly $1.4 million between his campaign finance committee and supporting PAC.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6.
