31 Facts About Peter Kinder

Peter Kinder was appointed as a co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority in August 2017, serving in that post until he resigned in June 2018.

Peter Kinder was the only Republican in Missouri to win statewide office in 2008, as all other Republicans running for each of the other statewide offices suffered defeat.

In July 2015, Peter Kinder announced his entry into the 2016 gubernatorial election; he was later defeated in the Republican primary by Eric Greitens.

Peter Kinder attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools and then attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Peter Kinder received his JD degree from St Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1980.

In 1972, fresh out of high school, Peter Kinder worked for former US Sen.

Peter Kinder returned to Missouri and worked as an attorney and real estate specialist for hotel developer Charles Drury of Drury Industries.

In 1987 Peter Kinder became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, where he wrote weekly columns and editorials.

In 1992, Kinder made his first bid for public office, winning election to a seat in the Missouri State Senate representing Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties by defeating former Missouri First Lady and gubernatorial candidate Betty C Hearnes.

Peter Kinder was reelected to the State Senate in 1996 and 2000.

Peter Kinder was the first Republican president pro tempore in the Missouri Senate in 53 years.

Peter Kinder led a lawsuit by Missouri citizens against the federal healthcare law.

Peter Kinder's lawsuit sought to have the individual mandate declared unconstitutional.

Chapman approached Peter Kinder and asked to take a photo with him.

The photo was then published when The Riverfront Times ran Chapman's speculative story where Chapman claimed Peter Kinder visited her club in the early to mid 90s when he was a state senator.

Peter Kinder responded and said he had visited the club around 1994 and met Chapman, and that he had not seen her again until the chance encounter in 2011.

Peter Kinder said that, sometime around 1994, after going to the club he decided not to go back because it was inconsistent with how he had been raised.

Peter Kinder stated that Chapman's story was part of a "partisan smear" to derail his campaign for governor.

Peter Kinder further said that Democrats tried to use similar tactics against him in his 2008 campaign for lieutenant governor.

Peter Kinder responded that he had been audited twice, both times by Democratic state auditors, and no concerns were raised about any of the hotel stays.

Peter Kinder maintained that all of the overnight stays were proper, and tied to official events.

Peter Kinder acknowledged that on occasion he attended campaign or personal events the same days he was in the area as a practice of good financial stewardship.

Peter Kinder announced that he would repay the state $35,050 for hotel costs incurred while traveling in the St Louis area, to avoid "the slightest taint or suspicion" associated with his name or public service.

Peter Kinder elected to repay $52,320, the entire amount that he had been reimbursed by the state for in-state travel since 2005.

In late June 2016, Peter Kinder was trailing the three other Republican primary candidates in fundraising, having raised $1.5 million.

Peter Kinder later called it the dirtiest political trick he'd witnessed in his career.

Peter Kinder lost the Missouri Republican primary on August 2,2016.

Peter Kinder carried six counties in Southeast Missouri, including Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry, Scott, and Stoddard, with businessman John Brunner winning eleven counties mostly in Southwest Missouri and Navy SEAL Eric Greitens winning the rest of the state.

When his term as lieutenant governor expired in January 2017, Peter Kinder went out of public office for the first time since his election to the state Senate in 1992.

Peter Kinder acted as head of the DRA until Chris Caldwell of Arkansas was confirmed and sworn in to its higher co-chairman role in January 2018.

Peter Kinder resigned from the DRA on June 1,2018, saying he plans to work in the private sector and remain in Cape Girardeau.