The 2016 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the governor of Missouri, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.
The primaries were held on August 2. Incumbent Democratic governor Jay Nixon was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office. State Attorney General Chris Koster and businessman, author and former U.S. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens won the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively. On election day, November 8, 2016, the Associated Press declared Greitens the winner of the election, and Koster conceded shortly after. This was the first gubernatorial election in Missouri since 1968 in which the winner was from a different party from the presidential candidate who won the popular vote in the concurrent election, and the first since 1940 that a Republican accomplished the feat.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee Chris Koster, Attorney General of Missouri
Eliminated in primary Eric Morrison, pastor, community leader Leonard Steinman, perennial candidate Charles Wheeler, former mayor of Kansas City and former state senator
Declined Joe Maxwell, former lieutenant governor of Missouri Claire McCaskill, U.S. senator, former state auditor of Missouri and nominee for governor in 2004 Clint Zweifel, State Treasurer of Missouri
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster EricMorrison LeonardSteinman CharlesWheeler Other UndecidedSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-DixonSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–27, 2016 400 ± 5.0% 73% 3% 1% 8% — 15%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 20–24, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 57% 7% 3% 7% — 26%
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee Eric Greitens, businessman, author and former U.S. Navy SEAL
Eliminated in primary John Brunner, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Catherine Hanaway, Missouri Attorney General appointee, former Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Peter Kinder, lieutenant governor of Missouri
Deceased Tom Schweich, State Auditor of Missouri (died of suicide on February 26, 2015)
Withdrew Randy Asbury, former state representative Bob Dixon, state senator Mike Parson, state senator (running for lieutenant governor)
Declined Tim Jones, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Bart Korman, state representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, U.S. representative Ron Richard, state senator and former speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Dave Spence, businessman and nominee for governor in 2012 Jim Talent, former U.S. senator
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnBrunner EricGreitens CatherineHanaway PeterKinder UndecidedSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–27, 2016 400 ± 5.0% 23% 21% 21% 18% 17%SurveyUSA July 20–24, 2016 773 ± 3.6% 21% 25% 18% 18% 18%OnMessage Inc.OnMessage Inc. July 17–18, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 23% 21% 25% 19% 12%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 11–12, 2016 462 ± 3.2% 16% 24% 22% 15% 23%Remington Research Group (R)/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group (R)/Missouri Scout July 7–8, 2016 1,022 ± 3.0% 22% 29% 16% 12% 21%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnBrunner CatherineHanaway PeterKinder TomSchweich DaveSpence Other UndecidedRemington Research GroupRemington Research Group February 2–3, 2015 747 3.6% 10% 13% — 16% — — 62% — 12% 24% 15% — — 48% — 16% — 19% — 18% 47%Remington Research GroupRemington Research Group January 2015 1,355 ? — 44% — 56% — — — — 39% — 37% 25% — —
Results
Third party and independent candidates Green Party Candidates Declared Don Fitz
Independent Candidates Declared Les Turilli Jr., businessman
Libertarian Party Candidates Declared Cisse W. Spragins, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and nominee for Missouri Secretary of State in 2012
Results
General election Debates Complete video of debate, September 30, 2016 - C-SPAN
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report August 12, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Inside Elections November 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 1, 2016 Governing November 4, 2016
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated ChrisKoster (D) EricGreitens (R) Other/UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 28 – November 1, 2016November 1, 201645.5%46.0%8.5%Greitens +0.5%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) EricGreitens (R) Other UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 1,368 ± 4.6% 48% 47% — 5%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31–Nov 6, 2016 1,119 ± 4.6% 49% 46% — 5%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28–Nov 3, 2016 879 ± 4.6% 49% 47% — 4%Public Policy Polling November 1–2, 2016 871 ± 3.4% 47% 44% 4% 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27 – November 2, 2016 774 ± 4.6% 50% 47% — 3%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) October 31 – November 1, 2016 1,722 ± 2.4% 45% 46% 4% 4%DFM ResearchDFM Research October 27 – November 1, 2016 508 ± 4.4% 45% 39% 10% 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26 – November 1, 2016 649 ± 4.6% 52% 46% — 2%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 28–31, 2016 405 ± 4.9% 46% 46% 2% 5%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 671 ± 4.6% 54% 44% — 2%Missouri Scout/BK Strategies (R)Missouri Scout/BK Strategies (R) October 27–28, 2016 1,698 ± 2.4% 46% 45% — 9%St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-DixonSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon October 24–26, 2016 625 ± 4.0% 46% 45% — 9%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) October 23–25, 2016 2,559 ± 1.9% 47% 45% 4% 4%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) October 9–11, 2016 2,171 ± 2.1% 48% 42% 5% 5%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 9–11, 2016 406 ± 4.9% 46% 43% 2% 8%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) October 4–5, 2016 1,588 ± 2.6% 44% 41% 5% 10%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) September 26–27, 2016 1,279 ± 3.0% 51% 35% 5%Cisse Spragins (L) 3%, Lester Turilli (I) 2% 10%The Tarrance Group (R-Greitens)The Tarrance Group (R-Greitens) September 19–22, 2016 606 ± 4.1% 45% 42% — 13%The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R)The Missouri Times/Remington Research Group (R) September 19–20, 2016 1,076 ± 3.2% 47% 37% 4%Cisse Spragins (L) 2%, Lester Turilli (I) 2% 13%The Missouri Times/Gravis MarketingThe Missouri Times/Gravis Marketing September 11–13, 2016 604 ± 4.0% 49% 41% — 8%The Missouri Times/Gravis MarketingThe Missouri Times/Gravis Marketing September 4–6, 2016 589 ± 4.0% 47% 41% 3%Cisse Spragins (L) 2%, Lester Turilli (I) 1% 9%Missouri Scout/Remington Research Group (R)Missouri Scout/Remington Research Group (R) September 1–2, 2016 1,275 ± 3.0% 46% 42% — 12%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University August 19–22, 2016 401 ± 4.9% 51% 40% 3% 6%Remington Research Group (R)Remington Research Group (R) August 5–6, 2016 1,280 ± 3.0% 45% 43% — 7%St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-DixonSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–24, 2016 625 ± 4.0% 52% 33% — 15%DFM ResearchDFM Research March 17–24, 2016 674 ± 3.8% 41% 24% 3% 31%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 22–23, 2015 731 ± 3.6% 37% 44% — 20%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 40% 34% — 26%
with John Brunner Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) JohnBrunner (R) Other UndecidedSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–24, 2016 625 ± 4.0% 46% 40% — 14%DFM Research March 17–24, 2016 674 ± 3.8% 42% 28% 2% 28%Public Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 41% 36% — 23%
with Catherine Hanaway Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) CatherineHanaway (R) Other UndecidedSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–24, 2016 625 ± 4.0% 52% 36% — 12%DFM Research March 17–24, 2016 674 ± 3.8% 43% 31% 3% 23%Public Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 40% 36% — 23%Gravius Public PollingGravius Public Polling January 7–8, 2015 ? ± 6% 29% 23% — 48%Wilson Perkins Allen (R-Hanaway)Wilson Perkins Allen (R-Hanaway) January 15–19, 2014 700 ± 3.7% 33% 35% — 32%
with Peter Kinder Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) PeterKinder (R) Other UndecidedSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/Mason-Dixon July 23–24, 2016 625 ± 4.0% 47% 46% — 7%DFM Research March 17–24, 2016 674 ± 3.8% 39% 37% 2% 22%Public Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 37% 40% — 24%
with Bob Dixon Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) BobDixon (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 39% 35% — 26%
with Bart Korman Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) BartKorman (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 39% 31% — 30%
with Tom Schweich Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) TomSchweich (R) Other UndecidedGravius Public Polling January 7–8, 2015 ? ± 6% 30% 26% — 44%
with Randy Asbury Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) RandyAsbury (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling August 7–9, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 40% 35% — 25%
with Claire McCaskill Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ClaireMcCaskill (D) CatherineHanaway (R) Other UndecidedGravius Public Polling January 7–8, 2015 ? ± 6% 19% 30% — 51%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ClaireMcCaskill (D) TomSchweich (R) Other UndecidedGravius Public Polling January 7–8, 2015 ? ± 6% 20% 34% — 46%
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Adair (largest city: Kirksville) Audrain (largest city: Mexico) Bates (largest city: Butler) Buchanan (largest city: St. Joseph) Chariton (largest city: Salisbury) Clark (largest city: Kahoka) Clay (largest city: Liberty) Clinton (largest city: Cameron) Dunklin (largest city: Kennett) Franklin (largest city: Washington) Greene (largest city: Springfield) Henry (largest city: Clinton) Hickory (largest city: Hermitage) Howard (largest city: Fayette) Iron (largest city: Ironton) Jefferson (largest city: Arnold) Johnson (largest city: Warrensburg) Knox (largest city: Edina) Lafayette (largest city: Odessa) Lewis (largest city: Canton) Linn (largest city: Brookfield) Madison (largest city: Fredericktown) Mississippi (largest city: Charleston) Monroe (largest city: Monroe City) New Madrid (largest city: New Madrid) Nodaway (largest city: Maryville) Pemiscot (largest city: Caruthersville) Pettis (largest city: Sedalia) Pike (largest city: Bowling Green) Platte (largest city: Kansas City) Ray (largest city: Richmond) Reynolds (largest city: Ellington) Saline (largest city: Marshall) Scott (largest city: Sikeston) Shannon (largest city: Winona) St. Charles (largest city: O'Fallon) St. Francois (largest city: Farmington) Ste. Genevieve (largest city: Ste. Genevieve) Washington (largest city: Potosi) Wayne (largest city: Piedmont)
By congressional district Greitens won six of eight congressional districts. District Koster Greitens Representative 78% 19%Lacy Clay 47% 51%Ann Wagner 40% 57%Blaine Luetkemeyer 39% 57%Vicky Hartzler 60% 37%Emanuel Cleaver 40% 57%Sam Graves 32% 65%Billy Long 32% 65%Jason Smith
Campaign finance investigations On April 28, 2017, the Missouri Ethics Commission fined Greitens' campaign $1,000 for violating state campaign ethics rules regarding campaign disclosure. Greitens did not contest the fine.