Mike Parson
Michael Lynn Parson (born September 17, 1955) is an American politician serving as the 57th governor of Missouri since 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Parson assumed the governorship when Eric Greitens resigned, as he was lieutenant governor at the time. Parson served the remainder of Greitens's term and was elected governor in his own right in 2020.
Mike Parson | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 57th Governor of Missouri | |
| Assumed office June 1, 2018 | |
| Lieutenant | Mike Kehoe |
| Preceded by | Eric Greitens |
| 47th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – June 1, 2018 | |
| Governor | Eric Greitens |
| Preceded by | Peter Kinder |
| Succeeded by | Mike Kehoe |
| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 28th district | |
| In office January 5, 2011 – January 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Delbert Scott |
| Succeeded by | Sandy Crawford |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 133rd district | |
| In office January 5, 2005 – January 5, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Ronnie Miller |
| Succeeded by | Sue Entlicher |
| Sheriff of Polk County | |
| In office 1993–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Simmons |
| Succeeded by | Steven Bruce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Lynn Parson September 17, 1955 Wheatland, Missouri, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Teresa Parson (m. 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Missouri Governor's Mansion |
| Website | Government website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1975–1981 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
Parson served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011 and the Missouri Senate from 2011 to 2017. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2016. He assumed the governorship on June 1, 2018, upon Greitens's resignation. As governor, Parson signed a bill criminalizing abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy and opposed Medicaid expansion. He oversaw the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing a temporary stay-at-home order in April 2020 but allowing school districts to decide whether to close. Parson placed restrictions on mail-in voting during the 2020 U.S. elections, and oversaw Missouri's reaction to the George Floyd protests.