{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1954)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2011}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Peter Kinder |image = MO Lt. Governors - 46 Peter Kinder.jpg |office = Chair of the Missouri Republican Party |term_start = February 1, 2025 |term_end = |predecessor = Nick Myers |successor = |office1 = 46th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |governor1 = Matt Blunt<br>Jay Nixon |term_start1 = January 10, 2005 |term_end1 = January 9, 2017 |predecessor1 = Joe Maxwell |successor1 = Mike Parson |office2 = President pro tempore of the Missouri Senate |term_start2 = February 5, 2001 |term_end2 = January 5, 2005 |predecessor2 = Edward Quick |successor2 = Michael R. Gibbons |state_senate3 = Missouri |district3 = 27th |term_start3 = January 6, 1993 |term_end3 = January 5, 2005 |predecessor3 = John Dennis |successor3 = Jason Crowell |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|5|12}} |birth_place = Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |education = {{ubl |Southeast Missouri State University (attended) |University of Missouri, Columbia (BA)|St. Mary's University, Texas (JD)}} }} '''Peter Dickson Kinder''' (born May 12, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 46th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/history.htm |title=History of the Office of Lieutenant Governor |publisher=State of Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903030130/http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/history.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="bio"/> He was appointed as a co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority in August 2017,<ref name=dra>{{cite press release |url=http://dra.gov/newsroom/press-release/news-peter-dickson-kinder-of-missouri-is-named-alternate-federal-co-chairma/ |title=Peter Dickson Kinder of Missouri is named DRA Alternate Federal Co-Chairman |date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |first=Andrew |last=Moreau |publisher=Delta Regional Authority }}</ref> serving in that post until he resigned in June 2018.
Kinder was first elected lieutenant governor in 2004, succeeding Joe Maxwell,<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/bio.htm |title=Biography of Peter Kinder |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903024622/http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/bio.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> and was re-elected in 2008 at the same time Democrat Jay Nixon was elected governor.<ref name="bio"/> 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.<ref name=mdn>{{cite news |url=http://www.mdn.org/2008/STORIES/KINDERG.HTM |title=Kinder: The Lone Republican |first=Rachel |last=Glaser |date=December 17, 2008 |newspaper=Missouri Digital News |access-date=May 29, 2012}}</ref> Despite the generally poor election year for Republicans, Kinder carried 109 of Missouri's 114 counties.<ref name="bio"/>
Considered the front-runner in the 2012 Republican gubernatorial primary, Kinder instead ran for re-election in 2012 and was again the only Republican to win statewide and became the first lieutenant governor to be elected to a third term in Missouri since 1940.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/kinder-wins-third-term-missouri-lt-governor |title=Kinder Wins Third Term As Missouri Lt. Governor |date=November 7, 2012 |first=Marshall |last=Griffin |newspaper=St. Louis Public Radio |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> In July 2015, Kinder announced his entry into the 2016 gubernatorial election; he was later defeated in the Republican primary by Eric Greitens.<ref name=gov2016>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/peter-kinder-will-seek-missouri-governor-s-office-in/article_10a91681-5b89-5bc0-bb07-449c1089072d.html |title=Peter Kinder will seek Missouri governor's office in 2016 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 12, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |first=Nicholas J.C. |last=Pistor}}</ref>
==Education and early career== Kinder was born and raised in Cape Girardeau, the son of pediatrician James A. Kinder Jr. and Mary Frances Hunter Kinder. He attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools and then attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri in Columbia.<ref name="bio"/> He received his J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1980.<ref name="bio"/>
In 1972, fresh out of high school, Kinder worked for former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth's re-election bid for Missouri attorney general.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media/multimedia/2008/11/02/media/Archive____/Lieutenant-Kinder.html |title=Peter Kinder |newspaper=Columbia Missourian |access-date=June 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123541/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media/multimedia/2008/11/02/media/Archive____/Lieutenant-Kinder.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/october2004/booster.html |title=Out-State Booster Is Good for Business |first=Bob |last=Schaper |work=St. Louis Commerce Magazine |date=October 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2012 |quote=His first job was as a 'gopher' for then-Missouri Attorney General John Danforth. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610210847/http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/october2004/booster.html |archive-date=June 10, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After graduating from law school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, Kinder managed Bill Emerson's successful 1980 campaign for U.S. Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://capitolwords.org/date/1996/06/27/H7100-3_eulogy-for-the-late-honorable-bill-emerson/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414090445/http://capitolwords.org/date/1996/06/27/H7100-3_eulogy-for-the-late-honorable-bill-emerson/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2013 |title=Eulogy For The Late Honorable Bill Emerson |publisher=Sunlight Foundation |date=June 27, 1996 |quote=[Emerson's] campaign manager in 1980 was Peter Kinder |access-date=June 2, 2012 }}</ref> It was the first time a Republican won in southeast Missouri for U.S. Congress since 1928.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1756658.html |title=Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder |date=August 26, 2011 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |first=Gary |last=Rust |quote=Days after earning his law degree and passing the Missouri Bar exam in February, 1980, he plunged into managing the old Tenth District congressional campaign. Republicans hadn't won a congressional race there since 1928, but that campaign upended a six-term incumbent, electing Bill Emerson.}}</ref>
After law school Kinder served as a member of the late U.S. Representative Bill Emerson's staff in Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1983.<ref name="bio"/> He returned to Missouri and worked as an attorney and real estate specialist for hotel developer Charles Drury of Drury Industries.<ref name="bio"/> In 1987 Kinder became associate publisher of the ''Southeast Missourian'' newspaper, where he wrote weekly columns and editorials.<ref name="bio"/>
Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau dedicated its Department of Pediatrics to his father two months before he died in an automobile accident on July 1, 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v9l8/Frank-Kinder-Appointed-Chairman-of-SoutheastHEALTHs-System-Board-of-Directors |title=Frank Kinder Appointed Chairman of SoutheastHEALTH's System Board of Directors |date=January 26, 2018 |newspaper=ShowMe Times |first=Dee |last=Loflin |access-date=December 23, 2023 |quote=His father James A. Kinder, MD.... In May of 2000, the Board recognized his father's service by naming Southeast's Department of Pediatrics in his honor}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/2689618.html |title=Obituary: Dr. James Kinder |date=July 5, 2000 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 23, 2023 |quote=four sons, ... Frank M. ... Peter D.}}</ref> His mother, who died on January 4, 2008, sang duets with the mother of Rush Limbaugh for 50 years; Rush Limbaugh attended the funeral.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2008/01/09/rush_remembers_mary_frances_hunter_kinder|title=Rush Remembers: Mary Frances Hunter Kinder|date=2008-01-09|access-date=2014-04-05}}</ref>
==Political career== 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 (D). Kinder was reelected to the State Senate in 1996 and 2000.<ref name="bio"/> When the Republicans gained a majority in the Missouri Senate for the first time in over 50 years, following a round of special elections in February 2001, Kinder was voted president pro tempore, the top official in the Missouri Senate.<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=363386 |title=Our Campaigns – MO State Senate President Pro Tempore Race – Feb 05, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=106553 |title=Our Campaigns – MO State Senate President Pro Tempore Race – Jan 08, 2003}}</ref> Kinder was the first Republican president pro tempore in the Missouri Senate in 53 years.<ref name="bio"/> In 2004 he sought and won election as lieutenant governor, narrowly defeating Bekki Cook (D-Cape Girardeau).
===Tour of Missouri=== As a member of the Missouri Tourism Commission, Kinder helped establish the Tour of Missouri, an international professional bicycle race, and served as its chairman.<ref name="bio"/> The week-long (6 days in 2007), 600+ mile event<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2009/01/tour-of-missouri-2009-route-announced/ |title=Tour of Missouri 2009 Route Announced |first=Randy |last=Rasa |date=January 28, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |publisher=Kansas Cyclist }}</ref> first took place in 2007, with Kinder as its chairman.<ref name="bio"/> The race was extended to seven days for 2008 and 2009.<ref name="bio"/> The race ran annually from 2007 to 2009 and was the third highest profile domestic race in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mobikefed.org/2008/06/tour-of-missouri-one-day-and-four-new-cities-added-st-joseph-will-host-the-grand-depart.php |title=Tour of Missouri, One Day and Four New Cities Added, St. Joseph Will Host the Grand Depart! |first=Wesley |last=Revels |date=June 8, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |publisher=Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation }}</ref> The Tour of Missouri was one of the top stage races outside of Europe and brought in athletes from over 20 countries.<ref name=ToMcancel>{{cite web |url=http://mobikefed.org/content/tour-missouri-set-cancel-2010 |title=Tour of Missouri set to cancel for 2010 |publisher=Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |first=Brent |last=Hugh }}</ref> During its three-year run, the race attracted an estimated 1.2 million spectators and created a direct economic impact of $80 million.<ref name=ToMcancel /> The Tour of Missouri was cancelled from 2010 by the Missouri Tourism Commission.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Laymance|first1=Reid|title=Tour of Missouri canceled for 2010|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/tour-of-missouri-canceled-for/article_c285398d-85eb-50cb-847e-85abbac8aeff.html|access-date=July 1, 2016|publisher=STLToday.com|date=May 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Associated |first1=Press|title=Tour of Missouri Canceled|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/sports/cycling/28sportsbriefs-missouri.html |access-date=July 1, 2016|work=New York Times|date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> Funding for the tour was described as a power struggle between Kinder and Governor Nixon.
===Healthcare policy=== Kinder was reelected in November 2008.<ref name=mdn/> He led a lawsuit by Missouri citizens against the federal healthcare law.<ref name="bio"/> Kinder's lawsuit sought to have the individual mandate declared unconstitutional.<ref name="bio"/> On August 4, 2010, Missouri voters passed Proposition C, rejecting the federal law's mandate to purchase health insurance, by 71%.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c847dc7c-564c-5c70-8d90-dfd25ae6de56.html |title=Prop C passes overwhelmingly |first=Tony |last=Messenger |date=August 4, 2010 |newspaper=stltoday.com |access-date=May 29, 2012}}</ref>
===Alleged relationship with exotic dancer=== In August 2011, ''The Riverfront Times'' published an article where Tammy Chapman, a former exotic dancer, and 1992 Penthouse Pet, claimed she met Kinder at a political event at a gentleman's club around 1994.<ref name=fenske>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/08/peter_kinder_penthouse_pet_scandalet.php?page=3 |newspaper=Riverfront Times |title=Penthouse Pet Dishes on Peter Kinder: 'He Was One of My Best Customers' |date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=May 2, 2012 |last=Fenske |first=Sarah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911230712/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/08/peter_kinder_penthouse_pet_scandalet.php?page=3 |archive-date=September 11, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two did not speak again until a chance encounter 18 years later during the summer of 2011. Chapman approached Kinder and asked to take a photo with him.<ref name=fenske/> The photo was then published when ''The Riverfront Times'' ran Chapman's speculative story where Chapman claimed Kinder visited her club in the early to mid 90s when he was a state senator.<ref name=fenske /><ref name=explains />
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.<ref name=explains>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_d9dc0f3d-0d37-5a22-84c0-74456e432a84.html |title=Peter Kinder explains 'romantic attraction' at a strip club |first=Jake |last=Wagman |date=August 18, 2011 |newspaper=stltoday.com |access-date=January 10, 2018 }}</ref> Chapman confirmed that the two had not spoken since the mid 90s until she saw him in 2011 and approached him to take a picture.<ref name=fenske/> 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.<ref name=explains/> Kinder stated that Chapman's story was part of a "partisan smear" to derail his campaign for governor.<ref name=explains/> Kinder further said that Democrats tried to use similar tactics against him in his 2008 campaign for lieutenant governor.<ref name=explains/>
===Hotel expenses and repayment=== In April 2011, the ''St. Louis Post Dispatch'' published a story stating that Kinder (who has a home in Cape Girardeau and an office in Jefferson City) charged the taxpayers over $35,000 for at least 329 nights at hotels in St. Louis and St. Louis County since 2006.<ref name=Wagman43>{{cite news |first=Jake |last=Wagman |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_512538ba-80de-5ea4-9d1d-9b7cd926eacb.html|title=Kinder spends time in St. Louis, courtesy of taxpayers|newspaper=Stltoday.com |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name=legit>{{cite news |url=http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/04/03/kinder-says-hotel-bills-legitimate-audited/ |title=Kinder Says Hotel Bills Legitimate, Audited |date=April 3, 2011 |first=Brian |last=Kelly |newspaper=CBS St. Louis |access-date=May 29, 2012}}</ref> Kinder stated that he always paid the government rate, typically $105/night, during his stays at the Chase Park Plaza, the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton and elsewhere.<ref name=legit/> He further stated, "There were many times I'd attempt to stay at other [lesser known] hotels, The Sheraton, The Westin, The Renaissance Grand, some Hampton Inns and they would have a rate higher than the $105 that I was staying with."<ref name=legit/> Kinder defended the stays as fulfillment of official government duties as Lt Governor; meetings, events, and state business that he routinely scheduled during his weekly drive home to Cape Girardeau from Jefferson City.<ref name=legit/> Kinder maintained that all of the overnight stays were proper, and tied to official events. He 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. 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/04/05/kinder-reimburse-state-hotel-costs/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729071332/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/04/05/kinder-reimburse-state-hotel-costs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |title=Kinder to reimburse state for hotel costs |agency=Associated Press |date=April 9, 2011 |newspaper=Columbia Missourian |access-date=June 17, 2012 }}</ref> Due to concerns over campaign finance laws, Kinder ultimately chose not to use campaign funds and instead repaid the money personally.<ref name=stlmoney>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kinder-pays-for-hotel-stays/article_7e8ef54e-7052-11e0-81bd-001a4bcf6878.html |title= Kinder pays $52,000 for hotel stays |date=April 26, 2011 |first=Jake |last=Wagman |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=January 15, 2018 }}</ref> Kinder elected to repay $52,320, the entire amount that he had been reimbursed by the state for in-state travel since 2005.<ref name=stlmoney/>
===Shooting of Michael Brown=== In reference to the period after the shooting of Michael Brown by police in August 2014, Kinder said in March 2015 that President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder had engaged in "incitement of the mob" and "encouraging disorder in Ferguson."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=Jennifer|title=Police representative says DOJ's "band of marauders" concealed truth about Ferguson shooting|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-representative-says-doj-s-band-of-marauders-concealed-truth/article_894a76c9-1ddf-5539-b6e0-f07546fa0f76.html|access-date=March 29, 2015|newspaper=Saint Louis Post-Dispatch|date=March 29, 2015}}</ref> Kinder also repeatedly accused Missouri Governor Jay Nixon of reckless disregard and lack of leadership during the Ferguson riots.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article1251885.html |title=Peter Kinder rips Jay Nixon on Ferguson crisis |newspaper=The Kansas City Star |date=August 18, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |quote=Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder roundly criticized Gov. Jay Nixon's handling of Ferguson Monday morning}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-kinder-slams-jay-nixon-for-not-sending-more-national-guard-to-ferguson-2014-11 |title=Missouri Governor's Deputy Slams Him For Not Deploying More Troops In Ferguson |newspaper=Business Insider |date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |quote=Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder (R) tore into Gov. Jay Nixon (D) on Tuesday morning for keeping National Guard troops away 'while Ferguson burned' }}</ref>
===2016 campaign=== [[File:Kinder Ferguson Parade.jpg|thumb|Kinder at a 2016 Independence Day parade]] Kinder announced in the Ferguson/Dellwood area in July 2015 that he would seek election to the Missouri governor's office in 2016.<ref name=gov2016P>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/peter-kinder-will-seek-missouri-governor-s-office-in/article_10a91681-5b89-5bc0-bb07-449c1089072d.html |title=Peter Kinder will seek Missouri governor's office in 2016 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 12, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |first=Nicholas J.C. |last=Pistor }}</ref> Following his announcement, an August 2015 Public Policy Polling poll showed that Peter Kinder led Democratic candidate Chris Koster 40% to 37%.<ref name=gov2016McD>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/republican-kinder-ahead-of-democrat-koster-in-early-missouri-governor/article_cf65ca62-a197-5fb6-9b33-74bffc272641.html | title= Republican Kinder ahead of Democrat Koster in early Missouri governor poll |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 11, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |first=Kevin |last=McDermott }}</ref> Results of a transportation union funded poll from April 2016 showed Kinder as the only Republican candidate close to Koster, yet trailing; its margin of error at 3.8% with 95% confidence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Helling|first1=Dave|title=New poll: Clinton beats Trump in Missouri; Blunt beats Kander |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article69418112.html|access-date=July 1, 2016|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|date=April 1, 2016|department=The Buzz}}</ref> In late June 2016, Kinder was trailing the three other Republican primary candidates in fundraising, having raised $1.5 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McDermott|first1=Kevin|title=With Koster sitting on millions, Missouri Democrats' four-way governor contest really isn't|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/with-koster-sitting-on-millions-missouri-democrats-four-way-governor/article_7edca074-99d0-587a-bd8b-c4ed51a51051.html|access-date=July 5, 2016|publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch|date=June 27, 2016}}</ref> The other Republican candidates, Greitens, Brunner, and Hanaway, had collected $6.2, $5.7, and $3.4 million, respectively.
A negative attack ad campaign by LG PAC during summer 2016 implied that it supported Kinder<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/you-cant-find-out-who-paid-new-attack-ads-missouri-tv-laws-keep-them-secret#stream/0 |title=You can't find out who paid for new attack ads on Missouri TV. Laws keep them secret.|last=Mannies|first=Jo|date=28 June 2016 |work=St Louis Public Radio|access-date=December 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article213985289.html|title=Dark-money groups that helped elect Eric Greitens now facing FEC complaint|last=Hancock |first=Jason|date=June 29, 2018|work=The Kansas City Star|access-date=August 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/super-pac-showdown-show-state/|title=Super PAC Showdown in the Show Me State |last=Davis |first=Wa;ker and Casey Millburg|date=August 2, 2016|website=Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington|access-date=August 20, 2019}}</ref> despite Kinder's pledge to campaign cleanly. The PAC was secretly associated with Greitens.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://themissouritimes.com/30720/new-information-links-lg-pac-greitens/|title=New information links LG PAC and Greitens |last=Curtis|first=Tim|date=June 18, 2016|work=Missouri Times}}</ref> Kinder later called it the dirtiest political trick he'd witnessed in his career.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/nick-ayers-mike-pence/|title=Swamp Thing|last=Ward|first=Vicky|date=15 March 2018|work=Highline|access-date=August 20, 2019}}</ref>
Kinder lost the Missouri Republican primary on August 2, 2016. He finished third with 20.7% of the popular vote, losing to Eric Greitens. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/%5CEnrNet/PickaRace.aspx|title=State of Missouri, Primary 2016, August 2, 2016: Unofficial Results|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806071102/http://enr.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/PickaRace.aspx|archive-date=August 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/live-map-missouri-governor-s-race-county-by-county/html_6d0e84ec-c5bd-57dc-8fe6-8143d013a6fa.html|title=County by county: How Greitens won|date=August 3, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> When his term as lieutenant governor expired in January 2017, Kinder went out of public office for the first time since his election to the state Senate in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/greitens-wins-pricey-gop-battle-for-governor/article_a9940f13-345a-5028-91b7-64eea1320f39.html |title=Greitens wins pricey GOP battle for governor |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 3, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |first=Kevin |last=McDermott }}</ref>
===Later service=== In a February 2017 interview with Cape Girardeau's KFVS-TV, Kinder said he was "considering a couple private sector opportunities" in Missouri, had been offered a consulting position, and had discussed a few potential positions to help the Trump administration.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/34503634/whats-next-for-peter-kinder |title=What's next for Peter Kinder |first1=Mary-Ann |last1=Maloney |first2=Amber |last2=Ruch |date=February 14, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2018 |at=38:45–40:38 |publisher=KFVS-TV }}</ref>
In August 2017, President Trump appointed Kinder as a co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, a federal economic development board serving over 250 counties and parishes in eight states near the Mississippi River.<ref name=dra /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/white-house-appoints-former-lt-gov-peter-kinder-to-federal/article_c271ef60-6cb6-58e0-83e3-76c096a5a2f9.html |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 10, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |first=Ashley |last=Lisenby |title=White House appoints former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to federal economic development board }}</ref> By October 2017, Kinder had directed more than $500,000 in cuts to DRA administrative expenses, which had previously taken 8.6 percent of the agency's $30 million budget.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/2455575.html |title=Kinder cuts $500,000 from Delta Regional Authority operations |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |first=Mark |last=Bliss |date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2018 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/dec/22/senate-confirms-arkansan-lead-delta-regional-autho/ |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2018 |title=Senate confirms Arkansan to lead Delta Regional Authority }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://dra.gov/newsroom/press-release/news-chris-caldwell-sworn-in-as-federal-co-chairman-of-DRA/ |title=Chris Caldwell sworn in as federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority |publisher=Delta Regional Authority |date=January 12, 2018 |access-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117012228/http://dra.gov/newsroom/press-release/news-chris-caldwell-sworn-in-as-federal-co-chairman-of-DRA/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kinder resigned from the DRA on June 1, 2018, saying he plans to work in the private sector and remain in Cape Girardeau.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kinder-quits-federal-post-on-delta-regional-authority-bows-out/article_a9d55c6d-14f5-5a88-8810-f0a5177e1f7f.html |title=Kinder quits federal post on Delta Regional Authority, bows out of politics |date=June 16, 2018 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=October 30, 2018 }}</ref> He was succeeded by Leslie Durham.<ref>{{cite web|title=President Biden Appoints Leslie Durham as Delta Regional Authority Alternate Federal Co-Chairwoman|date=November 9, 2021|access-date=May 22, 2023|publisher=Delta Regional Authority|url=https://doctors.dra.gov/newsroom/press-release/president-biden-appoints-leslie-durham-as-delta-regional-authority-alternat/}}</ref>
==Electoral history==
===For Governor=== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2016 Republican Primary Election for Governor of Missouri<ref name="Results">{{cite web|url=http://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/ |title=Missouri Gubernatorial Primary results |work=Missouri Secretary of State|date=August 2, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2016}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Eric Greitens | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 236,481 | percentage = 34.56% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = John Brunner | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 169,620 | percentage = 24.79% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Peter Kinder | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 141,629 | percentage = 20.70% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Catherine Hanaway | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 136,521 | percentage = 19.95% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 684,251 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
===As Lt. Governor=== {{Election box begin | title=2012 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder (incumbent) |votes = 1,319,747 |percentage = 49.28 |change = -0.60 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Susan Montee |votes = 1,219,457 |percentage = 45.53 |change = -1.78 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Matthew Copple |votes = 75,169 |percentage = 2.81 |change = +1.04 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Constitution Party (United States) |candidate = Cynthia L. Davis |votes = 63,594 |percentage = 2.37 |change = +1.33 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Write-in candidate |candidate = Charles Jackson |votes = 346 |percentage = 0.01 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="5" |2012 Republican Primary Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |- !Party !Candidate !Votes !% !± |- |'''Republican''' |'''Peter Kinder (incumbent)''' |'''255,064''' |'''44.19''' | |- |Republican |Brad Lager |239,735 |41.53 | |- |Republican |Mike Carter |47,515 |8.23 | |- |Republican |Charles Kullmann |34,940 |6.05 | |} {{Election box begin | title=2008 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder (incumbent) |votes = 1,403,706 |percentage = 49.88 |change = +0.93 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Sam Page |votes = 1,331,177 |percentage = 47.31 |change = -1.12 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Teddy Fleck |votes = 49,862 |percentage = 1.77 |change = -0.25 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Constitution Party (United States) |candidate = James C. Rensing |votes = 29,153 |percentage = 1.04 |change = +0.44 }} {{Election box end}} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="5" |2008 Republican Primary Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |- !Party !Candidate !Votes !% !± |- |Republican |'''Peter Kinder (incumbent)''' |'''284,064''' |'''78.3''' | |- |Republican |Paul Douglas Sims |50,870 |14.0 | |- |Republican |Arthur Hodge, Sr. |27,994 |7.7 | |} {{Election box begin | title=2004 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder |votes = 1,300,109 |percentage = 48.95 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Bekki Cook |votes = 1,286,295 |percentage = 48.43 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Ferguson |votes = 53,770 |percentage = 2.02 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Constitution Party (United States) |candidate = Bruce Hillis |votes = 15,935 |percentage = 0.60 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="5" |2004 Republican Primary Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |- !Party !Candidate !Votes !% !± |- |'''Republican''' |'''Peter Kinder''' |'''313,528''' |'''56.2''' | |- |Republican |Patricia "Pat" Secrest |244,699 |43.8 | |}
===As Missouri State Senator=== {{Election box begin | title=2000 Election for Missouri's 27th Senatorial District Seat }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder (incumbent) |votes = 49,442 |percentage = 100.00 |change = +36.27 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=1996 Election for Missouri's 27th Senatorial District Seat }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder (incumbent) |votes = 40,412 |percentage = 63.73 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Rick Althaus |votes = 22,999 |percentage = 36.27 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=1992 Election for Missouri's 27th Senatorial District Seat }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Peter Kinder |votes = 37,047 |percentage = 55.41 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Betty Hearnes |votes = 29,817 |percentage = 44.59 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Peter Kinder}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20161226092158/http://ltgov.mo.gov/ The Lieutenant Governor of Missouri] official state site {{small|(Archived)}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218065834/http://teamkinder.com/ Team Kinder] official campaign site {{small|(Archived)}} * {{C-SPAN|85333}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-mo-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Edward Quick}} {{s-ttl|title=President pro tempore of the Missouri Senate|years=2001–2005}} {{s-aft|after=Michael R. Gibbons}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Wendell Bailey}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri|years=2004, 2008, 2012}} {{s-aft|after=Mike Parson}} |- {{s-bef|before=Nick Myers}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Missouri Republican Party|years=2025–present}} {{s-inc}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Joe Maxwell}} {{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Missouri|years=2005–2017}} {{s-aft|after=Mike Parson}} {{s-end}}
{{Republican State Chairs}} {{MOLtGovernors}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinder, Peter}} Category:1954 births Category:20th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Missouri General Assembly Category:21st-century Missouri politicians Category:American male journalists Category:Lieutenant governors of Missouri Category:Living people Category:Methodists from Missouri Category:Missouri lawyers Category:People from Cape Girardeau, Missouri Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Missouri Senate Category:Republican Party Missouri state senators Category:St. Mary's University School of Law alumni Category:University of Missouri alumni