Missouri

Missouri entered the Union on August 10, 1821 as the 24th state. Missouri entered the Union through the Missouri Compromise, a reminder that its place at the meeting point of North, South, and West has always given it outsized political significance. Today its state government is centered in Jefferson City and operates through a governor and a bicameral General Assembly composed of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Median household income$68,545
Poverty rate12.0%
Median age39.3
GovernorMike Kehoe (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026

Government & Representation

Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.

Missouri organizes state government around an elected governor and the bicameral General Assembly, which includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. The state’s constitutional system gives the legislature broad authority over statewide lawmaking, appropriations, and oversight.