Born and raised in Cape Girardeau, Peter D. Kinder attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools and continued his education at Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri- Columbia. He graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar.
From 1981 to 1983, Kinder was a member of U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson’s Washington, D.C. staff and then worked as an attorney and real estate representative for Drury Industries. In 1987, he became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper in Cape Girardeau.
Prior to his election as Lieutenant Governor, Kinder served for 12 years in the Missouri Senate, representing the counties of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry and Scott.
In 2001, Kinder led the GOP to their first Senate majority since 1948 and was elected Senate President Pro Tem, the Senate’s top elected official. He was the first Republican to hold that position in 53 years.
Kinder was elected Missouri’s 46th lieutenant governor on November 2, 2004. He was the only Republican survivor on the statewide ticket in 2008. Although it was a dismal Republican year, he was still able to carry 102 of 114 counties in Missouri.
In 2012, Kinder again fought through two elections and again was the only Statewide Republican to be elected, carrying 110 of 114 counties and 28 of 29 counties in the 8th District.
Kinder is a member of the United Methodist Church, Beta Theta Pi social fraternity, Missouri Farm Bureau, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club. He is active in many civic causes, including extensive work with United Way, the Nature Conservancy, the American Cancer Society and Boy Scouts of America.
Kinder has been honored by groups including: Missouri Right to Life Defender of Life; National Rifle Association; University of Missouri, Presidential Citation Award; National Scouting Association Distinguished Eagle Scout Award; March of Dimes; Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award; Support Your Troops Committee Award; Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture; Missouri Restaurant Association Distinguished Service; Associated Industries of Missouri Voice of Missouri Business; Southeast Missouri Alliance Disability Independence; National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business; Missouri State Medical Association; and Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Spirit of Enterprise.
