Republican Ben Keathley of Chesterfield is seeking a third term representing Missouri House District 101 in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Jeff Coleman (Libertarian) and Paul Lentz (Democratic).
Keathley chairs the General Laws Committee and serves as vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. He says his priorities include property tax relief, school choice and fully funding law enforcement.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Chesterfield; married to Jenny, three children
- Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, Knox College (2009); master's degree in political science and government, Syracuse University (2013); juris doctor, Syracuse University (2013)
- Profession: Lawyer at The Law Office of Ben Keathley, LLC (2022–present)
Experience and public service
Keathley graduated from Marquette High School. He served on the Chesterfield City Council representing Ward 2 from 2017 to 2021, according to BallotReady. He has served in the Missouri House since 2023 and won a second term in November 2024, according to his Missouri House biography. He describes himself as a co-founder of the Missouri Freedom Caucus.
On the issues
The following positions are based on Keathley's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses.
Taxes and property assessments: Keathley says he introduced the original Senior Property Tax Freeze bill in 2023 and that an expanded version was signed by Gov. Parson on July 9, 2024. He says he co-sponsored a bill exempting Social Security and private pensions from state income tax. He calls for extending property reassessments from every two to every five years, adopting zero-based budgeting and letting voters decide before local governments create special taxing districts, including tax increment financing and neighborhood improvement districts.
Education: Keathley says he supports expanding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts so funding follows students, reforming charter school budgets and passing a parents' bill of rights.
Public safety: Keathley says he co-sponsored legislation to return St. Louis metro police to an independent board. He calls for fully funding law enforcement and expanding the attorney general's jurisdiction to prosecute crimes he says local circuit attorneys have ignored.
Endorsements
Keathley lists the following endorsements, according to his campaign website and BallotReady:
- Americans For Prosperity
- MO Tax Relief Now
- Missouri Right to Life PAC
Election day is Nov. 3.
Candidate positions were drawn from Keathley's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses. The Chesterfield Valley Post does not endorse candidates.
