KANSAS CITY, Mo.(KCTV/KFVS) - Catherine Hanaway made history Monday as she was sworn in as Missouri‘s first female attorney general, and the first woman appointed to a major statewide office under Governor Mike kehoe.Hanaway, a former state representative and speaker of the Missouri House, takes office following the departure of Andrew Bailey, who announced he is stepping down to become co-deputy director of the FBI. Her appointment marks a significant shift in leadership for the Attorney General’s office, which has seen four different individuals serve in the role since 2018.
“My priorities are pretty clear,” Hanaway stated. “I want to fight crime, and then I want to protect Missourians. Protecting Missourians includes protecting our constitutional rights.”
Hanaway, 61, emphasized her commitment to the office and its personnel. “I don’t view this as a political position so much as I view this as a job with some pretty specific duties,” she said.”And that’s why I wanted to get right down to work and focus not only on doing my job, but focus on the men and women who serve the state in the Attorney General’s office.”
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.