Christopher “Kit” Bond, a Republican former U.S. Senator from Missouri, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. Bond was known for securing billions in federal funding for the state during his four terms in the Senate and was Missouri’s youngest-ever governor. His family confirmed his death in St. Louis, but the cause was not disclosed. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Bond, calling him a “skilled statesman.”
Bond’s former deputy chief of staff, Jason Van Eaton, reflected on Bond’s death as the end of an era, saying that his legacy would be the countless people he inspired. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley called Bond a “champion for Missouri,” while former Senator Jim Talent praised Bond’s “relentless and penetrating intelligence.”
Bond was a key figure on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he secured significant federal funding for both large and small projects in Missouri. He was unapologetic about his work, once remarking, “If it’s pork, it’s an awfully healthy diet for the people of Missouri.”
Bond’s political career began early. At just 33, he became the youngest governor in Missouri’s history, and as the first Republican governor in three decades, he gained national attention. Although his first attempt at re-election ended in defeat, Bond later reclaimed the governorship and was elected to the Senate in 1986, where he became a leading figure in the Missouri Republican Party.
In 2009, Bond announced he would not seek another term in the Senate, describing public service as both a “blessing” and a “labor of love.” Former Governor Matt Blunt, who succeeded him as the state’s second-youngest governor, expressed deep sadness at Bond’s passing and spoke about the guidance and friendship Bond had provided after his own election.
Bond, known for avoiding divisive issues, focused much of his Senate career on securing benefits for Missouri. He notably voted to override President Reagan’s veto of a highway financing bill that included funding for Missouri projects. Later in his career, he became a spokesperson for congressional Republicans regarding the Iraq War, but after the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, he worked to improve relations with Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Bond’s long-lasting influence can be seen in Missouri, where a federal courthouse in Jefferson City and a life sciences center at the University of Missouri-Columbia bear his name. Additionally, bridges over the Missouri River in both Hermann and Kansas City are named after him.
Bond often spoke fondly of his wife, Linda, a fundraising consultant, and his son, Sam, from a previous marriage. He once said, “I have a wonderful wife, a magnificent son I’m very proud of, I have the opportunity to serve the state I love.”