Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today after Mike Parson was sworn in as governor of Missouri:

“Mike Parson became Sheriff of Polk County the same week I became the President of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar in 1993. We have been good friends since then. As a county official, an effective state legislator, and Lieutenant Governor, he understands our state in ways that few people do. He will be a great governor and I look forward to helping him in any way I can.”