Kurtis Gregory

Kurtis Gregory (born August 7, 1986) is an American politician serving as a member of the Missouri Senate since 2025. Before that he was in the Missouri House of Representatives from the 51st district.^[1] A Republican, he has served since 2021. Gregory attended the University of Missouri, where he played college football for the Tigers.

Kurtis Gregory
Member of the Missouri Senate from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2025
Preceded by	Denny Hoskins
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 51st district
In office January 9, 2021 – January 8, 2025
Preceded by	Dean Dohrman
Succeeded by	Mark Nolte
Personal details
Born	(1986-08-07) August 7, 1986 (age 39) Blackburn, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of Missouri (BS, MS)
American football career
No. 78
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	308 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:	Santa Fe (Alma, Missouri)
College:	Missouri (2005–2009)
NFL draft:	2010: undrafted
Career history
Carolina Panthers (2010)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Second-team all-Big 12 (2009)

Early life and education

Gregory is a graduate of Santa Fe R-10 High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in General Agriculture from the University of Missouri.

Career

Gregory's family farm includes corn and soybeans for a local family-owned hog operation. Gregory has served on the board of directors for Missouri Corn Growers and is a local delegate for MFA Oil. He is also a member of the Saline County Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Cattlemen’s. Gregory was awarded the Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award in 2022, and he was in the Corn Growers inaugural CornRoots Leadership Class in 2013.^{[citation needed]} Gregory also had a short stint in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Kurtis played on the Missouri Tigers football team from 2006 to 2009.^[2] He played left tackle in 2006 and then started 41 straight games at right guard from 2007 until he graduated. In 2007, his Tigers beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl and finished the season ranked 4th in the nation. In 2008, they beat Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl, and in 2009, Gregory served as team captain.^{[citation needed]}

In 2023, along with SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky, and Condoleezza Rice, Sports Illustrated named Gregory one of the 25 Most Intriguing Suits in College Football.^[3]

Missouri House of Representatives

Gregory was elected to his first two-year term in November 2020 to represent District 51, comprising Lafayette and Saline counties.

Committee assignments

• Rules - Regulatory Oversight, Chairman
• Agriculture Policy, Vice-Chairman
• Budget
• Subcommittee on Appropriations - Agriculture, Conservation, Natural Resources, and Economic Development
• Insurance Policy

Source:^[4]

Political issues

Environment

In 2024, Gregory introduced a bill to remove runoff from the state definition of contamination sources, backed by Missouri Corn Growers Association. The fiscal note estimated a loss of $4.7 million funding to Missouri Department of Natural Resources and 17 staff members.^[5]

Health insurance

In 2025, Gregory passed a bill to allow Missouri Farm Bureau carveouts to sell health insurance to employees outside the rules of the Affordable Care Act. The plans have lower rates due to medical underwriting and lack of regulation for pre-existing conditions. Opposition raised concerns about the rest of uninsured Missourians who cannot afford private health insurance, however the bill passed with additional measures to expand state medicaid coverage.^[6]

Electoral history

2020 Missouri House of Representatives District 51 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kurtis Gregory	10,803	75.26%
	Libertarian	Bill Wayne	3,551	24.74%
Total votes			14,354	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 8, 2022, District 51^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kurtis Gregory	9,464	83.35%	+8.09
	Constitution	Jenn DePee	1,890	16.65%	n/a
Total votes			11,354	100.00%

Personal life

Born in Blackburn, Missouri, Gregory currently resides in Marshall with his wife, Kella, and three children, Brook, Landon and Henley, where they attend Calvary Baptist Church.