Bailey appointed next Missouri AG
One of Frankie Harpole’s grandsons has been appointed the Attorney General of Missouri.
Grandson Andrew Bailey was appointed Missouri Attorney General by Gov. Mike Parson last week during a press conference at the state capitol.
“I’m very proud of him, and not surprised he has this honor,” Mrs. Harpole said. “I know how wonderful he is. He’s going to do a super job.”
Andrew Bailey is the son of Jessica and Ty Bailey of Gluckstadt. His Philadelphia grandparents are Frankie Harpole and the late Hugh “Boots” Harpole.
“Andrew’s love of the law started when he was a child through my father, Boots,” Jessica Bailey said. “He would take Andrew and his brother Simon to the courthouse while he was an investigator for the District Attorney in Neshoba County, and that’s where Andrew learned to love the legal system.”
Bailey attended high school in Kansas City, Mo., along with his brother, where they were both very active in the debate circuit on the weekends.
Andrew Bailey, 41, has been serving as General Counsel to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and is taking the place of former AG Eric Schmidt, who successfully ran for an open U.S. Senate seat in the 2022 midterm elections.
Bailey will be sworn in in January and fill Schmidt’s position for the next two years before running for election in 2024.
Bailey joined the governor’s office as Deputy General Counsel in 2019 and has served as General Counsel since 2021. He has also served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.
“The historical significance of appointing an Attorney General for the second time of our administration has not been lost on me,” Parson said. “Such a monumental, history-defining decision can be made so easily with the right candidate, and Andrew Bailey is the right candidate to lead Missourians as our next Attorney General.”
“While it’s bittersweet to lose Andrew on our team, it gives us peace of mind to know his talents and passion for the rule of law and public service will be so well utilized as Attorney General,” Parson said. “Andrew understands the need to do better, to be better, and with Andrew, better will not only be possible but achieved.”
Bailey thanked the governor and his wife, Jessica, and their fostered/adopted children, Adia, Easton and Landon, for their love and support.
“God has truly blessed me and my family with the opportunities He has granted us,” Bailey said. “I’m excited to get to work on behalf of Missourians to uphold the rule of law, protect freedoms, and ensure our kids and grandkids inherit a better world. My entire career has been defined by public service, and now I’m ready to continue that service as Attorney General, where I will work tirelessly to earn your trust and never stop fighting on your behalf.”
Bailey earned a BA in English from the University of Missouri Columbia, and upon graduation, he joined the United States Army and became an officer.
He was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and served two tours in Iraq. He was awarded two Army Achievement medals, an Army Commendation Medal, a Combat Action Badge, and two Bronze Star medals for his service.
He returned from deployment in 2009 and enrolled at the Missouri School of Law, where he graduated and began his legal career. Since then he has handled countless cases in both state and federal courts throughout his career, and it was in the courtroom where he heard many stories of Missouri children in need, which motivated him and his wife to become foster parents.
Bailey and his wife fostered and adopted three children. They recently had a fourth child, Campbell, this past year.
“Andrew lives by and embodies the ideals of faith, family, and freedom,” Parson said. “He’ll fight for our kids like they’re his own, and he’ll ensure the American Dream lives on for the next generations. We could not be more excited for him, his family, and the State of Missouri.”
Jessica Bailey said she is not surprised by her son’s achievements.
“Andrew has always been, even as a small child, a leader and he certainly has the skills, experience and background to do very well with this position,” she said. “As a mother I see he has a heart for people. He felt as a prosecutor he had to do something about children being mistreated, and he was able to get legislation passed to make it easier for people to adopt earlier and have an easier time with the foster care process.”