Russ Carnahan

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Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Dick Gephardt

Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 59th district
In office
January 2001 – January 2005
Succeeded by Jeanette Mott Oxford

Born July 10, 1958 (1958-07-10) (age 50)
Columbia, Missouri
Political party Democratic
Spouse Debra Carnahan
Residence St. Louis, Missouri
Alma mater University of Missouri - Columbia
Occupation attorney
Religion Methodist

John Russell "Russ" Carnahan (born July 10, 1958) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic party from the state of Missouri. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent Missouri's 3rd congressional district (map). The district includes the southern third of St. Louis and most of that city's southern suburbs.

Contents

[edit] Biography

John Russell Carnahan was born on July 10, 1958 in Columbia, Missouri[1] and raised in Rolla, Missouri[2], Carnahan is the son of the late Mel Carnahan, a former Missouri governor and posthumously a U.S. Senator-elect, and Jean Carnahan, a former U.S. Senator. He is a recipient of the Eagle Scout award. His sister, Robin Carnahan was elected as Missouri Secretary of State in 2004; brother Randy was killed in the same plane crash that claimed his father. Russ Carnahan received a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia. He worked as a private practice attorney prior to entering politics.

Carnahan is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

[edit] Election history

Carnahan's first run for political office was in 1990, when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in the 8th district against then-Rep. Bill Emerson, losing by a margin of 57% to 43%. He then moved to St. Louis, where in 2000 he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He narrowly defeated political activist Jeanette Mott Oxford in the Democratic primary election[3]by a scant 64 votes, but went on to win the general election by a wide margin.[4] He was re-elected to the Missouri House in 2002.

In 2004, Carnahan ran for the 3rd district seat in the U.S. House, which was being vacated by retiring Representative, former House Democratic Leader and co-founder of the New Democratic Coalition Dick Gephardt. Carnahan narrowly won a ten-candidate Democratic primary election in 2004 with 22.9% of the vote, finishing less than 1,800 votes ahead of his nearest rival, political activist Jeff Smith, who garnered 21.3%. In the general election Carnahan faced Republican candidate William J. Federer, an author and Religious Right activist, who had previously run against Gephardt on several occasions. The election was somewhat closer than expected. However, St. Louis' strong Democratic tilt (a Republican has not represented this district or its predecessors since 1949) helped Carnahan win with 53 percent of the vote. The district reverted to form in 2006, and Carnahan was easily reelected with 65% of the vote.

Missouri's 3rd congressional district results: 2004–2006[5]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2004 Russ Carnahan 146,894 52.9% Bill Federer 125,422 45.1% Kevin C. Babcock Libertarian 4,367 1.6% William J. Renaud Constitution 1,222 0.4% *
2006 Russ Carnahan 145,219 65.6% David Bertelsen 70,189 31.7% R. Christophel Libertarian 4,213 1.7% David Sladky Progressive 1,827 0.8%
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2004, Joseph L. Badaracco received 11 votes.

[edit] Congressional record

Carnahan introduced a law designed to force oil companies to pay their fair share of taxes in 2006 and co-authored a bill that would combat methamphetamine use through education research and proactive prevention.

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Carnahan, Russ - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. House of Representatives. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001060. 
  2. ^ "Biography". Congressman Russ Carnahan Congressional website. http://carnahan.house.gov/biography.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-31. 
  3. ^ "State of Missouri Primary Election — Tuesday, August 08, 2000". Election Night Reporting. State of Missouri. http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=13&oid=3817&arc=1. 
  4. ^ "Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, Tuesday, November 07, 2000". Election Night Reporting. State of Missouri. http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=14&oid=4122&arc=1. 
  5. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Dick Gephardt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 3rd congressional district

2005–Present
Incumbent
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