Russ Carnahan

Infobox_Congressman
name = Russ Carnahan


date of birth = birth date and age |1958|07|10
place of birth = Columbia, Missouri
occupation= attorney
alma_mater= University of Missouri
residence= St. Louis, Missouri
state = Missouri
district = 3rd
term_start = January 3, 2005
preceded = Dick Gephardt
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
religion = Methodist
spouse = Debra Carnahan

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 ushr|Missouri|3| ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/mo03_109.gifmap] ). The district includes the southern third of St. Louis and most of that city's southern and eastern suburbs.

Biography

John Russell Carnahan was born on July 10, 1958 in Columbia, Missouricite web|accessdate=
url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001060
title=Carnahan, Russ - Biographical Information
work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
publisher=U.S. House of Representatives] and raised in Rolla, Missouricite web
accessdate=2008-08-31
url=http://carnahan.house.gov/biography.shtml
title=Biography
publisher=Congressman Russ Carnahan Congressional website] , 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, which was co-founded by Gephardt.

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 43% to 57%. 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 [ cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=13&oid=3817&arc=1
title= State of Missouri Primary Election — Tuesday, August 08, 2000
work=Election Night Reporting
publisher=State of Missouri] by a scant 64 votes, and went on to win the general election by a wide margin. [cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=14&oid=4122&arc=1
title= Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, Tuesday, November 07, 2000
work=Election Night Reporting
publisher=State of Missouri] 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 and former House Democratic Leader 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.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
+ Missouri's 3rd congressional district results: 2004–2006cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |accessdate=2008-03-17 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives ] !|Year!!|Democrat!|Votes!|Pct!!|Republican!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!
-
2004|
Party shading/Democratic |nowrap|Russ Carnahan
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |146,894
Party shading/Democratic |52.9%|
Party shading/Republican |nowrap|Bill Federer
Party shading/Republican align="right" |125,422
Party shading/Republican |45.1%|
Party shading/Libertarian |nowrap|Kevin C. Babcock
Party shading/Libertarian |Libertarian
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |4,367
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1.6%|
Party shading/Independent |nowrap|William J. Renaud
Party shading/Independent |Constitution
Party shading/Independent align="right" |1,222
Party shading/Independent align="right" |0.4%
|*
-
2006|
Party shading/Democratic |nowrap|Russ Carnahan
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |145,219
Party shading/Democratic |65.6%|
Party shading/Republican |nowrap|David Bertelsen
Party shading/Republican align="right" |70,189
Party shading/Republican |31.7%|
Party shading/Libertarian |nowrap|R. Christophel
Party shading/Libertarian |Libertarian
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |4,213
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1.7%|
Party shading/Independent |nowrap|David Sladky
Party shading/Independent |Progressive
Party shading/Independent align="right" |1,827
Party shading/Independent align="right" |0.8%
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2004, Joseph L. Badaracco received 11 votes.

Congressional record

Caranhan introduced a law designed 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.

Congressional committee assignments

*Foreign Affairs Committee
**Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight (Vice Chair)
**Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia
*Science and Technology Committee
**Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
*Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
**Subcommittee on Aviation
**Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/carnahan U.S. Congressman Russ Carnahan] official site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Russ_Carnahan Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://www.russcarnahan.com/ Russ Carnahan for Congress] official campaign site
* [http://www.russcarnahan.blogspot.com/ Russ Carnahan Campaign Blog]