Jay Nixon

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Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon
Incumbent
Assumed office 
November 3, 1992
Governor Mel Carnahan, Roger B. Wilson, Bob Holden, Matt Blunt
Preceded by William L. Webster
Born February 13, 1956 (1956-02-13) (age 52)
Flag of Missouri De Soto, Missouri
Political party Democratic
Spouse Georganne W. Nixon
Children 2
Alma mater University of Missouri
Profession Attorney
Religion United Methodist
Website Attorney General's Website Nixon's Campaign Website

Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon (born February 13, 1956) is an American politician from Missouri and a member of the Democratic Party. He has served as Missouri Attorney General since 1993, and is the only person in Missouri history to have been elected to this position for four terms. He is currently running for Governor.

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[edit] Education, early career, and personal life

Nixon is a native of De Soto, Missouri. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He is married to Georganne W. Nixon; they have two children, Jeremiah and Will. After earning his J.D., he became an attorney in private practice.

[edit] Political career

Nixon was elected to the Missouri Senate in 1986. Two years later, he made his first bid for statewide office, an unsuccessful effort to oust incumbent U.S. Senator John Danforth. Nixon was defeated by Danforth, winning 32% of the vote compared to Danforth's 68%. Nixon was first elected as Missouri's Attorney General on November 3, 1992, on a platform of fighting crime, cleaning up government corruption, and protecting consumers and the environment. Nixon followed William L. Webster as Attorney General. The 1992 race for Attorney General between Nixon and former State House Minority Leader David Steelman was remarkably nasty and memorable for biting personal attacks; however Nixon beat Steelman 51% to 45%, with an unusually high 4% of the votes going to the Libertarian candidate.

Nixon was re-elected as Attorney General by a wide margin in 1996, and in 1998 he again made an unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate, this time losing to incumbent Republican Kit Bond. In 2000 and 2004 Nixon was again re-elected as Attorney General, both times by similarly wide margins.

[edit] Accomplishments as Attorney General

One of the most popular programs Nixon has implemented is the state’s No Call program. More than 3.5 million Missourians are a part of the No Call list, which reduces unwanted telemarketing calls. Nixon also has recovered more than $1.2 million from telemarketers who violated the No Call law.

Nixon’s victory in the U.S. Supreme Court in Nixon v. Shrink reinstated Missouri’s campaign contribution limits and cleared the way nationally for campaign finance reform. In two other cases of significance, Nixon’s work in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Health Midwest cases have resulted in the formation of the state’s two largest health care foundations, which will use more than $1.5 billion to help provide health care services to underserved populations of the state. Litigation by Nixon against tobacco companies for illegally marketing cigarettes to young people resulted in the largest settlement in the history of the state.

As Attorney General, Nixon has created the Environmental Protection Division to enforce Missouri’s environmental laws. Attorneys in this division take legal action to stop the pollution of the state’s air, water and soil and to look after Missouri’s agricultural interests. Successful litigation by the division has resulted in the cleanup of polluted sites and millions of dollars awarded to the state. Nixon also has led the fight to protect the state’s interests in the management of the Missouri River as well as to preserve some of the state’s most valuable natural resources, such as Church Mountain and the waterways of the White River basin.

[edit] Personal Achievements

Nixon’s aggressive actions in the Attorney General’s Office have earned him national recognition. Barrister magazine named him one of the 20 outstanding young lawyers in the nation, and the Missouri Jaycees selected him one of Ten Outstanding Young Missourians.

Prior to becoming Attorney General, he was recognized by the Conservation Federation of Missouri for his environmental work as a state senator.

[edit] Controversies

As Attorney General, Nixon has also been heavily involved in controversial decisions regarding school desegregation, capital punishment, and abortion. Nixon has overseen the state's involvement in the court settlements that ended mandatory urban busing in St. Louis and Kansas City's public schools. His role in the desegregation cases has caused friction with some African American leaders. Nixon is also a supporter of capital punishment, which has caused him some political difficulties with opponents of the death penalty. In addition, Missouri Republicans have criticized Nixon for his campaign soliciting campaign contributions from utility companies, including Ameren during an ongoing criminal investigation by his office of the company, which were immediately returned when Nixon was made aware of the matter.[1]

[edit] Future political plans

Nixon has continued to win re-election as Attorney General by large margins during a time when other Democrats have had increasing difficulty winning elections in Missouri. This has led many political observers to speculate that Nixon may decide to challenge Governor Matt Blunt in 2008. On November 10, 2005, Nixon filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch a 2008 campaign for governor. [2]. A November 2006 poll showed Nixon with a 13 point lead over Blunt (52% to 39%) for the governor's race. [3] Though Blunt's job approval ratings have improved from the low 30's in 2006 to the low 40's in May 2007, [4] Nixon increased his lead in a July 2007 Survey USA poll to a 19 point lead (57% to 38%). [5] As of March 25, 2008, the last day to file in order to appear on the August ballot, Nixon was opposed by two Democratic and five Republican candidates, with the Republican field highlighted by State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and United States Representative Kenny Hulshof.[6]

[edit] Electoral history

2004 Race for State Attorney General
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 1,592,842 60
Republican Chris Byrd 1,000,503 37.7
2000 Race for State Attorney General
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 1,378,296 60.3
Republican Sam Jones 855,814 37.4
1998 Race for US Senator
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 690,208 43.8
Republican Christopher (Kit) Bond 830,625 52.7
1996 Race for state Attorney General
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 1,243,091 59.4
Republican Mark J. Bredemeier 767,962 36.7
  • 1988 Race for US Senator

[edit] External links


Preceded by
William L. Webster		 Missouri State Attorney General
1993–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
v • d • e
State Attorneys General in the United States
   

AS: Afa Ripley, Jr.
GU: Alicia Limtiaco
NMI: Matt Gregory
PR: Roberto Sánchez
VI: Vincent Frazer
DC: Linda Singer