John Russell Carnahan

John Russell "Russ" Carnahan has been a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Third Congressional District of Missouri, since 2005..

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Bio
Born July 10, 1958 in Columbia, Missouri, Carnahan is the son of the late Mel Carnahan, a former Missouri governor, and Jean Carnahan, a former U.S. senator. Russ Carnahan received a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Carnahan's political career began in 2000 when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He narrowly defeated Jeanette Mott Oxford in the Democratic primary election and went on to win the general election by a wide margin. He was re-elected to this position in 2002.

Congressional career
After narrowly winning a ten-candidate Democratic primary election that included Jeff Smith, State Senator Steve Stoll, and former State Representative Joan Barry, Carnahan defeated Republican candidate William Federer for the open seat in the U.S. House.

The Third District, part of greater St. Louis, had previously been represented by longtime Democratic congressman and former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, who announced in 2004 that he would not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated David Bertelsen to face Carnahan in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Carnahan retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
 * House Committee on Science and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommitee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
 * Subcommitee on Middle East and Central Asia

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on International Relations
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Chatter