Jay Nixon

Jeremiah Wilson " Jay" Nixon ( born February 13, 1956 in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri ) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Since 12 January 2009, he is governor of Missouri. Previously, he was since 1993 the Attorney General of the State.

Political career

Nixon, who as a lawyer in his hometown was after his law studies at the University of Missouri -employed initially, was first elected in 1986 for six years in the Senate from Missouri, where he represented the Jefferson County. In 1988, he sought for the first time at an office at the federal level, as he tried to oust the incumbent U.S. Senator for Missouri, Republican John Danforth. Nixon received only 32 % of the vote and was beaten so Danforth.

1992 Nixon ran for the office of Attorney General of Missouri. Predominant campaign themes were the fight against crime, the elimination of corruption in government and consumer and environmental protection. The election campaign between him and his Republican challenger David Steelman was characterized in a remarkable way of personal attacks. Nixon was the election on 3 November 1992 with 51% to 45 % of the vote to decide for themselves and, in 1993, the office of Attorney General William L. Webster.

Nixon in 1996, 2000 and 2004, re-elected with a large majority. In between, he made another attempt in 1998 to a seat in the Senate, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Kit Bond. His started as Attorney General, in his capacity campaigns in the areas of consumer protection, public health and environmental protection Nixon made ​​known beyond the borders of the state.

After the sitting governor of Missouri, Matt Blunt, announced surprisingly on 22 January 2008 that he would not stand for a second term in office, Nixon competed alongside two other Democrats and five Republican candidates for this office. In the primaries on 5 August 2008 Nixon was nominated for the Democrats and Kenny Hulshof for Republicans. In the gubernatorial election on November 4, Nixon sat down with 58 % versus 39 %, significantly through against his opponent.

Also in the next election on November 6, 2012 Nixon has seen the majority of the vote, with almost 55 %, with the Republican candidate Dave Spener nearly 43 % reached and Jim Higgins ( Libertarian Party ) gained nearly 3% of the voters.