Russ Carnahan

John Russell Carnahan (born July 10, 1958) is an American politician from the state of Missouri.

John Russell Carnahan was born in 1958 in Columbia, Missouri, and raised in Rolla.

He is the son of the late Mel Carnahan, the former Governor of Missouri and posthumous U.S. Senator-elect, and Jean Carnahan (née Carpenter), who was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat to which her husband was posthumously elected.

His grandfather, A. S. J. Carnahan, served in Congress for seven terms, and also as U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone.

Russ Carnahan is a recipient of the Eagle Scout Award.

His sister Robin Carnahan was elected to the office of secretary state in 2004 and again in 2008 in which she received the most votes cast for a single candidate in the state's history.

His brother Randy was killed in the same plane crash that took the life of his father.

Russ Carnahan received a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri.

He worked as a private practice attorney prior to entering politics.

A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. representative for MO's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2013.

At the time, the district included the southern third of the city of St. Louis (known as South City) and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County.

Some cities located in the district include: Webster Groves, Mehlville, Affton, and Oakville, and the southern suburbs of Arnold, Herculaneum, Pevely, Crystal City, Barnhart, Imperial, and Festus, as well as Ste. Genevieve in the neighboring Ste.

Genevieve County.

Crime: In the 2008 Missouri Congressional Political Courage Test, Carnahan supported the use of the death penalty in federal crimes.

He also supported strict penalties for internet crime, such as hacking identity theft.

However, he also supported programs to provide inmates with job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.

In addition, Carnahan supported programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

He supported the requirement that crimes based on sexual orientation should be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.

Economy & Jobs: In 2009, Carnahan voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Missouri Republicans criticized Carnahan's vote, noting that passage of the bill resulted in $107 million in federal funding for Lost Creek Wind Farm, an alternative energy facility owned by Russ Carnahan's brother, Tom Carnahan.

Environment & Energy: Carnahan supported the regulation and enforcements of both the Clean Air and Clean Water Act.

He supported further development and use of alternative fuels as well as the development of traditional energy resources, such as coal and natural gas.

Carnahan also wanted to strengthen emission controls on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and SUVs.

He has supported tax credits to consumers and manufacturers of hybrid vehicles.

In addition, he supported international voluntary and mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.

Carnahan has supported the interests of groups trying to protect the environment, such as the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

Russ Carnahan voted in favor of H.R. 2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 also known as the Cap and Trade bill or Waxman/Markey act.

Health: Recently, Carnahan voted against a Health Care and Insurance Law amendment that would prohibit federal funding of abortion services.

He supports the interests of pro-choice groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Carnahan wants tax credits to be offered to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance.

He also supports the importation of prescription drugs to the U.S., and wants to expand prescription drug coverage under Medicare so that more people can be covered.

Carnahan would also like child healthcare programs to be expanded so that more children can be covered.

Carnahan voted in favor of H.R. 3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act in 2009,

Dramatic losses in population in St. Louis in the 2010 Census contributed to Missouri losing a Congressional seat effective 2013.

In the re-mapping of the state's congressional districts, Carnahan's district was dismantled.

The bulk of the district, including Carnahan's home, was drawn into Missouri's 1st congressional district.

Foreign Policy In January 2010, Carnahan partnered with Republican Congressman Joseph Cao of Louisiana to create the American Engagement Caucus, its stated purpose being the promotion of a multilateral foreign policy in which the United States works closely with other countries to address global problems.

As a joint editorial between the two congressmen stated, "We live in an age of interdependence. America's security, economic, environmental, and moral interests are inextricably linked with those of the international community. Simply put, it is in our vital national interest to support international engagement.".

The move placed Carnahan and William Lacy Clay Jr. in the same district; Carnahan lost the primary to Clay for the seat on August 7, 2012.

As of 2023, he is the Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party.