Jay Nixon

Who is Jay Nixon?

Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon is an American politician who is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, Nixon was first elected Governor in 2008. He is not related to former United States President Richard Milhous Nixon.

Born in De Soto, Missouri, Nixon is the graduate of University of Missouri School of Law. Beginning a career in private practice, Nixon was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1986. In 1988, after two years in the state senate, Nixon ran for the United States Senate; posing a challenge to incumbent Republican Senator John Danforth. Nixon lost in the general election with 31% of the vote, to Danforth's 67%. He served in the state senate until 1993, upon being elected as the Attorney General of Missouri. In 1998, Nixon again ran for the U.S. Senate; posing a challenge to incumbent Kit Bond and losing 52%-43%.

In 2008, after incumbent Republican Governor Matt Blunt announced his intention to not seek reelection, Nixon declared his candidacy for Governor of Missouri. He won in the Democratic primary, and faced Representative Kenny Hulshof in the general election.