Jo Ann Emerson

Jo Ann Emerson (b. September 16, 1950) is a politician from the state of Missouri, currently representing the state's 8th Congressional district (map) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Related Topics:
September 16 - 1950 - Politician - State - Missouri - U.S. House of Representatives

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Emerson was born in Bethesda, Maryland and she graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University. She married then-lobbyist and future congressman Bill Emerson in 1975. Bill was elected to Congress in 1980 and he died of cancer on June 22, 1996. Jo Ann decided to run for the House of Representatives after Bill's death, but Missouri state law prohibited her from filing to run in the Republican primary. Emerson filed to run as an Independent with the support of the Republican party. Emerson faced Democrat Emily Firebaugh and Republican Richard Kline in the election and she won the election with 50% of the vote. Emerson has served in Congress as a Republican and she has won re-election without difficulty. In 2002, Emerson rejected calls for her to run for US Senate against fellow political widow Jean Carnahan.

Related Topics:
Bethesda, Maryland - Ohio Wesleyan University - Bill Emerson - 1975 - 1980 - Cancer - June 22 - 1996 - House of Representatives - Republican - Primary - 2002 - US Senate - Jean Carnahan

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On May 24, 2005, Emerson was one of 50 Republicans to vote in favor of overturning President Bush's ban on federal funding for stem cell research. She casts her Yea vote the day after her mother-in-law passed away from Alzheimer's Disease, one of the illnesses scientists believed they can create better treatments for from stem cell researching.

Related Topics:
May 24 - 2005 - Stem cell - Alzheimer's Disease

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