| State Senators |
Missouri's 34 state senators hail from a variety of diverse backgrounds including business, law, education, and agriculture. Many lawmakers in the Senate started their legislative careers in the Missouri House of Representatives. Currently, 26 senators previously served in the House.
Senator Frank Barnitz
Senate: 2005 (Special Election), 2006
House: 2000-2004 |
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Senator Jim Lembke
Senate: 2008
House: 2002-2008 |
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Senator Matt Bartle
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1998-2002
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Senator Rob Mayer
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 2000-2004 |
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Senator Joan Bray
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1992-2002 |
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Senator Ryan McKenna
Senate: 2006
House: 1998-2006 |
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Senator Victor Callahan
Senate: 2004, 2008 |
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Senator Gary Nodler
Senate: 2002, 2006 |
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Senator Norma Champion
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1993-2002 |
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Senator David Pearce
Senate: 2008
House: 2002-2008 |
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Senator Dan Clemens
Senate: 2002, 2006 |
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Senator Chuck Purgason
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 1996-2004 |
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Senator Jason Crowell
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 2000 |
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Senator Luann Ridgeway
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 1996-2002 |
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Senator Jane Cunningham
Senate: 2008
House: 2000-2008 |
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Senator Scott T. Rupp
Senate: 2006 (Special Election)
House: 2002-2006 |
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Senator Rita Heard Days
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1993 (Special Election)-2000 |
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Senator Kurt Schaefer
Senate: 2008
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Senator Tom Dempsey
Senate: 2007 (Special Election), 2008
House: 2000-2007 |
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Senator Eric Schmitt
Senate: 2008 |
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Senator Kevin Engler
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 2003-2004 |
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Senator Delbert Scott
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1985 (Special Election)-2000 |
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Senator Jack Goodman
Senate: 2005 (Special Election), 2008
House: 2002 |
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Senator Charlie Shields
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1990-2002 |
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Senator Timothy P. Green
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 1989-2002 |
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Senator Wes Shoemyer
Senate: 2006
House: 2000-2006 |
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Senator John Griesheimer
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1992-2002 |
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Senator Bill Stouffer
Senate: 2004, 2008 |
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Senator Jolie Justus
Senate: 2006
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Senator Carl Vogel
Senate: 2002, 2006
House: 1990-2002 |
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Senator Joseph Keaveny
Senate: 2009 (Special Election) |
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Senator Yvonne Wilson
Senate: 2004, 2008
House: 1999 (Special Election)-2004 |
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Senator Brad Lager
Senate: 2006
House: 2002-2006 |
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Senator Robin
Wright-Jones
Senate: 2008
House: 2002-2008 |
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The average age of those currently serving in the Missouri Senate is approximately 50. The youngest is 34 years old and the oldest senator is 80.
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| Senator Michael Kinney was the oldest to serve in the Missouri Senate. Elected in 1912 and retiring in 1968 at the age of 93, Sen. Kinney also served the longest time in the Missouri Senate. |
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| Senator Theodore McNeal |
Senator
Mary Gant |
Senator
Gwen Giles
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| Elected in 1960, Senator Theodore McNeal was Missouri's first African-American state senator. Three African-Americans (all women) currently serve in the Missouri Senate. |
Missouri's first woman state senator, Mary Gant, served from 1972 until 1980. Eight women currently serve in the Missouri Senate. |
Elected in 1977, Senator Gwen Giles was Missouri's first African-American woman state senator. |
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Senator J.O. Morrison (no photo available) and Sen. James L. Mathewson (right) were the longest-serving state Senate President Pro Tems in Missouri history. They each served for eight years.
The President Pro Tem (President Pro Tempore) is a member of the Senate who is elected by the entire body to manage procedural functions and rule on parliamentary matters. |
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At least 47 state senators have attained higher statewide office or become a U.S. senator or congressman for Missouri.
Missouri state senators earn an annual salary of about $35,915.
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| More than half of Missouri's state senators reside in one of the state's three largest metropolitan areas — Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield. |
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In 2001, the Republican party won the Missouri Senate majority for the first time since 1948. Current party split is 23 Republicans and 11 Democrats. |
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The geographic size of Missouri's 34 state senatorial districts ranges from a few square miles in some urban areas to 16 counties in some rural areas. Each state senator represents a district comprised of approximately 165,000 Missourians.
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The Missouri Senate meets each year from early January to mid-May for the regular legislative session. In the weeks during this time, the Missouri Senate typically meets from mid-afternoon Mondays to mid-afternoon Thursdays. The same holds true for the Missouri House of Representatives.
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There are currently 18 standing committees in the Missouri Senate. With rare exception, all Missouri Senate chamber proceedings, committee meetings and committee hearings are open to the public and the media.
| Administration |
Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families |
| Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources |
Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government |
| Appropriations |
Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence |
| Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment |
Progress and Development |
| Education |
Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics |
| Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections |
Small Business, Insurance and Industry |
| General Laws |
Transportation |
| Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight |
Veterans' Affairs, Pensions and Urban Affairs |
| Gubernatorial Appointments |
Ways and Means |
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| The shortest bill introduced in the Missouri Senate was one line long. One of the longest bills ever introduced was Senate Bill 52 in 1993. A 897 pages, the bill revises and makes uniform the procedure for reviewing proposed administrative rules by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the General Assembly. |
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Taxes, education, health care and crime are some of the most debated subjects in the Senate. Major legislative topics for 2010 include ethics and tax credit reform, health care coverage for autism, and the state's budget. Lawmakers considered more than 1,980 measures in 2009. |
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