Jay Nixon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Nixon
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| 55th Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 |
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| Lieutenant | Peter Kinder |
| Preceded by | Matt Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Eric Greitens |
| 40th Attorney General of Missouri | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 12, 2009 |
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| Governor | Mel Carnahan Roger Wilson Bob Holden Matt Blunt |
| Preceded by | William L. Webster |
| Succeeded by | Chris Koster |
| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 22nd district |
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| In office January 7, 1987 – January 11, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Gannon |
| Succeeded by | William McKenna |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeremiah Wilson Nixon
February 13, 1956 De Soto, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Georganne Wheeler |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Missouri (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon (born February 13, 1956) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 55th governor of Missouri from 2009 to 2017. Before becoming governor, he was the 40th Missouri Attorney General from 1993 to 2009. He also served as a Missouri state senator from 1987 to 1993. Jay Nixon is a member of the Democratic Party.
Nixon was born and grew up in De Soto, Missouri. He went to the University of Missouri and earned a degree in political science. He started his political career at age 30 when he was elected to the Missouri Senate. After trying to become a U.S. Senator, he was elected Missouri Attorney General in 1992. He was reelected three more times, serving for a total of four terms. This was the longest time anyone had served as Attorney General in Missouri's history.
In 2008, Nixon was elected governor by a large number of votes. He was reelected in 2012. He could not run for governor again in 2016 because of term limits. He was followed by Republican Eric Greitens. As of 2024, he is the most recent Democrat to be the governor of Missouri. After leaving public office, he joined a law firm in St. Louis.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jay Nixon was born and grew up in De Soto, Missouri. His mother, Betty Lea Nixon, was a teacher and led the local school board. His father, Jeremiah "Jerry" Nixon, was the mayor of their city.
Nixon studied at the University of Missouri and graduated with honors in political science. He worked in construction jobs before getting his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.
Serving in the State Legislature
In 1986, Jay Nixon decided to run for the Missouri Senate. This is a part of the state's law-making body. He won the election for a district in Jefferson County. When the new Senate started on January 7, 1987, Nixon was the only new member. Soon after, he suggested a law to help schools buy satellite dishes for better broadcasts. He was recognized as an outstanding lawmaker that year.
In 1987, Nixon thought about running for the United States Senate. This is a national position. He announced his plan in October. He lost the election to the Republican leader, John Danforth.
In 1989, Nixon supported a law that would give pregnant workers time off from their jobs. The Senate did not approve it at first. He tried again in 1990, and the Senate approved it, but the governor at the time, John Ashcroft, did not sign it into law. Nixon was reelected as a state senator in 1990.
Becoming Missouri's Attorney General
In September 1991, Nixon announced he would run for state Attorney General. This person is the chief legal officer for the state. Nixon won the election against Republican David Steelman.
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As Attorney General, Nixon created a special team called the Environmental Protection Division. This team works to stop pollution of Missouri's air, water, and soil. Their work helped clean up polluted areas and brought millions of dollars to the state. His strong actions in this role earned him national attention. He was named one of the top young lawyers in the country by a magazine.
In 1998, Nixon tried again to become a U.S. Senator, but he lost to Kit Bond. During his time as Attorney General, Nixon was involved in court agreements that ended mandatory school busing in St. Louis and Kansas City. He thought these programs were too expensive for the state.
In 2003, Nixon filed lawsuits against companies that were making unwanted phone calls to Missouri residents. This was against the state's "no call law." One company, Xentel, was ordered to pay money to the state.
In 2009, a report from the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) mentioned groups of people who might be linked to domestic militia groups. After some public concern, Nixon and the MIAC apologized for the report and removed it from state websites.
Governor of Missouri
Running for Governor in 2008
In 2005, Jay Nixon started planning his campaign to become governor. In 2008, the current governor, Matt Blunt, decided not to run again. Nixon won the Democratic nomination. Pre-election polls showed Nixon leading by a lot. On November 4, Nixon defeated Republican Kenny Hulshof by a large margin.
First Term (2009–2013)
Nixon became governor on January 12, 2009. He took office during a tough economic time called the Great Recession. He focused on creating jobs, improving education, and making the state's economy stronger, all while keeping the state budget balanced. He worked to keep funding for public universities steady and helped freeze tuition fees for students.
In July 2009, Nixon visited U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait. He also traveled to Germany before returning to Missouri.
Nixon was known for cutting state spending to balance the budget. Some people criticized his budget cuts, but the Missouri Supreme Court supported his authority in 2013. However, later, voters approved a change that gave lawmakers more power to overrule a governor's budget decisions.
Nixon received praise for how he handled the EF-5 tornado that hit Joplin on May 22, 2011. He was called a "commander of disasters" for his quick response.
To help the state's car manufacturing industry, Nixon created a special task force. In 2011, he helped pass a law to encourage manufacturing jobs. Because of these efforts, Ford and General Motors announced big investments in their Missouri plants, creating many new jobs.
Second Term (2013–2017)
Nixon was reelected in 2012, promising to be responsible with money and work with both political parties. He started his second term on January 14, 2013. In his speech, he talked about Missouri's history and encouraged people to work together for the good of the state.
A big challenge during Nixon's second term was the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in August 2014. This event led to protests and violence in the city. Nixon declared a state of emergency and called in the Missouri National Guard to help keep peace. His approval ratings dropped during this time.
In 2015, after the death of the State Auditor, Nixon appointed Nicole Galloway to fill the position. She later won a full term in 2018.
In 2016, the director of the Missouri State Public Defender System asked Nixon to act as a public defender in a criminal case. This was a way to highlight the lack of funding for legal help for people who cannot afford it. The director said Nixon was in a unique position to fix the problem.
From November 2015 to November 2016, Missouri added many jobs, more than its neighboring states.
After Being Governor
Jay Nixon left office on January 9, 2017. He was the first Missouri governor in a long time to complete two full terms. After he left office, Jay Nixon State Park was opened in eastern Missouri.
In 2019, Nixon was a visiting fellow at Harvard University. He also represented televangelist Jim Bakker in a lawsuit related to claims about a coronavirus cure.
Nixon was considered a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate election in 2022, but he decided not to run. In 2023, he joined an organization called No Labels to help them get on ballots in all 50 states.
Personal Life
After leaving office, Jay Nixon moved to University City, Missouri with his wife, Georganne. They have two adult sons, Jeremiah and Will. Nixon is a Methodist.
Images for kids
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Jay Nixon's signature.
See also
In Spanish: Jay Nixon para niños
