Jay Nixon
| Jay Nixon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 55th Governor of Missouri | |
|
In office January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 |
|
| Lieutenant | Peter Kinder |
| Preceded by | Matt Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Eric Greitens |
| 40th Attorney General of Missouri | |
|
In office January 11, 1993 – January 12, 2009 |
|
| Governor |
Mel Carnahan Roger Wilson Bob Holden Matt Blunt |
| Preceded by | William Webster |
| Succeeded by | Chris Koster |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeremiah Wilson Nixon February 13, 1956 De Soto, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Georganne Nixon |
| Children | Jeremiah Will |
| Residence | University City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Education |
University of Missouri, Columbia (BA, JD) |
| Website | Official Twitter |
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon (born February 13, 1956) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 55th Governor of Missouri from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Nixon was first elected Governor in 2008 and reelected in 2012. Prior to his governorship, he served as the state's 40th Attorney General from 1993 to 2009.
Jay Nixon grew up in De Soto, Missouri, where he was born. His mother, Betty Lea (née Willson), was a teacher and president of the local school board, and his father, Jeremiah "Jerry" Nixon, served as the city's mayor. One of his paternal thrice great-grandfathers, Abraham Jonas, was an early Jewish settler in Illinois and friend of former President Abraham Lincoln (one of Nixon's paternal great-grandmothers was Jewish, though Nixon is Methodist). His great-great-grandfather Charles Henry Jonas was the brother of Democratic U.S. Senator Benjamin F. Jonas of Louisiana and another, James Oscar Nixon, was a brother of U.S. Representative John Thompson Nixon of New Jersey. Another paternal ancestor, John Inskeep, had served as Mayor of Philadelphia (from 1800—1801 and 1805—1806). He is not related to former President Richard Nixon.
In 1986, after a period of private practice in his hometown, Jay Nixon was elected to the Missouri Senate from a district in Jefferson County, serving for two terms from 1987 to 1993.
As the state's Attorney General, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Division to enforce Missouri's environmental laws. Attorneys in this division take legal action to stop the pollution of the state's air, water and soil and to look after Missouri's agricultural interests. Successful litigation by the division has resulted in the cleanup of polluted sites and millions of dollars awarded to the state. His aggressive actions in the Attorney General's Office earned him national recognition. Barrister magazine named him one of the 20 outstanding young lawyers in the nation, and the Missouri Jaycees selected him one of Ten Outstanding Young Missourians. Prior to becoming Attorney General, he was recognized by the Conservation Federation of Missouri for his environmental work as a state senator.
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