Todd Akin | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013 |
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Preceded by | Jim Talent |
Succeeded by | Ann Wagner |
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 86th district |
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In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 |
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Preceded by | John Hancock |
Succeeded by | Jane Cunningham |
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 85th district |
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In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 |
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Preceded by | Franc Flotron |
Succeeded by | Chris Liese |
Personal details | |
Born |
William Todd Akin July 5, 1947 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lulli Boe |
Children | 6 |
Residence |
Town and Country, Missouri (late 1980s–c. 2007) Wildwood, Missouri (c. 2007–present) |
Alma mater |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Covenant Theological Seminary |
Profession | Engineer, businessman |
Military service | |
Service/branch |
U.S. Army National Guard U.S. Army Reserve |
Years of service | 1972–1980 |
Unit | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
William Todd Akin (born July 5, 1947) is an American politician who is a former U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district, serving from 2001 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Born in New York City, Akin grew up in the Greater St. Louis area. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Akin served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and worked in the private sector in the computer and steel industries. In 1988, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He served in the state house until 2000, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, in which he served until 2013.
Akin's Congressional career ended after he lost a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in the 2012 election. Akin, who had won the Republican primary in a crowded field, led McCaskill in pre-election polls until he said that women who are victims of what he called "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. Akin eventually apologized for the remark but rebuffed calls to withdraw from the election. He lost to McCaskill by 54.7 percent to 39.2 percent. In a book published in July 2014, Akin said that he regretted apologizing and defended his original comments.
Akin was born in New York City, and raised in the St. Louis area. He is the son of Nancy Perry (née Bigelow) and Paul Bigelow Akin.