Ann Wagner
Wagner in 2018
Wagner in 2018
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byTodd Akin
United States Ambassador to Luxembourg
In office
August 16, 2005 – June 27, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byPeter Terpeluk
Succeeded byCynthia Stroum
Chair of the Missouri Republican Party
In office
1999–2005
Preceded byWoody Cozad[1]
Succeeded byDoug Russell[2]
Personal details
Born
Ann Louise Trousdale

(1962-09-13) September 13, 1962
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Raymond Wagner
​
(m. 1987)​
Children3
EducationUniversity of Missouri (BS)
WebsiteHouse website

Ann Louise Wagner (née Trousdale, September 13, 1962) is an American politician and former diplomat serving as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she was the United States ambassador to Luxembourg from 2005 to 2009.

Her district, based in St. Louis County, is heavily suburban and the state's wealthiest. It includes most of St. Louis's southern and western suburbs as well as some of the northern exurbs in St. Charles County and the northern part of Jefferson County. Before her diplomatic post, Wagner chaired the Missouri Republican Party from 1999 until 2005; she co-chaired the Republican National Committee for four years, starting in 2001. She is generally regarded as being part of the moderate bloc of her party.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Wagner was born and raised in St. Louis. Her parents owned two carpet stores where she worked growing up.[6] She attended Cor Jesu Academy, a private Catholic all-girls school in South County, and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1984 with a BSBA from the business school with an emphasis in logistics.[7][8] After college, she worked in the private sector and held management positions at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City and Ralston Purina in St. Louis.[9]

Career

1990s

Wagner entered Republican politics in 1990, heading the GOP's efforts during the decennial redistricting of Missouri. In 1992, she was state director of President George H. W. Bush's unsuccessful reelection campaign.[10]

2000s

Missouri GOP

Wagner was elected to her first term of office as chair of the Missouri Republican Party in 1999, becoming the first woman to occupy the position.[11] Her most notable achievement in that role came during her second two-year term, when she oversaw the party's taking majority control of both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly, winning the Senate in a 2001 special election and the House in the 2002 general election, the first time this had been seen in over 40 years. During her third term, the party held its majorities in both chambers and also took the governor's seat for the first time in 12 years with Matt Blunt's election in 2004, giving the GOP complete control of state government for the first time since 1921. Her six years as chairperson witnessed George W. Bush carry Missouri in both of his presidential bids and also saw the Republican Party win a majority of the state's congressional delegation.

Wagner's official portrait as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg in 2005

National campaigning

In 2001, Wagner took office as a co-chair of the Republican National Committee and helped preside over the 2004 Republican National Convention. In this position, she took a strong role in directing the development of the Winning Women initiative, whose aim was to improve the GOP's image with women and demonstrate the relevance of its platform to them. Her work with the committee took her to 48 states. In January 2005, she left her role as co-chair after one term.

In 2004, Wagner was a fundraising "ranger" for President George W. Bush.[6]

U.S. ambassadorship

On February 20, 2005, Wagner was elected to a fourth term as chair of the Missouri Republican Party. On May 16, Bush nominated her as United States ambassador to Luxembourg. On July 16, 2005, she was confirmed in the post by a voice vote in the United States Senate, after which Senator Jim Talent said she was "a considerate woman, whose character and abilities uniquely qualify her to represent our nation."[12]

On August 1, she was sworn in as Ambassador by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the Harry S Truman Building.[13]

2010s

Wagner in 2010

2010 U.S. Senate election

After returning from Luxembourg, Wagner served as chair of Roy Blunt's 2010 U.S. Senate campaign. Blunt defeated Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, 54%–41%.

2011 RNC chair election

On November 29, 2010, Wagner sent a video message to the committee members of the Republican National Committee announcing she was running for RNC chair.[14] The election was held in January 2011,[15] and Wagner conceded after the sixth round after receiving 17 votes.[16] Wisconsin Republican Party chair Reince Priebus won.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2012

Wagner during the 113th Congress

Wagner announced her candidacy for Missouri's 2nd congressional district after incumbent Representative Todd Akin announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Wagner was endorsed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and the anti-abortion women's group the Susan B. Anthony List. She won the four-way Republican primary—the de facto election given the lack of support for Democratic nominee Glenn Koenen[17]—with 66% of the vote.[18] In November, she won the general election by 23 points.[19]

Wagner is the third Republican woman elected to Congress from Missouri (after Jo Ann Emerson and Vicky Hartzler), and the second who was not elected as a stand-in for her husband (after Hartzler; Emerson was originally elected to finish out the term of her late husband, Bill Emerson).

2012 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Wagner 236,971 60.08
Democratic Glenn Koenen 146,272 37.08
Libertarian Bill Slantz 9,193 2.33
Constitution Anatol Zorikova 2,012 0.51
Total votes 394,448 100.00

2014

In her first bid for reelection, Wagner ran unopposed in the Republican primary and easily won the general election, increasing her margin of victory from 2012.[20]

2014 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Wagner 148,191 64.12
Democratic Arthur Lieber 75,384 32.62
Libertarian Bill Slantz 7,542 3.26
Total votes 231,117 100.00

2016

2016 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Wagner 241,954 58.54
Democratic Bill Otto 155,689 37.67
Libertarian Jim Higgins 11,758 2.84
Green David Justus Arnold 3,895 0.94
Total votes 413,296 100.00

2018

Wagner had a closer-than-expected race against Democratic attorney Cort VanOstran, but prevailed with 51.2% of the vote to VanOstran's 47.2%. It was only the third time since 1986 that a Democrat had managed even 40% of the vote in this district.[22]

2018 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Wagner 192,477 51.2
Democratic Cort VanOstran 177,611 47.2
Libertarian Tony Kirk 4,229 1.1
Green David Arnold 1,740 0.5
Independent Ken Newhouse (write-in) 9 0.0
Total votes 376,066 100.00

2020

Wagner was considered potentially vulnerable due to the surprisingly close margin in 2018 and President Donald Trump's unpopularity in suburban areas. State senator Jill Schupp, whose state senate district covers much of the St. Louis County portion of the congressional district, won the Democratic nomination unopposed.

By the fall of 2020, The Cook Political Report listed the race as a toss-up.[23] Wagner defeated Schupp by just over six percentage points. At the same time, Trump carried the 2nd by only 115 votes, a marked turnabout from his 11-point win in 2016.[24] It was the closest that a Democratic presidential nominee had come to carrying the district since it lost its share of St. Louis after the 1980 census.

2020 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Wagner 233,157 51.9
Democratic Jill Schupp 204,540 45.5
Libertarian Martin Schulte 11,647 2.6
Write-in 4 0.0
Total votes 449,348 100.00

2022

Wagner was reelected in 2022, defeating Trish Gunby.[25]

Tenure

Wagner in 2014

In 2016, Wagner made headlines by withdrawing her endorsement for the GOP nominee for president, Donald Trump.[26] Wagner's position on Trump changed several times since her initial endorsement in September; in October she withdrew her support and called on Trump to step down, but in November walked that statement back and voiced her intention to vote for Trump.[27][28][29]

On May 4, 2017, Wagner voted for the American Health Care Act, which would have repealed Obamacare.[30][31]

In December 2020, Wagner was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court attacking election procedures in four states, all won by Joe Biden, in the 2020 United States presidential election. Wagner did not join other congressional Republicans in objecting to the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.[32]

On July 19, 2022, Wagner and 46 other Republican Representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[33]

Legislation sponsored

The following is an incomplete list of legislation Wagner has sponsored:

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[38]

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Ann is married to Ray Wagner Jr., a former director of the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Illinois Department of Revenue. They live in Ballwin, a western suburb of St. Louis. They have three children.[41]

Ann's mother-in-law was Loretto Wagner, a noted anti-abortion activist.[42]

Wagner is Roman Catholic.[43]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "17 Jan 1999, Page 27 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch at". Newspapers.com. 1999-01-17. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  2. ↑ "Eckelkamp Named Vice Chairman Of Missouri Republican Party". The Missourian. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Gerber, Cameron (2021-04-26). "Wagner on possible US Senate run: 'We're taking a look at it'". The Missouri Times. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  4. ↑ "New book details tense call between Trump and moderate Republicans ahead of first impeachment". NBC News. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  5. ↑ "Ann Wagner". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  6. 1 2 Wagman, Jake (January 11, 2011). "Ann Wagner makes strong bid to head GOP". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner". wnep.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Ryan, Monica (29 September 2020). "Your ballot: Ann Wagner in the Missouri District 2 US congressional race". FOX 2. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Desloge, Rick (April 3, 2005). "Ann Wagner has the winning touch". www.bizjournals.com. St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Wagman, Jake (April 26, 2011). "Ann Wagner moves toward Congressional run". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Beard, Sterling (17 June 2013). "Rep. Wagner seeks to strengthen female voice in Republican Party". TheHill. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Wagner confirmed as ambassador to Luxembourg". www.bizjournals.com. St. Louis Business Journal. June 17, 2005. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Wagner confirmed as ambassador to Luxembourg". St. Louis Business Journal. June 17, 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  14. ↑ Blake, Aaron (November 29, 2010). "Wagner launches bid for RNC chair". Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Maria Cino Officially Enters Race For RNC Chair - ABC News". Blogs.abcnews.com. 2010-12-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  16. ↑ "Wagner out of the race to lead RNC | Elections live". Stltoday.com. 2011-01-14. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  17. ↑ "In 2nd District, GOP has a 100-fold spending advantage | Metro | stltoday.com". www.stltoday.com. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  18. ↑ "MO District 2 - R Primary Race - Aug 07, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  19. ↑ "MO District 2 Race - Nov 06, 2012". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  20. ↑ "Missouri's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Secretary of State: Elections".
  22. ↑ "Missouri Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  23. ↑ Wasserman, David (October 8, 2020). "October House Overview: Democrats Poised to Expand Majority". Cook Political Report.
  24. ↑ Singer, Jeff (February 12, 2021). "This suburban St. Louis district hosted one of the closest presidential contests we've ever seen". Daily Kos.
  25. ↑ Schmid, Eric (November 8, 2022). "Ann Wagner wins reelection to U.S. Congress — along with Bush, Luetkemeyer, Graves, Smith". NPR.
  26. ↑ Glueck, Katie (October 8, 2016). "Republican women are done with Trump". Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Entire Missouri Republican Congressional Delegation and All Republican Statewide Nominees Officially Endorse Donald Trump for President". SEMO Times. September 28, 2016. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  28. ↑ Raasch, Chuck (October 8, 2016). "Reps. Ann Wagner, Rodney Davis withdraw support, urge Trump to pull out of race". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  29. ↑ Raasch, Chuck (November 3, 2016). "Ann Wagner, who last month withdrew Trump endorsement, now says she will vote for GOP nominee". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  30. ↑ Aisch, Gregor (2017-05-04). "How Every Member Voted on the House Health Care Bill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  31. ↑ "Ann Wagner Gleefully Cackles 'Freedom!' While Gutting Affordable Care Act". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  32. ↑ Benchaabane, Nassim (January 4, 2021). "U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner breaks with other Missouri Republicans contesting election results". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  33. ↑ Schnell, Mychael (July 19, 2022). "These are the 47 House Republicans who voted for a bill protecting marriage equality". The Hill. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  34. ↑ "H.R. 4225 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  35. 1 2 3 Zagier, Alan Scher (13 March 2014). "Wagner promotes bill to shut down online sex ads". The Washington Times. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Not for Sale: The SAVE Act". House Office of Ann Wagner. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  37. ↑ Ann, Wagner (2015-10-28). "Actions - H.R.1090 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Retail Investor Protection Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  38. ↑ "Ann Wagner". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Member List". Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  41. ↑ Peterson, Deb (July 16, 2009). "Ann Wagner returns home after four years as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  42. ↑ "Loretto Wagner, longtime St. Louis-area anti-abortion activist, dies." St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  43. ↑ Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress
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