Ann Wagner


Ann Louise Wagner is an American politician and diplomat serving as the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, she previously was the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from 2005 to 2009.
Her district, based in St. Louis County, is heavily suburban and the wealthiest district in the state. 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 portion of Jefferson County. Prior to her diplomatic post, Wagner chaired the Missouri Republican Party for six years, from 1999 until 2005; she co-chaired the Republican National Committee for four years, starting in 2001.

Early life and education

Wagner was born and raised in St. Louis. 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. After college, she went to work in the private sector and held management positions at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City and Ralston Purina in St. Louis.

Pre-congressional political 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 the unsuccessful campaign for the reelection of President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle.

2000s

Chairwoman of Missouri GOP

She 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. Her most notable achievement in that role came during her second two-year term when she oversaw the party's taking of 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 for 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 the election of Matt Blunt 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.

National campaigning

In 2001, she 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 image of the GOP towards 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.

U.S. Ambassadorship

On February 20, 2005, Wagner was elected to a fourth term as Chair of the Missouri Republican Party. On May 16, she was nominated by President Bush to the position of 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 U.S. Senator Jim Talent said that she was, "A considerate woman, whose character and abilities uniquely qualify her to represent our nation."
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 of the US Department of State in Washington D.C..

2010s

2010 U.S. Senate election

After returning from Luxembourg, Wagner served as Chairwoman for Roy Blunt's successful 2010 U.S. Senate campaign. Blunt defeated Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 54%-41% to retain the seat in the Republican column following Kit Bond's retirement from the seat.

2011 RNC Chairman 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.
The election was held in January 2011, and Wagner conceded after the sixth round after receiving 17 votes The contest was ultimately won by Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party.

U.S. House of Representatives

2012

Wagner announced her candidacy for Missouri's 2nd congressional district after incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Todd Akin announced his unsuccessful bid to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill. Wagner received endorsements from Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, 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 the Democratic nominee, Glenn Koenen —with 66% of the vote. In November, she won the general election by 23 points.
Wagner is the third Republican woman elected to Congress from Missouri, and the second who was not elected as a stand-in for her husband.

2014

In her first bid for reelection, Wagner ran unopposed in the Republican primary and proceeded to easily win the general election while simultaneously increasing her margin of victory from her first election in 2012.

2016

2018

Tenure

In 2016, Wagner made headlines by withdrawing her endorsement for the GOP nominee for President, Donald Trump. 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 intent to vote for Trump.
On May 4, 2017, Wagner voted in favor of the American Health Care Act, also known as Trumpcare.

Legislation sponsored

The following is an incomplete list of legislation sponsored by Wagner.
Ann is married to Ray Wagner Jr., a former Missouri Director of Revenue. They live in Ballwin, a western suburb of St. Louis. The Wagners have three children.
Ann's mother-in-law was Loretto Wagner, a noted anti-abortion activist.