Jo Ann Emerson wins fifth term to U.S. House

Emerson

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson handily won re-election to a fifth two-year term Tuesday night, piling up huge totals in many counties in the 8th District, according to unofficial election returns.

With all 21 precincts reporting, the Cape Girardeau Republican had 7,865 votes or nearly 67 percent of the vote in Dunklin County. Democrat Dean Henderson of Peace Valley, Mo., was a distant second with 3,457 or nearly 30 percent. Libertarian Stan Cuff of Poplar Bluff had 49 votes. Constitution Party candidate Leonard J. Davidson of Salem had 35 votes in Dunklin County.

District-wide Emerson amassed 193,524 votes, or more than 72 percent of the ballots cast. Henderson received 71,200 votes, or nearly 27 percent. Cuff received 1,804 votes or seven-tenths of a percent and Davidson 1,317 votes or one-half of a percent.

"I feel pretty good. I feel very honored," Emerson said from a GOP victory party at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

Emerson, 54, said she has always tried to represent southern Missouri residents in a nonpartisan way and believes that resonates with voters.

"I think most people know I am socially conservative, but I also believe you have to be willing to compromise on some issues with regard to things like health care," she said.

She said her support of the war in Iraq was popular with many of the region's voters including families of National Guard troops serving in the conflict.

Emerson said in her next term she plans to work to help create a job-growth climate in her district which includes all of Southeast Missouri.

Emerson first won election to Congress in 1996, succeeding her late husband, Bill Emerson, to the 8th District seat.

Henderson, a 39-year-old Howell County farmer, said he was prompted to run because of what he saw as the growing corporate ownership of the federal government.

In contrast to Emerson's well-financed campaign, Henderson operated on a shoestring budget. He criss-crossed the expansive 28-county district to meet with voters.

Henderson ran on a four-point platform: opposition to open trade agreements, repeal of the Patriot Act, immediate end of the war in Iraq and universal health coverage.

Some information provided by S.E. Mo. News Service.