Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon is an American politician who is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, Nixon was first elected Governor in 2008. He is not related to former United States President Richard Milhous Nixon. Born in De Soto, Missouri, Nixon is a graduate of University of Missouri School of Law. Beginning a career in private practice, Nixon was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1986. In 1988, after two years in the state senate, Nixon ran for the United States Senate; posing a challenge to incumbent Republican Senator John Danforth. Nixon lost in the general election with 32% of the vote, to Danforth's 68%. He served in the state senate until 1993, when he was elected Attorney General of Missouri. In the 1998 U.S. Senate election, Nixon lost to incumbent Kit Bond 53%-44%. In 2008, after incumbent Republican Governor Matt Blunt announced he would not seek reelection, Nixon declared his candidacy for Governor of Missouri, won the Democratic primary, and faced Representative Kenny Hulshof in the general election. On November 4, 2008, Nixon defeated Hulshof and was elected Governor. 

February 13th, 1956 in De Soto (Age 68)