Party: Republican
Current Office: Congress

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt, who became Majority Whip earlier in his career than any Member of Congress in the last eight decades, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1997.

The people of Southwest Missouri have sent Blunt to Washington to represent them six times, most recently reelecting him to Congress with 68 percent of the vote against three opponents. When Blunt was named Missouri's Republican of the Year in 2001, President Bush described him as "a leader who knows how to raise his sights and lower his voice."

Blunt is serving his third term as Republican Whip, the second highest Republican leader in the House of Representatives. He selects and leads a team of Deputy and Assistant Whips, which columnist Robert Novak has described as "the most efficient party whip operation in congressional history."

In 1984, Blunt was elected Missouri's first Republican Secretary of State in more than 50 years. Before coming to Congress, Blunt served four years as the president of his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri.

Blunt's legislation signed into law in recent Congresses includes the Combat Meth Act, the Charitable Giving expansion, and legislation to enhance transparency in federal spending by establishing a searchable database of all federal grants and contracts. A recognized leader on energy-related issues, Blunt is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the head of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT).

The Congressman is married to Abigail Blunt. Blunt has four children: Missouri Governor Matt Blunt; Amy Blunt, an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri; Andy Blunt, an attorney in Jefferson City, Missouri; and Charlie (age 3), who lives with his mom and dad. Blunt has five grandchildren: Davis Mosby, Ben Blunt, Branch Blunt, Eva Mosby, and Allyson Blunt.