Roy Blunt facts for kids

This page is about the politician. For the writer and humorist, see Roy Blount Jr..

Quick facts for kids Roy Blunt
Official portrait, 2011

United States Senator from Missouri
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Kit Bond
Succeeded by	Eric Schmitt
Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	John Barrasso
Succeeded by	Joni Ernst
Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Amy Klobuchar
Succeeded by	Deb Fischer
Chair of the Senate Rules Committee
In office April 10, 2018 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Richard Shelby
Succeeded by	Amy Klobuchar
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Chuck Schumer
Succeeded by	Richard Shelby
House Minority Whip
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Leader	John Boehner
Preceded by	Steny Hoyer
Succeeded by	Eric Cantor
House Majority Leader
Acting September 29, 2005 – February 2, 2006
Leader	Dennis Hastert
Preceded by	Tom DeLay
Succeeded by	John Boehner
House Majority Whip
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Leader	Dennis Hastert
Preceded by	Tom DeLay
Succeeded by	Jim Clyburn
House Republican Chief Deputy Whip
In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003
Leader	Dennis Hastert
Preceded by	Dennis Hastert
Succeeded by	Eric Cantor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Mel Hancock
Succeeded by	Billy Long
23rd President of Southwest Baptist University
In office December 30, 1992 – October 21, 1996
Preceded by	Wayne Gott (acting)
Succeeded by	C. Pat Taylor
33rd Secretary of State of Missouri
In office January 14, 1985 – January 11, 1993
Governor	John Ashcroft
Preceded by	James Kirkpatrick
Succeeded by	Judi Moriarty

Personal details
Born	Roy Dean Blunt (1950-01-10) January 10, 1950 (age 75) Niangua, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Roseann Ray (m. 1967; div. 2003) Abigail Perlman (m. 2003)
Children	4, including Matt
Parent	Leroy Blunt (father)
Education	Southwest Baptist University (BA) Missouri State University (MA)
Signature

Roy Dean Blunt (born January 10, 1950) is an American politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Missouri from 2011 to 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Before becoming a senator, he was the 33rd Missouri Secretary of State from 1985 to 1993. He also served as a U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district from 1997 to 2011.

Blunt was born in Niangua, Missouri. He went to Southwest Baptist University and Missouri State University. After being Missouri Secretary of State, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. There, he became the Republican Whip from 2003 to 2009.

In 2010, Blunt won his election for the U.S. Senate. He became the vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in 2011. In 2018, he was chosen as the chairman of the Policy Committee. On March 8, 2021, he announced he would not run for re-election in 2022. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt took his place in the Senate.

In July 2023, Blunt was named a member of Southwest Airlines' board of directors.

Early Life & Education

Roy Blunt was born on January 10, 1950, in Niangua, Missouri. His parents were Neva Dora and Leroy Blunt, who was also a politician.

He earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1970 from Southwest Baptist University. Two years later, he got a master's degree in history from Southwest Missouri State University.

Blunt taught history at Marshfield High School from 1970 to 1972. He also taught at Southwest Baptist University and Drury University. From 1993 to 1996, he served as president of Southwest Baptist University.

Early Political Career (1972–1997)

Greene County Clerk

Blunt started his political career in 1973. He was appointed as the county clerk and chief election official for Greene County, Missouri. He was elected to this job three times and served for 12 years.

Running for Lieutenant Governor

In 1980, Blunt ran for Lieutenant Governor. He won the Republican primary election. However, he lost the main election to State Representative Ken Rothman.

Secretary of State of Missouri

In 1984, Blunt ran for Missouri Secretary of State. He won the Republican primary with 79% of the votes. In the general election, he beat Democratic State Representative Gary D. Sharpe. He was the first Republican to hold this position in 50 years. In 1988, he was re-elected.

Running for Governor

In 1992, Blunt ran for governor of Missouri. He lost the Republican primary to William L. Webster.

U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2011)

Roy Blunt in his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives

Becoming a Representative

In 1996, Blunt decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. He ran in Missouri's 7th congressional district. This area is known for being very conservative. He won the Republican primary and then the general election.

Key Issues & Votes

Education: Blunt supported school prayer and the No Child Left Behind Act. He voted for school vouchers in Washington, D.C.
Money Matters: He supported changes to bankruptcy laws. He also opposed federal cap and trade laws, which deal with pollution. He supported drilling for oil along the U.S. coastline. Blunt has stated he does not believe humans are causing global warming.
Gun Policy: Blunt voted to protect gun makers from lawsuits if their guns are used in crimes. He also voted for background checks for gun show purchases. He has a high rating from the National Rifle Association.
Health Policy: He led a group focused on Republican health care ideas.
Minimum Wage: Blunt voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour.
Social Issues: He supported a national ban on same-sex marriage. He also voted against gay adoption.
Social Security and Medicare: In 2005, Blunt supported a plan to change Social Security for people under 55.

Leadership Roles

After just one term, Blunt became Chief Deputy Whip. This was a high-ranking position in the House Republican group. In 2002, he was elected to be the House Majority Whip. This meant he helped gather votes for his party's laws.

He served as acting Majority Leader starting in September 2005. This happened after the previous leader stepped down. In 2006, he ran to become the permanent Majority Leader but lost to John Boehner. In November 2006, House Republicans chose Blunt as their Minority Whip. He stepped down from this role in 2008.

Committee Work

When he first joined the House, Blunt was on the House International Relations Committee, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Transportation Committee. Later, he joined the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

U.S. Senate (2011–2023)

2010 Election

On February 19, 2009, Blunt announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He was running for the seat that Kit Bond was leaving. He won against Democratic candidate Robin Carnahan and others.

Time in the Senate

Blunt is known for having a conservative voting record. However, he often worked with Democrats on important laws. He was ranked as one of the most bipartisan senators in 2017.

Blunt speaking at the inauguration of Joe Biden

On January 6, 2021, Blunt was at the U.S. Capitol when it was attacked. He was helping to count the votes for the presidential election. He said the violence needed to stop. Blunt also stated that former President Trump "was a part of it." He did not support impeaching Trump after the attack.

Blunt was the master of ceremonies for the inauguration of Joe Biden as president. He gave a speech about the Constitution's Preamble. He talked about how laws come from "We the People."

Blunt with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in October 2021

Senate Committees

During his time in the Senate, Blunt served on several important committees:

Committee on Appropriations (which decides how government money is spent)
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee on Rules and Administration
Joint Committee on Printing
Joint Committee on the Library
Select Committee on Intelligence

Political Views

Blunt at the 2011 Values Voter Summit

Agriculture: In 2013, Blunt worked on a rule called the Farmer Assurance Provision. This rule helped farmers who planted crops that were legal at the time. He has received money from Monsanto, a large agriculture company.
Economy: Blunt has been against raising the federal minimum wage. He supported a bill to remove the federal estate tax. In 2014, he introduced a bill to create a fund for infrastructure projects.
Energy and Environment: Blunt does not agree with the scientific consensus on climate change. He voted against a resolution that said climate change is real and caused by humans. He has worked to protect the coal industry. He also supported leaving the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Foreign Policy: In 2011, Blunt called for a no fly zone over Libya. In 2021, he criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Gun Policy: Blunt has a high rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. In 2013, he voted against a bill to expand background checks for all gun buyers. In 2022, he supported a bipartisan agreement on gun control.
Health Policy:

Blunt speaking at a Republican press conference on health care in October 2009

In 2012, Blunt introduced an amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This amendment would let employers deny health services if they went against their religious or moral beliefs. In 2016, he helped get more funding for the National Institutes of Health.

Judiciary: Blunt supported President Trump's choices for the Supreme Court.
National Security: Blunt supported President Trump's 2017 order to temporarily limit immigration from certain countries. He said it was about keeping Americans safe. In 2021, he did not vote on creating a commission to investigate the Capitol riot.
Social Security and Medicare: Blunt has talked about needing to reduce fraud in Medicare and Social Security. He believes these programs need to be reformed.
Trade: Blunt has supported free-trade agreements.

2016 Election

Blunt ran for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. He won the Republican primary. In the general election, he won against Democrat Jason Kander.

2020 Presidential Election

After the 2020 election, Blunt said that President Trump should let his lawyers handle the election results. He said you cannot stop counting votes in one state and continue in another.

Family and Personal Life

Roy Blunt has been married twice. He first married Roseann Ray in 1967. They had three children: Matt, Amy Blunt Mosby, and Andrew Blunt. All three of his children work as corporate lobbyists.

In 2003, Blunt married Abigail Perlman, who was a lobbyist. In 2006, they adopted a son named Charlie from Russia. The family lives in Washington, D.C., and also has a home in Springfield, Missouri. Roy Blunt has six grandchildren. He is a Southern Baptist.

In 2021, Blunt was given an honorary award from Australia. This was for his work in the relationship between Australia and the United States. In 2023, he was elected president of The State Historical Society of Missouri.

ACU Rating

The American Conservative Union (ACU) gives ratings to politicians based on their conservative votes. In 2020, Blunt received a score of 74 from the ACU. His lifetime rating is 85.

Images for kids

Roy Blunt's signature