Matt Blunt

Matt Blunt
Official portrait, 2005
54th Governor of Missouri
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 12, 2009
LieutenantPeter Kinder
Preceded byBob Holden
Succeeded byJay Nixon
37th Secretary of State of Missouri
In office
January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2005
GovernorBob Holden
Preceded byBekki Cook
Succeeded byRobin Carnahan
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 139th district
In office
January 6, 1999 – January 8, 2001
Preceded byPhillip Wannemacher
Succeeded byBrad Roark
Personal details
Born
Matthew Roy Blunt

(1970-11-20) November 20, 1970 (age 53)
Greene County, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
(m. 1997)
RelationsLeroy Blunt (grandfather)
Roy Blunt (father)
Andrew Blunt (brother)
Children2
Residence(s)Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
EducationJefferson City High School
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy (BA)
ProfessionNaval officer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Rank Lieutenant commander
Battles/warsOperation Support Democracy
Operation Enduring Freedom
AwardsNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4)

Matthew Roy Blunt (born November 20, 1970) is an American politician and former naval officer who served as the 54th governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. He previously served ten years in the United States Navy and as Missouri secretary of state.

Blunt won the 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election as the Republican nominee against Democratic nominee Claire McCaskill. The election coincided with elections in the Missouri General Assembly, where Republicans maintained their majority; this made Blunt the first Republican governor to serve with a Republican legislature in 84 years, making his policy proposals easier to accomplish. At age 33, he also became the second-youngest person ever elected governor of Missouri after Kit Bond. Blunt did not seek a second term as governor, announcing his decision on January 22, 2008.[1][2]

After working as a consultant, Blunt was hired as the president of the American Automotive Policy Council in 2011, representing the auto lobby in Washington, D.C.[3] His father, Roy Blunt, has served in a variety of political offices, including as Missouri secretary of state and congressman, and in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2023.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference APfox was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Governor Matt Blunt's Address to Missouri, "YouTube", January 22, 2008.
  3. ^ "Blunt to head auto body lobby", Detroit News[dead link]