Jay Houghton is a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Missouri House of Representatives

Missouri House of Representatives

The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...

. Houghton represents the 10th District, encompassing all or parts of Audrain

Audrain County, Missouri

Audrain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,529. Its county seat is Mexico. The county was organized in 1836. Audrain County was named for Col. James Hunter Audrain. Col. Audrain was Colonel of militia in the War of 1812. In 1830 Col...

, Callaway

Callaway County, Missouri

Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 44,332. Its county seat is Fulton. The county was organized in 1820. It was named for Capt. James Callaway, a grandson of...

, Lincoln

Lincoln County, Missouri

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,944 people, 13,851 households, and 10,554 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 15,511 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...

, Montgomery

Montgomery County, Missouri

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies in East Central Missouri, approximately halfway between Columbia and St. Louis. As of 2000, the population was 12,136. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775...

 and Monroe counties. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2010.

Personal history

Jay D. Houghton was born in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

 and raised near Monticello, Missouri

Monticello, Missouri

Monticello is a village in Lewis County, Missouri, United States, along the North Fabius River. The population was 126 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County.Monticello is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area....

. He graduated Highland High School in 1984 and attended the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

. Jay Houghton married Nancy (Oligschlaeger) Houghton on August 8, 1998 and they are the parents of two sons. When not involved with legislative duties Houghton works as a manager at McCaw Farms. He is a member of the NRA

National Rifle Association

The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...

, Missouri Sport Shooting Association, and Audrain County Pork Association.

Political history

Jay Houghton has a long family history of involvement in state politics. He is the nephew of current 18th District State Senator Brian Munzlinger

Brian Munzlinger

Brian Munzlinger is a farmer and a Republican member of the Missouri Senate serving the 18th District.-Personal:Munzlinger was born in Quincy, Illinois but raised in rural Lewis County, Missouri. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, with a B.S. degree in general agriculture...

. Houghton's great-great-grandfather and two great-uncles also served as State Representatives. Prior to entering state politics Jay Houghton served on the Martinsburg, Missouri

Martinsburg, Missouri

Martinsburg is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 326 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Martinsburg is located at ....

 City Council and as town mayor. Houghton ran in 2010 to replace the term-limited Terry Witte

Terry L. Witte

Terry L. Witte is an attorney, and a former Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He represented the 10th District of Missouri, which includes Pike county and parts of Lincoln, Audrain, Calloway, and Montgomery counties. He resides in Vandalia, Missouri, with his wife, Linda...

, first defeating Dudley Mchael Duke in the August Republican primary, then beating Democrat Linda Witte, Terry's wife, and Constitution Party

Constitution Party (United States)

The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...

 candidate Josh Allum in the November General Election.

Legislative assignments

Rep. Houghton will serve on the following committees during the 96th General Assembly:

• Agri-business
• General Laws
• Health Care Policy
• Tourism and Natural Resources
• Vice-Chairman, Special Standing Committee on Disability Services

Legislation

Rep. Houghton sponsored House Bill 831, which would allow the Missouri Attorney General

Missouri Attorney General

The Office of the Missouri Attorney General was created in 1806 when Missouri was part of the Louisiana Territory. Missouri's first Constitution in 1820 provided for an appointed Attorney General, but since the 1865 Constitution, the Attorney General has been elected...

's office to create a "Do-Not-Offer Statewide Registry". The registry, similar in ways to a "Do Not Call" list, would allow registered Missourians age seventy and older to block receiving direct mail advertising.