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Politics & Government

Carnahan "Seriously Considering" 2nd District Contest

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer was in St. Louis Wednesday with Carnahan.

U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan said Wednesday he is seriously considering running in the soon-to-be-vacant 2nd Congressional District.

Carnahan – a St. Louis City Democrat who currently represents Missouri's 3rd District in Congress – was effectively the The map the Missouri General Assembly ultimately passed places St. Louis City in one congressional district, meaning that if Carnahan ran where he lives, he would have to face U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis City, in a Democratic primary.

After participating in a town hall meeting with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, at the Forest Park campus of St. Louis Community College, Carnahan told reporters one potential option was running in the 2nd Congressional District. The current inhabitant of that seat – U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country –

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"We absolutely are looking at the options,” Carnahan said. “Certainly this week with the announcement of Congressman Akin [running for Senate], there is an open 2nd Congressional seat that has a large number of my current constituents in it. We're obviously taking a serious look at that.”

While Carnahan doesn't live in the 2nd District, there are no requirements that congressional candidates have to live in the district where they run. Carnahan could also hypothetially move into the 2nd District.

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Another option, Carnahan said, included challenging the map in court. Some state lawmakers who object to some elements of the map have suggested such an option.

“I know that other folks are also taking a serious look at having the court view the maps that have been passed by the legislature," Carnahan said.

The reconfigured 2nd Congressional District includes Creve Coeur and Sunset Hills. It also includes most of south and west St. Louis County, as well as portions of St. Charles County.

Already two Republicans – Ed Martin and Ann Wagner – More could get in the race as time goes on. Carnahan narrowly defeated Martin in the race for his 3rd District seat in 2010.

Asked if his presence in St. Louis signaled that Carnahan was planning a run in the 2nd Congressional District, Hoyer – who raised money for Carnahan’s re-election coffers earlier in the day – said his visit was planned two months ago.

“The reason I’m here is because Congressman Carnahan is an outstanding member of the Congress of the United States,” said Hoyer, who engaged in a town hall meeting with Carnahan to support American manufacturing incentives. “And as I said, he’s somebody who wants to solve problems – which [are the kind] of members of Congress we need in America today."

"So I think you ought not to draw any implications one way or the other about my presence here saying anything about what Congressman Carnahan decides to do,” Hoyer added.

If Carnahan is re-elected, he will likely go back to a Missouri delegation that includes Clay and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City. Politico reported that Carnahan was unhappy at both of those lawmakers for not putting their full weight against what ended up being the approved redistricted map.

When asked whether he would be able to coexist with the two lawmakers if he’s re-elected, Carnahan said he'd "work with anybody, anywhere, anytime.”

“It’s going to help the people I represent and it’s always been the way I approach my work in the Congress and representing people here in Missouri,” Carnahan said.

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