Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson’s sudden resignation and Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comments were the top political stories in southeast Missouri in 2012.
Emerson, a Republican, has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996 and won re-election handily every two years. Emerson is the longest-serving member of Missouri’s Congressional delegation and was often considered a moderate voice among a sea of partisanship.
