GOP “Moderate” Congressmember Ann Wagner—LOL! October 18, 2023
While GOPers duke it out over which one of their hapless members wants to bang the House Speaker’s gavel, we see some “strange” alliances forming. Supposedly, GOP “moderates” would be in the corner of the “Never extremist Jim Jordan for Speaker” camp. Think again. The term “moderate” for many “Team Red” members is one big oxymoron. Many GOP Congressmembers drape themselves in the moderate cloak solely to look good for the press and their constituents who would otherwise be horrified about their true far-right leanings. Exhibit A—GOP Congressmember Ann Wagner. Wagner calls herself a “moderate” to deceive the press. Some “moderate!” In the Jim Jordan or anyone else Speaker contest, Wagner quickly folded like a cheap suit/loose dress. She made the term “moderate” a pathetic joke. Wagner, initially, in the “Hell No” Jordan group, flipped on 10/26/23 to supporting Biden election challenger and January 6th Trump aider and abettor Jordan. Her reason?” I have always been a team player (@jackiecalmes, 10/18/23).” Here is Ann Wagner.
Sixth-term GOP congressmember Ann Wagner (61) currently represents Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District (CD). The “Show Me State” 2nd includes central and western St. Louis County. The MO 2nd is the wealthiest, most educated , and suburban area in the state. The affluent towns of Kirkland, LaDue, and Town and Country are in the 2nd as well as Chesterfield. Biotech and health care jobs are the economic mainstays. The 2d is 87% White and historically GOP, but now has just an R+4 Cook PVI score. Hillary lost the 2nd by 10n points in 2016, but in 2020, Donald just beat Biden here by 115 votes. This area presents a political challenge for the MAGA set (See Cohen & Cook 2022 Almanac).
St. Louis native Ann Wagner grew up in the 2nd’s suburbs. After graduating in 1984 from the University of Missouri, she worked for Hallmark Cards and Ralston Purina. Wagner oversaw MO’s redistricting in the 1990 census. In 1992, Wagner was H.W. Bush’s MO campaign chair and later became GOP state chair. “W” Bush named her Ambassador to Luxembourg (Cohen & Cook 2022). In 2012, Wagner won an open House seat. She clobbered her 2nd CD Democratic rival 60%-37% (Cohen & Cook 2022).
In the House, Wagner has a conservative economic and foreign policy record, but is more centrist on social views. Still, she is a strong right-winger with a 35%-65% Liberal /Conservative Almanac 2019-2020 score. She was chosen leader of her freshman GOP. She became a senior deputy whip under Steve Scalise (R- LA) and was active in recruiting female GOP candidates. She also was a vice-chair for fundraising (Cohen & Cook 2022).
Wagner was easily re-elected in 2014 with 64% of the vote. In 2016, after renouncing Trump when his lewd “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced, “moderate” Wagner endorsed him again. Her victory margin fell to 59%. In 2018 and 2020, she took 51% and 52% of the vote respectively (Cohen & Cook). Again, party loyalist Wagner is now pushing for Trump-endorsed and “Mini-Me” Jordan for Speaker. In 2024, flip-flopper and fake “moderate” Wagner must face stiff Democratic opposition.GOP
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