Jamie Blair
Jamie Blair (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Missouri House of Representatives to represent District 43. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Blair completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Blair's professional experience includes being a stay-at-home mom and working in transportation for a military school. She has served as vice president of the Audrain County Democratic Club and vice-chair of the Audrain County Democratic Central Committee. She is affiliated with the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Our Revolution Mid-Missouri, MDP Women's, Rural, and Progressive Caucuses, Mexico HS Speech and Theatre Boosters, and Dixie Grey Band Parents.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
Kent Haden defeated Jamie Blair in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 43 on November 6, 2018.
General election
General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 43
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kent Haden (R) | 72.6 | 9,143 | |
 | Jamie Blair (D)  | 27.4 | 3,442 | |
| Total votes: 12,585 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Jamie Blair advanced from the Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 43 on August 7, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 43
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jamie Blair | 100.0 | 1,678 |
| Total votes: 1,678 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Kent Haden defeated Ed Lockwood and Adela Wisdom in the Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 43 on August 7, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 43
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kent Haden | 78.7 | 3,635 | |
| Ed Lockwood | 10.8 | 498 | ||
 | Adela Wisdom | 10.5 | 486 | |
| Total votes: 4,619 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jamie Blair completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Blair's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Protecting and expanding rural health care access by expanding Medicaid under the ACA. Investing in our students by increasing state level funding to our public schools. Encouraging job creation and sustainable economic growth by making much needed investments in our Infrastructure.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am personally passionate about the areas of public policy that benefit everyday people in their everyday lives. Health care in particular. Skyrocketing costs and lack of access are devastating to families across this district and this country. People are made vulnerable by accident or disease and are then preyed upon by the vagaries of a broken system. I believe that health care is a basic human right and I am committed to doing everything in my power to make sure that the State of Missouri fights for and protects its citizens from blatant predation for profit. I want to expand Medicaid to save our rural hospitals from closure and start moving Missouri toward a public option.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I can only hope to live a life of such service and dedication of purpose as she has.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
It couldn't hurt anyone at all to read Sinclair's, The Jungle. It would help them to understand my views on the importance of labor unions and empowering workers. It's not a complete picture of my political philosophy but it would be an excellent place to start. Also, the television show, The West Wing would likely get you close to some of my ideals.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty and accountability are in my opinion, are the most important principles in an elected official. I believe that some of the most important charecteristics we need to see in our elected representatives are; curiosity, an ability engage in robust discourse, the ability to take in new information, and willingness to compromise and find common ground.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
The believe the qualities I possess that would make me a successful office holder are a desire to find the justice and truth in any situation. I like to get to the bottom of things and possess an innate curiosity. I also enjoy engaging in healthy discussion and finding common ground to stand on with people of disparite views. I am also a patient person, which I believe is essential to creating sustainable change and achieving long term policy goals.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Availability to your constituents is an often overlooked but absolutely essential responsibility for State Representatives. You cannot represent the people of your district faithfully without hearing their concerns and fighting for what they need. The fundamental responsibility of this office is to sponsor,fight to advance, or fight against legislation on behalf of the people of your district. You advocate for them based on their needs.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave the same legacy after holding this office that I like to leave when camping or hiking. I want to leave Jefferson City cleaner than I found it. I want for my constituents and people throughout Missouri to know that I would not stand for corruption or the subverting of the will of Missouri voters.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Either the fall of the Soviets or the beginning of the Gulf War. I was just starting to notice current events and ask questions around that time. I understood these two events to mean that the world was at once safer, and becoming more dangerous. That was to my 8-9 year old brain a perplexing contradiction. I have since come to understand that geopolitics is overwhelmingly populated by perplexing contradictions.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I bussed tables for a local restaurant when I was 13 or 14, off and on until I was old enough to get a more substantial sort of employment. My first serious job was Environmental Services at the hospial in Kirksville. I had that job for just under a year until I had to leave it to move to Columbia.
What happened on your most awkward date?
I really couldn't say. I married very young and didn't have to run the gauntlet of awkward dates. I suppose I am very lucky in that.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
I love Thanksgiving because I like to feed people and I love to get together with friends and family and take the opportunity to be grateful for one another.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Catch-22. That book leaves me nearly in tears of laughter every time I go back and read it again. Or The Feast of All Saints which brings on a different kind of tears. Oh. Who am I kidding? I couldnt choose one book any more than I could choose a favorite child.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
I'm sure that my answer to this question changes based on my mood, but currently, I'd have to say my bed. I sure don't get to spend enough time in it during the campaign.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Build Me Up, Buttercup. That one gets in there for days at a time whenever I hear it.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
As with many in my district, it has also sometimes been a struggle for my husband and I to make ends meet and provide a good life for our children.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
In the State House we can have a narrower focus on the needs of our neighbors and a closer relationship with them as the districts are so much smaller.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Experience can be useful, but not strictly neccessary. Political experience can sometimes mean an acceptance of the status quo, or worse participation in graft and corruption. I think it is time for some new blood in the political sphere that isn't quite so jaded and still maintains an idealogy of purpose.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
The constant march of poverty and wealth and income inequality. Wages are not keeping pace with productivity or inflation and the cost of living continues its upward climb. At the same time, wealthy corporate interests continue to advocate for the lowering of tax rates and the abolition of the social safety net. If we don't get a handle on greed and corruption, our working class will continue to slide into poverty, especially in rural areas.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Just as on the National stage, the Executive and Legislative branches of the state government are meant to be a check upon the power of each other. We rely on these checks and balances for good governance. That is not to say that I don't think that it is possible or desirable for the Legislature to have an excellent working relationship with the Governor. It certainly is, but we must never forget our constitutional duty to make sure that the Government stays accountable to its citizens.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely. It is of paramount importance to develop a strong working relationship with other legislators. One cannot legislate alone, it is fundamentally a group effort. I am committed to building strong relationships with my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, so that together we can be about the People's business.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I favor the non-partisan demographer approach laid out in Amendment 1, also known as Clean Missouri. I think that if all the districts are drawn to be at least somewhat more competetive, legislators will be more accountable to all of the voters of their district. Not simply those they share political affiliation with.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I will faithfully serve on whatever committees that I am assigned to. I have more interest in some than in others but I believe in being useful in whatever role I can.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I can't say that I have given a lot of thought to being a part of my part of my party's leadership. If asked I would be willing to serve but at this time I am focused on trying to serve the people of the 43rd District, first and foremost.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
I can't say that there is. While there are many legislators, both past and present that I admire, I'd like to be independent and true to myself and my district than trying to model myself after another.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
I am not. I really just want to represent my neighbors so that have a voice in our State government.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
Most of the stories I hear from the people of this district are impactful and memorable. Many of them are heartbreaking especially the ones where people have lost a loved one because they couldn't afford access to quality health care. The many seniors that I speak to that cannot afford both their medication and food at the same time are some of the ones that really stick with me. We have to do better for them, all of them, so I wouldn't dare prioritize one of them as being more impactful or memorable than the next.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I hope to accomplish substantive change in the economic status of the people of my district and the State of Missouri and promote fair and equitable treatment for Missourians. I will fight hard to make sure that a handful of people aren't subverting democracy to get rich of the backs of hard working Missourians while the income inequality gap widens. I hope to get more people decent and affordable health care, education, and make sure we invest in the people of our state, as well as the infrastructure we need to stay competitive and create jobs. I chose to run for office because someone has to stand up for progressive values, and for the people of the 43rd.[2] |
” |
| —Jamie Blair[1] | ||
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Missouri House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
