Theodore C. Jameson

From Usgs

Theodore Cole (Theo) Jameson (born October 7th, 1970) is the Representative of Missouri's First Congressional District, former House Majority Whip, Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, and Chairman of the KeyWest Political Action Committee. He is also a Former Mississippi Valley Regional Legislator (D-St. Louis), Former St. Louis Aldermanic President. Former St. Louis Alderman for Ward 11, and Lifelong Resident of St. Louis, Missouri.

Theodore C. Jameson
US Representative, Missouri 1st
In Office:
2016-Present
Preceded by Henry Zhurinov
Succeeded by incumbent
32nd House Majority Whip
In Office:
2018
Preceded by Erin Granger
Succeeded by James Jackson
Born

October 7, 1970
St. Louis, Missouri; United States
Political Party Democratic Party
Spouse Ariana Stevens-Jameson
Religion Unknown


Contents

Early life

Theodore Jameson was born to two very successful politicians in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was a strong Democratic Senator in the Missouri State Senate and his mother was a City Alderwoman in St. Louis who eventually succeeded in becoming Mayor of St. Louis in 2006. During his school years, he was looked upon as very intelligent and a destined leader by his fellow classmates. In his Freshman Year of High School, he was elected onto the Class Council. By his Sophomore Year, he was Class President. He served as Class President through his Junior year and was elected School Student Council President in his Senior Year. Remaining in St. Louis after his High School Graduation, he attended the University of Missouri - St. Louis and earned a four year degree in economics. In 1994, he married his high school sweetheart, Ariana Stevens, and they bought a house together in St. Louis. In 1996, he ran his first campaign to be elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. He lost by a very narrow percentage of 51% to 48%. He ran again in 1998 and succeeded winning just over 53% of the vote.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen (1998-2010)

First term (1999-2002)

The first half of Theodore's first term, he spent time getting used to the political system of the St. Louis City Government. He was placed on the Ways and Means Committee, Neighborhood Development Committee, and the Public Safety Committee. Working with the three other freshmen Alderman that were also elected, he pushed a moderate agenda that was unlike nothing the St. Louis Board of Alderman had ever seen. Through those Committee Positions, he assisted in balancing the city's
Alderman Jameson - 2000 St. Louis Board of Aldermen
financial budget, pushed for fair pay for city workers including police officers and firefighters, and helped in developing relatively new and undeveloped neighborhoods. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he dedicated a lot of time to the Public Safety Committee as Vice Chairman, passing crucial ordinances that would assist in protecting and preventing terrorist attacks.

Second Term (2003-2006)

Theodore was reelected to the Board of Aldermen with over 63% of the vote. His second term was one of the busiest and most productive. He was made Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, retained his seat on the Neighborhood Development Committee, and took the Chair of the Public Safety Committee. He became good friends with the St. Louis Police Commissioner. But during his first year of his second term, Theodore's wife passed away while giving birth to their second son, Andrew. The loss hitting him hard and being stuck in the world, alone, with two children, many came to his aid to help him get back on his feet. By 2005, he had returned to full activeness on the Board. His motives were to make the city a better place for his children and for all the other children in the city. He passed crucial city laws and ordinances to clean up neighborhoods, prevent and crack down on crime, and passed another strong and balanced budget that made the city very successful. At the end of his second term, he had the support and the assistance of many Aldermen and women on the board to run for President of the Board.

Third Term (2007-2010)

Theodore was elected by the entire city of St. Louis with 58% of the vote to serve as President of the Board of Aldermen. Thanks to the many Aldermen and Women and his mother's strong record. With his mother as Mayor of the City, he worked with her and other members of the board to continue to strengthen St. Louis. He introduced and swiftly passed a balanced budget that reduced the city's bond debt by a large amount and still funded education,
Aldermanic President Jameson - 2008 St. Louis Board of Aldermen
public safety, and transportation around the city. Overall, his term as Aldermanic President was successful. The Mayor's Office and the Comptroller's Office, as well as the Board of Alderman had a very successful term. In 2010, the "Draft Theodore" movement began and spread through the city with lightning pace. The movement was to elect Theodore to the Mississippi Valley Legislative Seat from St. Louis. Republican Incumbent Susan Marks (R-MO) was in her fourth term as a Mississippi Valley legislator from St. Louis and had begin to ignore her constituents at home to pass a strong Conservative Agenda. This angered the citizens of St. Louis and many turned to the reassurance of the Board of Aldermen. Theodore's Moderate views, as well as his wide experience and positive record, was the top choice for St. Louis. He decided to run.

Mississippi Valley Legislature (2011-2016)

First Term (2011-2012)

The "Draft Theodore" movement was overly successful, lifting Theodore up over the other Democratic Challengers in the Primary right into the General Election. Susan Marks made a ton of promises during her campaign, just as she did two years before, but it did not beat Theodore's reassurance of leadership through experience and a positive record. He easily put her down in the General Election, winning 68% of the vote handily. Life in Jefferson City was quite positive and Theodore made a lot of friends in the Legislature. However, the Legislature was tight. With a slight 53-47-1 Majority on the Democratic Side, Theodore was able to work with many of his fellow colleagues. He used his experience in fiscal responsibility to assist in keeping overspending legislators in line. He made regular visits back to St. Louis and held many Question and Answer Sessions there, which kept his constituents very happy.

Second Term (2013-2014)

Theodore returned to Jefferson City in 2013 after winning reelection with 73% of the vote over Susan Marks, who came back to run for office once more due to the large support of conservative Republicans supporting her campaign. Theodore won the support of Liberal and Moderate Democrats, as well as Independents and Moderate Republicans, to continue his legislative role in Jefferson City. The Democratic Majority had held by a mere 52-49 Majority. Working with Governor Glass and fellow Democrats, they pushed a moderate and successful agenda through the Legislature to the Governor's Desk. Throughout the region, Republicans feared and Democrats praised the title "Glass Democrat" next to regional legislators names. Theodore spent a long time during the session pushing for strong educational reform, strong environmental issues, and strengthening the regional crime system overall. Unfortunately, Governor Glass resigned partway through the 2015 session, but Governor Johnny Green took over and did an excellent job.

Third Term (2015-2016)

Theodore returned to office once again in 2015, taking 69% of the vote versus Republican Businessman John Rehner. Now faced with a 51-50 Majority and a Republican Governor, Former Senator Brian A. Murphy of Louisiana who defeated Johnny Green in the Special Election, he took charge as a Deputy Leader of the Majority Leader. It was crucial to the Democratic Caucus in the Legislature to keep the majority and take back the Governor's Mansion. Governor Murphy preached Moderateness, but practiced Conservatism and this was what made Theodore despise him so much. He fought back the attempts of the Governor to make the Mississippi Valley more conservative and instead continued to push a moderate agenda, which did well despite the Governor's policies. Towards the middle of 2016, the "Draft Theodore" movement started up again in St. Louis but this time to elect Theodore to the House of Representatives in Washington. After many years in city and regional politics, he was finally being pushed to bring it to the Nation's Capitol. Towards the end of 2016,
Legislator Theodore Jameson (D-St. Louis), 2016 Mississippi Valley Legislature
when Theodore went to have his picture taken, it was clear what many, many years in politics can do to a person.

House of Representatives (2017-Present)

First Term (2017-Present)

The "Draft Theodore" movement worked once again, as Theodore lifted himself right over relatively inactive incumbent Democratic Congressman, Henry Zhurinov, to claim the Democratic Spot in the General Election. With the St. Louis Suburbs coming out strong with Conservative Republican support, Susan Marks came out on top as the Republican Candidate. Still very upset with being knocked out of her seat many years before, Susan Marks expected to run against Congressman Zhurinov, not Theodore. After a long, fought battle for demographics from all over St. Louis and its suburbs, Theodore came out on top with 85% of the vote. Conservative Turnout was depressed from all the positive campaigning energy coming from the Jameson camp. Almost immediately, Theodore found himself appointed Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. From here, he pushed his moderate agenda into the House of Representatives with a strong and powerful force. The majority of his legislation has been bipartisan and received such support. In his short time in Congress, he has already been chosen by his colleagues as House Majority Whip, Chairman of the Science, Health, Education, Environment Committee, and a member of President Mason's Energy Policy Board. He continues today, working with his colleagues and House Majority Leader Marcus Cavalier, to push a strong moderate agenda through Congress.

Possible Future Senate Run

In Early 2018, Theodore announced at a Gala in St. Louis, with Vice President Andrew Brockmeier in attendance, that he would be running against Andrew Graham for Midwest Senate in 2018.

Election History

Year Office Election Record Party Outcome  % Opponent Party Outcome  %
1996 St. Louis, Ward 11 Aldermen General Theodore Jameson Democratic Loser 46% Patrica Glazier (I) Republican Winner 54%
1998 St. Louis, Ward 11 Aldermen General Theodore Jameson Democratic Winner 53% Francis Telliger (I) Republican Loser 47%
2002 St. Louis, Ward 11 Aldermen General Theodore Jameson (I) Democratic Winner 63% Francis Telliger Republican Loser 36%
2006 St. Louis Aldermen President General Theodore Jameson Democratic Winner 58% Mark Vellis Republican Loser 41%
2010 St. Louis Legislature General Theodore Jameson Democratic Winner 68% Susan Marks (I) Republican Loser 30%
2012 St. Louis Legislature General Theodore Jameson (I) Democratic Winner 73% Susan Marks Republican Loser 25%
2014 St. Louis Legislature General Theodore Jameson (I) Democratic Winner 69% John Rehner Republican Loser 31%
2016 Missouri 1st House of Representatives Primary Theodore Jameson Democratic Winner 60% Henry Zhurinov (I) Democratic Loser 39%
2016 Missouri 1st House of Representatives General Theodore Jameson Democratic Winner 85% Susan Marks Republican Loser 9%
2018 Midwest United States Senate General Theodore Jameson Democratic Loser 42.7% Andrew Graham Republican Winner 57.0%
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