Biography for Secretary of State
Robin Carnahan
Robin Carnahan was sworn in as Missouri’s 38 th Secretary of State in January 2005. Since taking office, Secretary Carnahan has focused on improving customer service, cutting red-tape for Missouri businesses, protecting consumers and ensuring that elections are accessible, fair and free of fraud.
Prior to being elected, Carnahan had a successful career in business and law. Today, in addition to her duties as Secretary of State, Carnahan continues to manage her family’s 900 acre farm and Angus cattle operation outside of Rolla.
Secretary Carnahan grew up in Rolla, Missouri, and is a member of the Baptist Church. After graduating from Rolla High School, her studies continued at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, and the University of Southampton in England. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics, graduating magna cum laude. Carnahan went on to earn a juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia Law School, where she served as Executive Editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law. Carnahan then returned to Missouri to practice business law with the St. Louis law firm of Thompson & Mitchell.
In 1990, Carnahan went to work in central and eastern Europe with the National Democratic Institute where she helped rebuild the region’s democracies and economies by drafting voting laws, training new political leaders and monitoring elections. Since then, she has worked in six countries to promote democracy and free elections.
Carnahan also served as an executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States where she explored innovative ways to help American companies increase their sale of goods and services abroad.
Since taking office, Carnahan has ascended quickly as one of Missouri and our nation’s most effective public servants. In 2005 the Aspen Institute, one of the nation’s leading non-partisan political think tanks, identified Carnahan as a “rising star” in American politics and selected her to be among a nationwide group of only 20 Rodel Fellows chosen for their ability to work across party lines to get things done.
As Secretary of State, Carnahan has worked to protect consumers, especially Missouri seniors, by cracking down on firms that attempt to defraud investors and by educating Missourians about investing. The Secretary of State’s office has initiated and settled a number of high profile securities cases, including two landmark settlements during Carnahan’s first year in office. Her development of an “Investor Bill of Rights” further highlights her commitment to responsible investing and the elimination of investment fraud. Carnahan’s efforts on behalf of Missouri investors have gained her recognition as a national leader in securities law enforcement.
Secretary Carnahan is serving Missouri customers by providing outstanding service from the Secretary of State’s office, cutting red-tape for businesses and making information more accessible. Carnahan has promoted opportunity for Missouri’s small businesses to grow by using technology to streamline office interactions for businesses. In less than a year, Carnahan has saved Missouri’s businesses over $1.9 million through an increase in online filings of corporate annual reports. She also launched an online limited liability company (LLC) registration program and created a small business advocate position to help small businesses navigate state government.
Secretary Carnahan believes good customer service includes making information more accessible to Missourians. In her role as the administrator of Missouri’s State Archives, she has ensured the preservation of historical documents and made more records available on the Internet. As overseer of the Missouri State Library, she has helped further modernize and strengthen Missouri’s public libraries through grants to help libraries improve access to information through technology.
As Missouri’s chief election official, Secretary Carnahan is empowering citizens by providing confidence and integrity in voting. Her top priority is to ensure fairness in the elections system so Missourians have confidence their votes are counted. She is bringing Missouri’s election process into compliance with the federal 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by implementing a statewide voter registration database, providing accessible voting equipment in all polling places, phasing out punch card voting systems and educating voters.
Secretary Carnahan is committed to using commonsense methods in fulfilling the duties of the Secretary of State. It is her belief that public service is about helping to improve peoples’ lives, whether a consumer, customer or citizen.
Carnahan’s family has a lengthy history of devotion to public service. Her father, Mel Carnahan, served as Missouri’s State Treasurer, Lt. Governor and Governor, and her mother, Jean Carnahan, was the first woman to serve Missouri in the U.S. Senate. Her grandfather, A.S.J. Carnahan, a congressman from south-central Missouri for fourteen years, was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone in west Africa.