 He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office.He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being outspoken on judicial appointments, abortion, flag burning, and defense issues.After serving for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives and then working as a lobbyist, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, defeating Democrat Jean Carnahan in a special election to complete the term to which Carnahan's husband, Mel, had been elected posthumously in 2000.