Rep. Russ Carnahan, a Democrat, represents part of St. Louis City (District 59) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Elected to the House in November 2000, Rep. Carnahan is an attorney with BJC Healthcare in St. Louis. He previously had a general trial and appellate law practice in St. Louis and Rolla from 1988-1996. Prior to that he served as counsel to the House Majority Leader from 1985-1988, and assistant to the Speaker of the Missouri House in 1981. He also worked as a legislative intern in the Missouri House in 1978.

Rep. Carnahan is active in many civic and community activities including: St. Louis Ambassadors, Historic Preservation Committee; United Way of Greater St. Louis, Government Relations Committee; St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association (RCGA), Public Policy Committee; and FOCUS Leadership St. Louis, Class of 1997-98. He is a supporter or member of Metropolis St. Louis; State Historical Society of Missouri; Landmarks Association of St. Louis; Compton Heights Neighborhood Association; Missouri Bar, Advisory Committee on Citizenship Education and Health Care Law Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Speakers Bureau for Law Related Education; Boy Scouts, current supporter and past Eagle Scout recipient; and Friends of Tower Grove Park, Missouri Botanical Gardens and DeMenil Mansion.

Rep. Carnahan attends Lafayette Park United Methodist Church. He is the son of the late Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan and Jean Carnahan, a United States Senator. He is also the grandson of Congressman A.S.J. Carnahan, who was later named U.S. ambassador to Sierra Leone.

A 1976 graduate of Rolla High School, Rep. Carnahan attended the University of Missouri-Rolla from 1976-1977 and Richmond College in London, England in 1978. He received a bachelor of science degree in public administration with an emphasis in public service in 1979 and a juris doctorate in 1983 from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Born July 10, 1958 in Columbia, Mo., Rep. Carnahan lives in St. Louis with his wife, Debra A. Carnahan. They have two children: Austin and Andrew.