Matt Blunt

Matt Blunt
Official portrait, 2005
54th Governor of Missouri
In office January 10, 2005 – January 12, 2009
Lieutenant	Peter Kinder
Preceded by	Bob Holden
Succeeded by	Jay Nixon
37th Secretary of State of Missouri
In office January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2005
Governor	Bob Holden
Preceded by	Bekki Cook
Succeeded by	Robin Carnahan
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 139th district
In office January 6, 1999 – January 8, 2001
Preceded by	Phillip Wannemacher
Succeeded by	Brad Roark
Personal details
Born	Matthew Roy Blunt (1970-11-20) November 20, 1970 (age 53) Greene County, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Melanie Anderson ​ (m. 1997)​
Relations	Leroy Blunt (grandfather) Roy Blunt (father)
Children	2
Residence(s)	Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
Education	Jefferson City High School
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BA)
Profession	Naval officer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Lieutenant commander
Battles/wars	Operation Support Democracy Operation Enduring Freedom
Awards	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4)

Matthew Roy Blunt (born November 20, 1970) is an American politician and former naval officer who served as the 54th governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. He previously served ten years in the United States Navy and as Missouri secretary of state.

Blunt won the 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election as the Republican nominee against Democratic nominee Claire McCaskill. The election coincided with elections in the Missouri General Assembly, where Republicans maintained their majority; this made Blunt the first Republican governor to serve with a Republican legislature in 84 years, making his policy proposals easier to accomplish. At age 33, he also became the second-youngest person ever elected governor after Kit Bond. Blunt did not seek a second term as governor, announcing his decision on January 22, 2008.^[1][2]

After working as a consultant, Blunt was hired as the president of the American Automotive Policy Council in 2011, representing the auto lobby in Washington, D.C.^[3] His father, Roy Blunt, has served in a variety of political offices, including as Missouri secretary of state and congressman, and in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2023.