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Elijah Haahr assumes the reins of the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr today assumes the duties of the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. Elected Speaker Designee by House Republicans for the 100th General Assembly, Haahr begins his service as speaker in the wake of former Speaker Todd Richardson’s resignation to become the state’s Director of Medicaid.

“I am excited to serve in this capacity as we prepare for the 2019 legislative session,” Haahr, R-Springfield, said. “This early experience of leading the Office of the Speaker will ensure we hit the ground running in our mission to deliver bold, 21st Century solutions to meet Missouri’s challenges.”

According to the National Conference on State Legislators, Haahr is the youngest Speaker in the country at 36 years old. He will also be the first speaker in state history to hail from Springfield. A native of southwest Missouri, Speaker Haahr was first elected to the Missouri House in 2012, and has served the past two years as the Speaker Pro Tem.

“I am proud of my southwest Missouri roots,” shared Haahr. “Watching the people of Springfield working together to move our state forward is a constant reminder of the honor and responsibility I have in representing this exceptional community in the Missouri House.”

Throughout his legislative career, Haahr has pursued cutting edge, conservative policies that are a priority of Missouri families and businesses. Last session he sponsored and passed the single largest one year income tax cut in state history. Haahr noted, “Missourians, not the government, know best how to spend their money and, in turn, strengthen our economy.”

“I thank Speaker Richardson for his leadership and his friendship. Missouri will benefit from his service as our state’s Medicaid director,” said Haahr.

Haahr, an attorney at Kutak Rock LLP, is married and the father of four children. He graduated with honors from Ozarks Technical Community College and Missouri Western State University. Speaker Haahr received his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law with honors in 2008.