Pat Danner

Patsy Ann "Pat" Danner (born January 13, 1934, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American politician. She formerly represented the Missouri's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. She is a Democrat.

Education and background

Danner grew up in Bevier, Missouri; her maternal grandfather emigrated from Lebanon in 1905. She attended public schools and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University cum laude with a BA in political science. Following graduation, Danner worked as district administrator to Congressman Jerry Litton. She was appointed to a sub-cabinet position in the Carter administration.

Political career

Congressman Litton vacated his seat to run for the United States Senate in 1976, and Danner filed in the race to replace him. Danner was defeated in the August 1976, Democratic primary by Morgan Maxfield, who was himself defeated in November by Republican state Representative Tom Coleman. In 1982, Danner was elected to the Missouri State Senate, and was re-elected in 1986 and 1990. In 1992, Danner successfully ran for Congress, defeating the incumbent Coleman in an upset. Danner was re-elected to the House in 1994, 1996, and 1998.

In 2000, Danner announced that she would not seek re-election because she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Her son, Steve Danner, a former state senator, filed to replace her. Steve Danner was defeated by Sam Graves, 51% to 47%.