Blaine Luetkemeyer

Blaine Luetkemeyer
Born	William Blaine Luetkemeyer 7 5, 1952
Birthplace	Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Title	CEO, American Consumer and Investor Institute
Known for	U.S. Representative for Missouri (2009–2025)
Education	Lincoln University (BA)
Children	3

William Blaine Luetkemeyer (Template:IPAc-en; born May 7, 1952) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Missouri for sixteen years, from 2009 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Luetkemeyer first represented Missouri's 9th congressional district from 2009 to 2013 and then Missouri's 3rd congressional district from 2013 until his retirement in January 2025. Over the course of his career in public service, Luetkemeyer built a legislative record focused on financial services regulation, small business policy, and agricultural issues reflecting his rural Missouri roots. Before entering Congress, he served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, representing the 115th district. On January 4, 2024, Luetkemeyer announced he would not seek a ninth term in Congress, making him at the time Missouri's second-longest serving member of the U.S. House delegation. Following his retirement from Congress, he was named CEO of the American Consumer and Investor Institute and was appointed to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators by Governor Mike Kehoe.

Early Life

William Blaine Luetkemeyer was born on May 7, 1952, in Jefferson City, the capital city of Missouri. He was raised in the rural central Missouri region, an area characterized by its agricultural economy and small-town communities. Luetkemeyer's upbringing in this part of the state shaped the priorities he would later bring to public office, including a focus on farming, small business, and the concerns of rural constituents.

Luetkemeyer has familial ties to Missouri politics. His cousin, Tony Luetkemeyer, also entered public service in the state. Throughout his career, Blaine Luetkemeyer maintained his residence in St. Elizabeth, a small community in Miller County, underscoring his connection to the rural heartland of the state. During his 26 years as a legislator, he regularly traveled back and forth between Washington, D.C., and his home in St. Elizabeth to remain close to his family and community.

Before entering politics, Luetkemeyer was involved in business and banking in central Missouri, experiences that informed his later legislative work on financial services committees in both the state legislature and the U.S. Congress.

Education

Luetkemeyer attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Lincoln University, a historically black public university founded in 1866, is located in Luetkemeyer's hometown. His education there provided a foundation for his subsequent careers in business and public service.

Career

Missouri House of Representatives (1999–2005)

Luetkemeyer began his career in elected office as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, where he represented the 115th district. He served from January 1999 to January 2005, succeeding Don Steen in the seat. Upon his departure, he was succeeded by Rodney Schad. During his time in the state legislature, Luetkemeyer gained experience in the legislative process and developed relationships within Missouri's Republican political networks that would serve him in his subsequent bid for federal office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress (2008)

In 2008, Luetkemeyer ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to succeed Kenny Hulshof, who vacated Missouri's 9th congressional district to run for governor. Luetkemeyer won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, beginning his tenure in Congress in January 2009.

Missouri's 9th Congressional District (2009–2013)

Luetkemeyer represented Missouri's 9th congressional district from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2013. The 9th district at the time covered a large swath of northeastern and central Missouri, encompassing rural communities and small cities. During this period, Luetkemeyer established himself as a conservative Republican member focused on financial regulation, agriculture, and limited government.

Missouri's 3rd Congressional District (2013–2025)

Following redistricting after the 2010 census, Luetkemeyer's district was redrawn and redesignated as Missouri's 3rd congressional district. He represented this district from January 3, 2013, until his retirement on January 3, 2025. The 3rd district encompassed portions of central and east-central Missouri. Luetkemeyer was reelected multiple times, ultimately serving eight terms in the U.S. House.

Committee Assignments and Legislative Focus

Throughout his congressional tenure, Luetkemeyer was a member of several key committees. He served on the House Financial Services Committee, where he was involved in oversight of banking regulation, insurance, and housing policy. His background in banking in Missouri informed his work on financial services legislation.

Luetkemeyer also served as Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, succeeding Steve Chabot in that role and being succeeded by Nydia Velázquez.

Among his notable legislative efforts, Luetkemeyer was a sponsor of the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2017, which sought to modify the criteria by which financial institutions are designated as systemically important, a designation that subjects banks to heightened regulatory requirements. He spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 3312 in December 2017.

Luetkemeyer also introduced and supported legislation related to flood insurance reform. He was a sponsor of H.R. 3329 during the 113th Congress and was involved in other bills addressing regulatory reform and financial oversight. Additionally, he was associated with H.R. 4986 and H.R. 5758 during the 113th Congress, both of which dealt with aspects of financial regulation and government policy.

Caucus Memberships

Luetkemeyer was a member of several congressional caucuses during his time in the House. He was a member of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of conservative House Republicans. He was also a member of the Congressional Constitution Caucus, which focuses on constitutional principles in legislation. Additionally, Luetkemeyer was a member of the Congressional Western Caucus, a bipartisan group addressing issues affecting the western United States, including natural resources, public lands, and agriculture.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

On January 4, 2024, Luetkemeyer announced that he would not seek a ninth term in Congress. At the time, he was Missouri's second-longest serving member of the U.S. House delegation. In an October 2024 interview, Luetkemeyer reflected on his decision, stating, "It's time for me to step back," and noted that throughout his 26 years as a legislator he had traveled back and forth between Washington and his home in St. Elizabeth to be with his family. His congressional term ended on January 3, 2025, and he was succeeded by Bob Onder.

Post-Congressional Career

CEO of the American Consumer and Investor Institute

On February 27, 2025, the American Consumer and Investor Institute (ACII) announced that Luetkemeyer would serve as its new chief executive officer. The organization made the announcement through a press release, citing his experience in Congress on financial services and consumer policy matters.

University of Missouri Board of Curators

On March 4, 2025, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced Luetkemeyer's appointment to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators. Luetkemeyer, identified as a resident of St. Elizabeth, was selected to serve on the board that governs the University of Missouri's four-campus system. The Missouri Senate confirmed his appointment later that month, on March 27, 2025. The appointment was also reported by the Columbia Missourian.

Personal Life

Luetkemeyer has three children. He has maintained his residence in St. Elizabeth, a small community in Miller County in central Missouri, throughout his career in public service. During his years in Congress, he was known for regularly commuting between Washington, D.C., and his Missouri home to spend time with his family.

His cousin, Tony Luetkemeyer, is also involved in Missouri politics, reflecting the family's engagement in public affairs in the state.

After retiring from Congress, Luetkemeyer expressed contentment with his decision to leave Washington. In a January 2026 interview with the Jefferson City News Tribune, approximately one year after leaving office, he indicated that he had no plans to return to Congress, instead focusing on what the newspaper described as "quality time" away from the demands of legislative service.

Legacy

Blaine Luetkemeyer's sixteen-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, combined with his six years in the Missouri House of Representatives, gave him one of the longer legislative careers among Missouri politicians of his era. His time in Congress spanned significant periods in American politics, from the early years of the Obama administration through the presidencies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

His legislative focus on financial services regulation positioned him as a consistent voice within the Republican caucus on matters related to banking oversight, insurance regulation, and the impact of federal regulations on community banks and small financial institutions. His work on the House Financial Services Committee and his role as Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee reflected priorities shaped by his pre-congressional career in banking and business in rural Missouri.

Luetkemeyer's transition from Congress to the private sector and to a role on the University of Missouri Board of Curators illustrated a pattern common among retiring members of Congress, leveraging policy expertise gained in Washington for roles in the nonprofit and educational sectors. His appointment to the Board of Curators by Governor Mike Kehoe in 2025 signaled continued engagement in Missouri public affairs after his departure from federal office.

Throughout his career, Luetkemeyer represented a largely rural and conservative district in Missouri, and his voting record and legislative priorities reflected those constituencies. He was a member of the Republican Study Committee, the Congressional Constitution Caucus, and the Congressional Western Caucus, aligning himself with the conservative wing of the House Republican Conference.