Introduction
William H. "Billy" Long II (born August 11, 1955) is an American politician currently serving as the incumbent U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district since 2011. The district includes much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and is anchored in Springfield. The district also includes Joplin and the popular tourist destination of Branson.
A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to fill the district's vacant seat in the 2010 midterm elections following the successful election of its then-incumbent Roy Blunt to the U.S. Senate.
Early life and education
Long is a fourth-generation native of Missouri. He was born in Springfield in 1955. He attended the University of Missouri and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity prior to dropping out to attend the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City. He received his Certified Auctioneer Institute designation via the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute and Trustees.
Professional career
Long owned Billy Long Auctions, LLC. He was also a talk radio show host on the Springfield-based station KWTO. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, National Auctioneers Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.
Long also participated in the World Poker Tour participating in professional sanctioned games including the Southern Poker Championship at the Beau Rivage and the Bellagio Cup.
U.S. House of Representatives
2010
Long joined the race for the 7th Congressional District after incumbent U.S. Representative Roy Blunt chose to run for the U.S. Senate seat that was being vacated by Kit Bond. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—the de facto real election in the most Republican district in the state—Long narrowly won with 36 percent of the vote. He easily defeated Democratic challenger Scott Eckersley by a nearly two-to-one margin of victory.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 141,010 | 63.39 | |
| Democratic | Scott Eckersley | 67,545 | 30.37 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 13,866 | 6.23 | |
| Write-in | Others | 10 | 0.00 | |
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 203,565 | 63.87 | |
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 98,498 | 30.90 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 16,668 | 5.23 | |
| Write-in | Others | 9 | 0.00 | |
2014
In the August 5th, 2014 primary race, Long defeated sole Republican challenger Marshall Works 62.4% to 37.6%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 104,054 | 63.46 | |
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 47,282 | 28.84 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 12,584 | 7.68 | |
| Write-in | Others | 37 | 0.02 | |
Legislation
Since 2011 Rep. Long has sponsored 14 bills, one resolution and one concurrent resolution, and co-sponsored 844 other pieces of legislation.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Energy and Power
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Subcommittee on Health
- "2014 Missouri House Primaries Results". Politico. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- "Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Billy Long". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved April 27, 2016.