Representative Ann Wagner serves Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, a position she has held since January 3, 2013. Born and raised in St. Louis, Wagner has extensive experience in politics and public service. She graduated from Cor Jesu Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Prior to her election to Congress, she worked as a businesswoman, notably serving as the chair of the Missouri Republican Party from 1999 to 2005 and as the co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 2001 to 2005. Wagner also held the position of United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from 2005 to 2009, an experience that informs her engagement in foreign affairs through her current role.
In Congress, Wagner has continued her advocacy for Republican values through her active participation in various committees. She is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she contributes to significant policy discussions on finance, banking, and international relations.
A strong proponent of small businesses, Wagner has sponsored bills aimed at reducing regulatory burdens on entrepreneurship. For instance, she introduced the Small LENDERS Act to exempt smaller lenders from excessive reporting obligations, recognizing the critical role that community banks and credit unions play in lending to small businesses. Similarly, the 1071 Repeal to Protect Small Business Lending Act seeks to eliminate data collection requirements for small business loans, which are seen as hindrances that restrict access to capital. Supporters of these initiatives argue that reducing compliance costs will enable lenders to better serve the needs of small business owners in her district and beyond.
Wagner has also shown a keen interest in social issues, particularly those affecting veterans and human trafficking. She is a co-sponsor of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act aimed at enhancing federal resources to combat trafficking. This bill proposes increased funding for educational initiatives to protect children from exploitation and to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
On the international front, Wagner has been an advocate for strong measures against nations perceived to be threats to U.S. national security. She has introduced the FIRM Act of 2025, which proposes increasing visa fees for immigrants coming from countries identified as national security risks, reinforcing a stringent immigration policy. Her stance on foreign relations is further emphasized by her support for the No Iranian Energy Act, which seeks to impose sanctions on Iran's energy sector, reflecting a commitment to curbing Iran's influence in the geopolitics of the Middle East.
The composition of the bills Wagner endorses indicates a pattern of prioritizing fiscal conservatism, national security, and the protection of small businesses. Her political leaning can be characterized as conservative, reflecting a strong alignment with traditional Republican values focused on economic growth, regulatory reform, and maintaining robust national defense.
In her personal life, Wagner is married and has three children. She remains active in community initiatives and takes pride in her role as a public servant, dedicated to representing the interests of her constituents in Missouri while upholding her party's principles at the national level.