Aside from a June special election to replace GOP Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who took a job heading the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Missouri hasn't seen much excitement or turnover in House races. The state's GOP-drawn redistricting map has pretty much ensured a 6-2 Republican edge in the delegation, and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's decision not to challenge freshman GOP Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08) in the primary ensures Smith's reelection.MO-01: Lacy Clay (D) - East: City of St. Louis and northern suburbsSolid Democratic. Some redistricting-generated member versus member races in 2012 were relatively "fair" fights. Not this one. Republicans eliminated Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan's 3rd CD in redistricting, and when he made the dubious choice to run against the well-entrenched Clay in this African-American majority St. Louis district, he never had a prayer. Although Carnahan (like Clay) had a legendary family name in Missouri politics, he was never beloved by the "progressive" base in St. Louis and at a huge geographical disadvantage, occupying just 30 percent of the merged district compared to 70 percent for Clay. The race got
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