Eight-term U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau has won another term in Congress, defeating Poplar Bluff chiropractor Jack Rushin in Missouri's 8th Congressional District.
Unofficial results on Tuesday show that the Republican incumbent defeated her Democratic challenger in a southeast Missouri district that covers the state's Bootheel and the southern Ozarks. Libertarian candidate Rick Vandeven of Chaffee finished in third place.
Emerson was first elected to Congress in 1996 following the death of her husband Bill, who also served eight terms in the US House. She is Missouri's longest-serving member of Congress.