1996Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1996 election for Missouri's 8th District
U.S. House · Missouri
Jo Ann Emerson (Ind) won with 50.5% of the vote, defeating Emily Firebaugh (D) by 13.2 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Jo Ann EmersonIndependent · winner
50.5%112,472
Emily FirebaughDemocrat
37.3%83,084
Richard KlineRepublican
10.5%23,477
Greg TiapekLibertarian
1.1%2,503
David R. ZimmerNatural Law
0.6%1,318
222,854 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Emily FirebaughNo Republican
$709.5K
Raised by the campaign
—
$706.6K
Spent by the campaign
—
$2.9K
Cash on hand
—
Other candidates' campaigns: Jo Ann Emerson $838.7K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Jo Ann Emerson (I)Emily Firebaugh (D)Richard Kline (R)
Also on the ballot: Greg Tiapek (Libertarian), 1.1%; David R. Zimmer (Natural Law), 0.6%