Todd Akin

William Todd Akin (July 5, 1947 – October 3, 2021) was an American politician and businessman. He was the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district from 2001 to 2013. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Todd Akin
Todd Akin with white border (cropped).jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byJim Talent
Succeeded byAnn Wagner
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 86th district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001
Preceded byJohn Hancock
Succeeded byJane Cunningham
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 85th district
In office
January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byFranc Flotron
Succeeded byChris Liese
Personal details
Born
William Todd Akin

(1947-07-05)July 5, 1947
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 3, 2021(2021-10-03) (aged 74)
Wildwood, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Lulli Boe (m. 1975)
Children6
EducationWorcester Polytechnic Institute (BS)
Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1972–1980
UnitU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In 1988, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He left office in 2000, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Akin was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate running against Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in the 2012 election. He lost the election because he said that women who are victims of what he called "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. Akin eventually apologized for the remark.[1] In 2014, he defended his comments and regretted apologizing for them.[2]

In April 2001, Akin had surgery for early-stage prostate cancer.[3] He died from cancer on October 3, 2021 in Wildwood, Missouri at the age of 74.[4]

References

  1. Haberkorn, Jennifer (November 6, 2012). "Abortion, rape controversy shaped key races". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83449.html. 
  2. Anna Palmer; Tarini Parti (July 10, 2014). "Akin un-apologizes". Politico. https://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/todd-akin-new-book-108745. Retrieved August 14, 2019. 
  3. "US Rep. Todd Akin To Have Surgery". Associated Press. 6 April 2001. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  4. Hanna, John; Salter, Jim (October 4, 2021). "Ex-US Rep. Todd Akin, sunk by ‘legitimate rape’ remark, dies" (in en). Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/business-health-election-2020-st-louis-missouri-0a1b944f96eee4b63d9ea57e04c44ca4. Retrieved October 4, 2021.