12 times lawmakers were replaced by their relatives in Congress

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
Monday, August 03, 2026

5. Former Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo.

Democrat Mel Carnahan won Missouri's 2000 U.S. Senate election posthumously.

While campaigning during the 2000 election, Carnahan died in a plane crash on Oct. 16, 2000, with his son Roger "Randy" Carnahan and his assistant Chris Sifford.

His wife, Jean, was appointed to fill the seat until a 2002 special election determined who would finish his term. She lost that election and left office when the 107th U.S. Congress ended in early 2003.

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

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