Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Technology, Commercial and Government Affairs

Senior Policy Advisor - Corporate and Finance Transactions

A former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Russ Carnahan most recently was an early prominent leader for the 2020 Biden campaign where he served as an outside adviser. From 2005-2013, Carnahan represented Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District that included urban and rural areas in the St. Louis region. He served in a number of leadership roles, including as Senior Democratic Whip from 2009-13 and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Center Aisle Caucus focused on common sense solutions for both political parties. Carnahan was selected as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations and received a Presidential Appointment from the Obama/Biden Administration as Congressional Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.  He also served on the U.S. House of Representatives committees for: Transportation & Infrastructure; Science & Technology; and Veterans Affairs.

Carnahan began his career in public service when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2000. He was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and Deputy Majority Whip.  He earned a number of awards for his legislative work, including from the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association, the St. Louis Business Journal and the Missouri Bar Association.  Carnahan also served as Director of Government Relations for BJC HealthCare, one of the largest hospital systems in the country.

After leaving Congress, Carnahan was a partner with Carnahan Global Consulting in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, MO., specializing in international business, legal and governmental consulting.  His work particularly focused on issues of renewable energy, sustainable building technology, historic preservation, transportation infrastructure and transition to commercial electric vehicles.

Part of a family well known for state and national public service, Carnahan is the son of former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan and the late Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan.  His wife, Debra Carnahan, is Principal with Carnahan Global Consulting, former Assistant U.S. Attorney and St. Louis Municipal Judge.