Missouri’s first congressional district includes all of St. Louis and part of the surrounding area. It is located in the eastern portion of the state. Representative William Lacy Clay (D) has been in office since 2001 and the district has voted solidly Democratic in all presidential elections since 2000. Clay won by a 51.4% margin over his Republican challenger in the 2014 election. This very urban district is 46.9% white and 49.8% black and was previously represented for 32 years by Clay’s father, William Lacy Clay Sr. (D). Challenger Robert Vroman (R) has never previously held public office.