Representative Joe Adams, a Democrat, represents St. Louis County (District 86) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his third two-year term in November 2020. He previously served in the House from 2014 – 2018.

Adams is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He served as the Mayor of University City from 1995 – 2010, and as a professor of history at St. Louis Community College at Meramec for 32 years.

Adams is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion and has served on numerous boards and commissions, including as president of the Municipal League, Missouri Historic Record Commission and the Missouri Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation.

Born in Kansas City, Adams attended college at UMKC. He now resides in University City with his wife, Nancy. They have four children and four grandchildren.