Senator Mitch McConnell

Transcription

1 Kentucky

2 Senator Mitch McConnell Republican Mitch McConnell, the senior senator from Kentucky, was first elected in 1984 and rose through the ranks to become the Senate majority leader. A tough, thick-skinned tactician, he made it his quest to lead the opposition to President Barack Obama but he also has been a skillful negotiator at times of crisis when partisanship has threatened the ability of the government to function. McConnell grew up in Alabama, where he overcame polio, and at age 13, moved to Louisville. Soon after graduating from law school, he became chief legislative assistant to Kentucky Sen. Marlow Cook. He served in the Ford administration Justice Department and then moved back to Louisville. In 1977, at age 35, McConnell won the office that had been Cook s political stepping-stone, Jefferson County judge-executive. He was reelected in 1981, and in 1984, he ran for the Senate against incumbent Democrat Walter (Dee) Huddleston. McConnell won by 5,169 votes out of 1.2 million cast. He has been in politics for most of his adult life and is married to former Bush administration Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, who was recently nominated by President-elect Trump to be Transportation Secretary. In taking over as the Senate's top Republican, McConnell regularly pledged his desire to surmount gridlock and apply his well-honed powers of persuasion to get GOP colleagues to join him. Currently: Senator, KY Elected: 1984 Education: U. of Louisville, B.A., 1964; U. of KY, J.D., 1967 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Elaine), 3 Contact: (202) Russell Senate Office Washington, DC Strongly opposes gun control Supports efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act Opposes campaign finance reform as infringement on speech rights Supported an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts Opposes regulation of greenhouse gases Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Senate Committee on Intelligence 2014 General Mitch McConnell (R) Votes: 806,787 Percent: 56.0% Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) Votes: 584,698 Percent: 41.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2017.

3 Senator Rand Paul Republican Sen. Rand Paul, elected in 2010 as Kentucky s junior senator, is the son of former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, a libertarian and a presidential candidate in 2008 and The younger Paul is poised to preside over his father s devoted following among strict adherents of limited government. He attended Baylor University, where he was an active member of the Young Conservatives of Texas. Although he failed to get an undergraduate degree at Baylor, Paul was admitted to Duke University, where he got his medical degree. Post residency, Paul moved to Bowling Green, Ky., near his wife s home town, and opened an ophthalmology practice. After he gave a speech on tax day in 2009 to a Tea Party group, he decided to run for the Senate. Though Sen. Majority leader McConnell supported Paul s opponent, Paul won the primary 59-35%. He went on to win the general election 56-44%. His victory was counted as one of the major triumphs for the Tea Party movement, and as soon as he got to Washington, Paul established a Tea Party Caucus in the Senate. Paul offered a large number of bills for a freshman, and he was perfectly willing to use his power to block anything he viewed as government overreach. When the budget blueprint from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which included his controversial plan to revamp Medicare, came to a vote in the Senate in May 2011, Paul was one of five Republicans who joined Democrats in voting it down. The other GOP senators were moderates who opposed Ryan s plan because of its deep cuts to Medicare. Paul opposed it because its spending cuts overall didn t go far enough. Paul suspended his 2016 presidential campaign after the Iowa caucuses. Currently: Senator, KY Elected: 2010 Education: Baylor U., attended, ; Duke U., M.D., 1988 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Married (Kelley), 3 Contact: (202) Russell Senate House Office Washington, DC Favors pro-life legislation Favors an absolute right to gun ownership Opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions Supports building the Keystone pipeline Favors repealing Obamacare Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Rand Paul (R) Votes: 1,090,177 Percent: 57.3% Jim Gray (D) Votes: 813,246 Percent: 42.7% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, 2017.

4 Congressman James Comer James Comer was born on August 19, 1972 and grew up in rural Monroe County, Kentucky. He always dreamed of becoming a farmer. After graduating from Western Kentucky University he borrowed $120,000 to purchase his first farm and began his business. Today that business is one of the largest farming operations in south central Kentucky. He served for 11 years in the Kentucky House of Representatives and was the Kentucky commissioner of agriculture from 2012 to He has three kids with his wife Tamara Jo. After a close primary run for governor in 2015, he switched to running for Congress and earned 60% of the vote in his primary. Comer defeated Democratic challenger Sam Gaskins in the general election with 73% of the vote. 01 Elected: 2016 Education: Western KY U., B.A., 1993 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Tamera Jo), 3 Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution Supports the 2nd Amendment Pro-life Opposes gay marriage Opposes amnesty and sanctuary cities Supports building a wall along the southern border House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform James Comer (R) Votes: 216,959 Percent: 72.6% Sam Gaskins (D) Votes: 81,710 Percent: 27.3% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

5 Congressman Brett Guthrie Republican Brett Guthrie, elected in 2008, has a military and business background that plays well with constituents, along with a reputation as a loyal party vote that endears him to GOP leaders. He holds a plum seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, enabling him to work with fellow Kentucky Republican Ed Whitfield on protecting the state s coal and oil industries. A graduate of West Point, Guthrie served 14 years in the U.S. Army, first in the Reserve, then as a field artillery officer with the 101st Airborne division at Fort Campbell. In 1998, Guthrie was elected to the state Senate, where he focused on education issues and became chairman of the Transportation Committee, helping the state develop its highway budget. Republicans expected him to eventually join the leadership ranks, but Guthrie had his sights set on Congress. He won his House seat in 2008 over Democrat state Sen. David Boswell. Once in the House, Guthrie proved to be a dependable Republican. He was named in April 2012 to co-lead a bipartisan working group on how the federal government could more efficiently use wireless spectrum. In 2012, Guthrie took a softer line in criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency than other Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee, but believes that the agency needs to strike a better balance between regulation and the economy. Guthrie rejoined the Education and the Workforce Committee for the 113th Congress ( ), saying he wanted to work on education and job-training issues for his state. 02 Elected: 2008 Education: U.S. Military Academy, B.S., 1987; Yale U., M.A., 1997 Religion: Church of Christ Family: Married (Beth), 3 Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports gun ownership Pro-life Opposes the 2008 bailout of the financial industry Opposes the Affordable Care Act Supports balancing environmental regulation and economic growth House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Energy and Commerce Brett Guthrie (R) Votes: 251,825 Percent: 100%

6 Congressman John Yarmuth Democrat John Yarmuth, who was first elected in 2006, is a former journalist whose candor sometimes leads him to go off-message in discussing his party s shortcomings. But he also enjoys rebuking Republicans, especially his powerful home-state colleague Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader. He ran unsuccessfully for Louisville alderman in 1975, and for county commissioner in Unhappy with the policies of President Ronald Reagan, Yarmuth switched his party affiliation to Democrat in In 1990, Yarmuth founded the Louisville Eccentric Observer and for the next 15 years, penned a column called Hot Coals that promoted his mostly liberal views. In 2006, five-term Rep. Anne Northup was vulnerable in the Democratic-leaning 3rd District, and Yarmuth won the election. With his journalism background, he joined a messaging group that advised Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders on media strategy. He joined the Budget Committee, where he frequently jabs at Senator McConnell (R-KY) on fiscal policy. But Yarmuth also goes places rhetorically where most Democrats won t venture. After the House passed the fiscal-cliff budget compromise, he praised House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). Northup came back for a rematch in 2008, and even though she raised more money than Yarmuth, he had a much easier time than in 2006, winning 59%-41%. In 2010, Yarmuth held back the Republican wave with 55% of the vote, and then increased his percentage to 64% two years later. 03 Elected: 2006 Education: Yale U., B.A., 1969; Georgetown U., attended, ; U. of Louisville, attended, 1975 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Catherine), 1 child Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Opposed the War in Iraq and opposes going to war in Syria Supports the Affordable Care Act Supported the financial and auto industry bailouts Supports cap-and-trade and clean energy House Committee on the Budget John Yarmuth (D) Votes: 212,401 Percent: 63.5% Harold Bratcher (R) Votes: 122,093 Percent: 36.5%

7 Congressman Thomas Massie Republican Thomas Massie rose above a crowded field to win the GOP primary in the 4th District, which paved the way for him to replace retiring Republican Rep. Geoff Davis in He was raised in Vanceburg, Ky., and attended MIT. While at MIT, Massie was part of a group that invented the Phantom, a device enabling users to interact with objects in cyberspace through touch. To market the product, he and his wife, Rhonda, started the firm SensAble Technologies in Massie eventually left SensAble Technologies in 2003 and moved back to Kentucky with his family to run a farm, where he built a timber-frame house that runs on solar energy. He got interested in politics after learning about a proposed tax in Lewis County that would fund a building for a local conservation office. In 2010, he entered the political fray by winning a campaign for Lewis County judge-executive. In that position, Massie boasted that in the first nine months, he eliminated enough wasteful spending to pay his first three years of salary. Massie launched his campaign to replace Davis in January It was a crowded seven-candidate field, but Massie attracted the all-important support of Tea Party activists. He had been a strong supporter of Rand Paul during Paul s 2010 U.S. Senate race, and Massie named former Paul aide Ryan Hogan as his campaign manager. Massie effectively portrayed himself as the outsider in the race, and won the primary handily. In the special election necessitated by Davis early departure, Massie easily beat Grant County lawyer Bill Adkins. He showed his rebellious streak on his first House vote in January 2013, refusing to back Ohio Republican John Boehner for a new term as House speaker, instead voting for Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., who had no chance of winning. 04 Elected: 2012 Education: MIT, B.S., 1993, M.S., 1996 Religion: Methodist Family: Married (Rhonda), 4 Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports government budget-cuts Opposes bailouts and stimulus spending Supports U.S. energy independence, but not subsidies for these industries Supports tax reform Supports Second Amendment rights House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform House Committee on Science, Space and Technology House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Thomas Massie (R) Votes: 233,922 Percent: 71.3% Calvin Sidle (D) Votes: 94,065 Percent: 28.7%

8 Congressman Hal Rogers Harold Rogers, a Republican first elected in 1980, is an old-school deal-maker who, in the days before the ban on earmarks, not only defended them but boasted about the prodigious sums he steered back home. The Lexington Herald-Leader dubbed him the Prince of Pork, but he is beloved in his rural district: he regularly is reelected with more than 75% of the vote. Rogers grew up in Wayne County, graduated from the University of Kentucky, served in the National Guard and then practiced law in Somerset before buying the Citizens National Bank in Somerset. In 1969, at age 34, he was elected Pulaski-Rockcastle Commonwealth attorney. In 1979, he was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. The following year, when the 5th District congressman retired, Rogers was one of 11 Republicans in the primary. He got the nomination with 23% of the vote (Kentucky has no runoff except in gubernatorial races) and then easily won in November. Rogers rose to chairman of Appropriations in 2011 after Republicans won control of the House. He had first sought the post after the 2004 election, but the GOP leadership chose the more senior Jerry Lewis of California. After the 2010 election, Lewis sought a waiver of the Republicans three-term limit on chairman and ranking member positions, but the Republican Steering Committee did not agree and named Rogers as chairman. Part of the reason for Rogers continuing clout is his ability to work with Democrats. Another source of his influence is the inability of recent congressional majorities to pass individual appropriations bills, which has led to massive omnibus spending bills, something that has enabled Republicans to make policy via riders on the omnibus legislation. Current: Representative, KY- 05 Elected: 1980 Education: U. of KY, B.A., 1962, J.D., 1964 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Cynthia), 3 Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports the Appalachian Regional Commission Supports the United Mine Workers Combined Benefit Fund Opposes EPA funding and regulations Supports government budget cuts Supports efforts to eradicate abuse of prescription and other drugs House Committee on Appropriations Hal Rogers (R) Votes: 221,242 Percent: 100%

9 Congressman Andy Barr Two years after losing to Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler by just 647 votes, Republican attorney Andy Barr got his revenge by winning Kentucky s 6th District in 2012, even after boundary changes made the district slightly more Democratic. Barr grew up in Lexington and graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor s degree in government and philosophy. After two years as a legislative assistant for then Rep. Jim Talent, R-Mo., Barr returned to his hometown to earn a law degree from the University of Kentucky. Since then, he has practiced law as well as taught constitutional law and administrative law as a part-time instructor at Morehead State University. Barr also served as a deputy general counsel to former Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher. The race against Chandler in 2010 went down to the wire, and although Barr hoped a recheck of voting machines would narrow the gap, he decided against a recount and conceded to Chandler 10 days after the election. Barr got an earlier start in his 2012 rematch and attacked President Barack Obama s policies especially on coal, an important issue to the district and aggressively went after his rival. Polls showed the race tightening, and Barr got fundraising help from GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and outside Republican groups that helped put him over the top. He won, 51% to 47%. 06 Elected: 2012 Education: U. of VA, B.A., 1996; U. of KY, J.D., 2001 Religion: Episcopalian Family: Married (Eleanor), 2 Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Opposes direct military intervention in Syria Supports accountability for Members of Congress Opposes increasing the national debt Opposes the Affordable Care Act Supports the coal industry House Committee on Financial Services Andy Barr (R) Votes: 202,099 Percent: 61.1% Nancy Jo Kemper (D) Votes: 128,728 Percent: 38.9%