Jim Risch
Jim Risch | |
---|---|
United States Senator from Idaho | |
Assumed office January 3, 2009 Serving with Mike Crapo | |
Preceded by | Larry Craig |
Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | |
Assumed office February 3, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | |
In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Bob Corker |
Succeeded by | Bob Menendez |
Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | David Vitter |
Succeeded by | Marco Rubio |
31st Governor of Idaho | |
In office May 26, 2006 – January 1, 2007 | |
Lieutenant | Mark Ricks |
Preceded by | Dirk Kempthorne |
Succeeded by | Butch Otter |
39th and 41st Lieutenant Governor of Idaho | |
In office January 1, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | |
Governor | Butch Otter |
Preceded by | Mark Ricks |
Succeeded by | Brad Little |
In office January 3, 2003 – May 26, 2006 | |
Governor | Dirk Kempthorne |
Preceded by | Jack Riggs |
Succeeded by | Mark Ricks |
Majority leader of the Idaho Senate | |
In office December 1, 1996 – November 30, 2002 | |
Preceded by | Bruce Newcomb |
Succeeded by | Bart Davis |
36th President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate | |
In office December 1, 1982 – November 30, 1988 | |
Preceded by | Reed Budge |
Succeeded by | Mike Crapo |
Member of the Idaho Senate from the 18th district | |
In office January 28, 1995 – December 1, 2002 | |
Preceded by | Roger Madsen |
Succeeded by | Sheila Sorensen |
Member of the Idaho Senate from the 21st district | |
In office December 1, 1974 – December 1, 1988 | |
Succeeded by | Mike Burkett |
Personal details | |
Born | James Elroy Risch May 3, 1943 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Education | University of Idaho (BS, JD) |
Signature | |
Website | Senate website |
James Elroy Risch (/ˈrɪʃ/ RISH; born May 3, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Idaho since 2009.[1] A member of the Republican Party, he served as lieutenant governor of Idaho under governors Dirk Kempthorne and Butch Otter. He also served from May 2006 to January 2007 as the 31st governor of Idaho.
Raised in
Risch ran for lieutenant governor of Idaho in 2002, defeating incumbent Jack Riggs in the primary. He served under Governor Dirk Kempthorne from 2003 to 2006. After Kempthorne resigned to become the United States Secretary of the Interior in May 2006, Risch was sworn in as governor. He chose not to run for a full term as governor in the 2006 gubernatorial election and instead ran for reelection as lieutenant governor. After winning the nomination, he served under Governor Butch Otter from 2007 to 2009.
Risch ran for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Larry Craig in the 2008 election. He won the election, defeating Democratic nominee Larry LaRocco. Risch was reelected in 2014 and 2020.
Early life and education
Born in
Risch entered politics in 1970 in
State politics
Idaho Senate
Risch was first elected to the
In a dramatic upset, Risch was defeated for reelection in 1988 by Democratic political newcomer and Boise attorney Mike Burkett.[8][9] As of mid-2006, it remains Idaho's most expensive legislative contest.
In the second political defeat of his career, Risch lost the 1994 primary election for a state Senate seat to Roger Madsen. Later that year Risch chaired Governor-elect Phil Batt's transition team, and after Batt took office he appointed Risch to the seat vacated by Madsen, who had been named as the director of the Department of Labor, then known as the Department of Employment.[10][11] In 1996, Risch was elected Senate Majority Leader after defeating fellow Boise Republican Sheila Sorensen.[12][13]
39th lieutenant governor (2003–2006)
In January 2001, Risch had his eye on the lieutenant governor's seat vacated by Butch Otter, who resigned after being elected to Congress, but Governor Dirk Kempthorne appointed state Senator Jack Riggs of Coeur d'Alene to the post instead. The next year, Risch defeated Riggs in the Republican primary and won the general election, spending $360,000 of his own money on the campaign.
31st governor of Idaho (2006–2007)
On May 26, 2006, Risch became
Upon taking office, Risch eliminated Idaho's bureau office in
Risch was initially expected to enter the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary to succeed Kempthorne, who was completing his second term at this time of his federal appointment. But U.S. Representative Butch Otter had already announced his candidacy to replace Kempthorne and gained a significant head start in campaigning and fundraising. In November 2005, Risch announced his intention to seek election again as lieutenant governor. He served out the remaining seven months of Kempthorne's term, which ended in January 2007.
41st lieutenant governor (2007–2009)
Risch was unopposed for the 2006 Republican nomination for lieutenant governor and defeated former
U.S. Senate
Elections
- 2008
On August 31, 2007, the
- 2014
Risch won the Republican primary with 79.9% of the vote
- 2020
Risch was unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary.[23] He defeated Democratic nominee Paulette Jordan in the general election with 62% of the vote.[24]
Tenure
2000s
Risch was one of four freshmen Republican senators in the 111th Congress of 2009, with Mike Johanns of Nebraska, George LeMieux of Florida and Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Republican Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho called Risch "results-oriented".[25]
2010s
In 2017, Risch was one of 22 senators to sign a letter[26] to President Donald Trump urging him to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.
On August 11, 2017, in an interview on
On March 22, 2018, the day before a potential
In January 2019, Risch joined Marco Rubio, Cory Gardner, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in introducing legislation that would impose sanctions on the government of President of Syria Bashar al-Assad and bolster American cooperation with Israel and Jordan.[30]
2020s
On January 21, 2020, during the first day of opening arguments in Trump's Senate impeachment trial, Risch was the first senator to fall asleep. Courtroom sketch artist Art Lien memorialized his nap.[31]
In 2020, while Chairman of the
Risch was participating in the certification of the
In 2021, Risch blocked the confirmation of Holocaust historian
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy
- Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
- Subcommittee on Water and Power
- Committee on Foreign Relations (Ranking Member)
- As Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Risch is entitled to sit as an ex officio member on all subcommittees.
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Select Committee on Ethics
- Select Committee on Intelligence
Caucuses
- Senate Republican Conference
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[37]
Foreign policy positions
Saudi Arabia
In 2019, Risch sought to quell dissent among Republican senators over what they perceived as the Trump administration's weak response to the killing of Saudi journalist and U.S. permanent resident Jamal Khashoggi, and its refusal to send Congress a report on the administration's determination of who killed Khashoggi. He told his fellow Republican senators and Politico that the Trump administration was in compliance with the Magnitsky Act, but the administration had said that it refused to comply with the Act.[38]
Israel Anti-Boycott Act
In March 2018, Risch co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which would bar federal contractors from encouraging or participating in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.[39][40]
Turkey sanctions
Risch was a co-sponsor of the Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019 (S.2641–116th),
Ethiopia
On October 18, 2022, Risch criticized the Biden administration for hesitating to impose sanctions on the government of Ethiopia, where many atrocities and war crimes were committed in the Tigray War. He tweeted that Biden "must stop avoiding the use of sanctions in fear of offending and prioritize #humanrights".[43]
Political positions
Risch is considered politically conservative. The American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability gives him a lifetime conservative score of 91.54.[44] The liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him an ideology score of zero in 2019.[45]
Abortion
Risch is
Guns
The
In 2013, along with 12 other Republican senators, Risch threatened to
In response to the
In 2016, Risch voted against the Feinstein Amendment, which would have blocked the sale of guns to people on the terrorist watch list, and Democrat
Criminal justice
Risch opposed the
Health care
Risch supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.[54] He voted against the ACA in 2010.[55]
On May 21, 2020, Risch introduced S. 3829, the Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act, but it did not receive a vote. In opening the confirmation hearings for Secretary Antony Blinken, Risch emphasized it as a legislative and foreign policy priority, given the "catastrophic failure at every level" of global health security infrastructure. The bill's supporters claim it would "improve coordination among the relevant Federal departments and agencies implementing United States foreign assistance for global health security, and more effectively enable partner countries to strengthen and sustain resilient health systems and supply chains with the resources, capacity, and personnel required to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to infectious disease threats before they become pandemics, and for other purposes."[56]
2021 storming of the United States Capitol
On May 28, 2021, Risch abstained from voting on the creation of an independent commission to investigate the
Veteran Affairs
On August 2, 2022, Risch was one of only 11 senators to vote against the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, a bill to expand VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.[58]
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Risch was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the
Personal life
Risch is
Electoral history
Idaho State Senate
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 2,299 | 76.43 | ||
Republican | Emil Loya, Jr. | 709 | 23.57 | ||
Total votes | 3,008 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 9,543 | 67.53 | ||
Democratic | Sharon Ullman | 4,589 | 32.47 | ||
Total votes | 14,132 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 2,656 | 67.43 | ||
Republican | Sharon Ullman | 1,283 | 32.57 | ||
Total votes | 3,939 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 8,742 | 76.02 | ||
Libertarian | Daniel Adams | 2,758 | 23.98 | ||
Total votes | 11,500 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 3,222 | 50.40 | ||
Republican | Jack Noble | 3,171 | 49.60 | ||
Total votes | 6,393 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 12,917 | 80.32 | ||
Libertarian | Daniel Adams | 3,165 | 19.68 | ||
Total votes | 16,082 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Idaho Lieutenant Governor
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch | 49,607 | 34.62 | ||
Republican | Jack Riggs | 39,689 | 27.69 | ||
Republican | Celia Gould | 22,134 | 15.44 | ||
Republican | Larry Eastland | 22,079 | 15.41 | ||
Republican | Jim Pratt | 5,638 | 3.93 | ||
Republican | Darrell Babbitt | 4,161 | 2.90 | ||
Total votes | 143,308 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch | 226,017 | 56.22 | ||
Democratic | Bruce M. Perry | 160,438 | 39.91 | ||
Libertarian | Michael J. Kempf | 15,562 | 3.87 | ||
Total votes | 402,017 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 119,401 | 100.00 | ||
Total votes | 119,401 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 259,648 | 58.29 | ||
Democratic | Larry LaRocco | 175,312 | 39.36 | ||
Constitution | William Charles Wellisch | 10,460 | 2.35 | ||
Total votes | 445,420 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
U.S. Senator
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch | 80,743 | 65.34 | ||
Republican | Scott Syme | 16,660 | 13.48 | ||
Republican | Richard Phenneger | 6,532 | 5.29 | ||
Republican | Neal Thompson | 5,375 | 4.35 | ||
Republican | Fred Adams | 4,987 | 4.04 | ||
Republican | Bill Hunter | 4,280 | 3.46 | ||
Republican | Brian Hefner | 2,915 | 2.36 | ||
Republican | Hal James Styles, Jr. | 2,082 | 1.68 | ||
Total votes | 123,574 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch | 371,744 | 57.65 | ||
Democratic | Larry LaRocco | 219,903 | 34.11 | ||
Independent | Rex Rammell | 34,510 | 5.35 | ||
Libertarian | Kent Marmon | 9,958 | 1.54 | ||
Independent | Pro-Life | 8,662 | 1.34 | ||
Total votes | 644,777 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 119,209 | 79.93 | ||
Republican | Jeremy "T" Anderson | 29,939 | 20.07 | ||
Total votes | 149,148 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 285,596 | 65.33 | ||
Democratic | Nels Mitchell | 151,574 | 34.67 | ||
Total votes | 437,170 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
Primary election | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 200,184 | 100.00 | ||
Total votes | 200,184 | 100.00 | |||
General election | |||||
Republican | Jim Risch (incumbent) | 538,446 | 62.62 | ||
Democratic | Paulette Jordan | 285,864 | 33.25 | ||
Independent | Natalie M. Fleming | 25,329 | 2.95 | ||
Constitution | Ray J. Writz | 10,188 | 1.18 | ||
Total votes | 859,827 | 100.00 | |||
Republican hold |
References
- ^ "2008 statewide totals". Archived from the original on February 20, 2015.
- ^ "risch". Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
- ^ "Phi Delta Theta". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1965. p. 359.
- ^ "College of Forestry, '65 graduates". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1965. p. 63.
- ^ "Jim Risch Biography". Jim Risch Senate. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ "College of Law". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1968. p. 36.
- ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (September 17, 2009). "Risch among the richest". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
- ^ "Risch quits politics". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 10, 1988. p. 10C.
- ^ "Risch says 'mistakes' led to loss of senate seat". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. November 10, 1988. p. 12A.
- ^ DEQ official quits over job protection loss. The Times-News. March 28, 1995.
- ^ Trillhaase, Marty (January 31, 1995). Gov. Batt appoints two new legislators. The Idaho Statesman.
- ^ Legislators gear up for next session. The Times-News. November 10, 1996.
- ^ Bill could pounce hard on future initiatives against cougar hunting. The Times-News. January 26, 1997.
- ^ Miller, John (June 16, 2006). "Governor names Ricks to lieutenant post". The Spokesman-Review.
- The Spokesman Review.
- The Spokesman Review.
- ^ Hahn, Gregory (September 1, 2007). "Risch rumors about replacing Sen. Craig are 'dead wrong'". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
- ^ Greene, Tom (October 9, 2007). "Jim Risch announces Senate bid". Coeur d'Alene Press. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
- ^ a b "2008 Primary Results statewide". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "2008 General Results statewide". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ "United States Senate election in Idaho, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Catalini, Michael (February 10, 2014). "Idaho Sen. Jim Risch: High energy, low visibility". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Inhofe, James. "Senator". Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ "WATCH: North Korea 'will regret it fast' if it acts against U.S. allies, Trump says". PBS. August 11, 2017.
- ^ Mattingly, Phil (March 23, 2018). "Idaho senator holds up bill over political rivalry with deceased governor". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ DeBonis, Mike (March 23, 2018). "Sen. James Risch's decades-old grudge briefly derailed the big spending bill". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Carney, Jordain (April 1, 2019). "Senate poised to rebut Trump on Syria". The Hill. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Mazza, Ed (January 22, 2020). "Caught Snoozing? Impeachment Sketch Artist Shows Sen. Jim Risch Zonked Out During Trial". HuffPost. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ Woodruff Swan, Betsy; Desiderio, Andrew (June 7, 2020). "Top aide: Senate chairman drops effort to secure Pompeo testimony". Politico. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Oversight Hearing Index". Welcome to the Congressional Oversight Hearing Index. The Lugar Center.
- ^ Kauffman, Gretel (January 8, 2021). "'Unpatriotic and un-American': Idaho officials react to storming of U.S. Capitol". Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ "Idaho and Wyoming politicians respond to Capitol riots". Local News 8. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ Rod, Marc (November 3, 2021). "GOP delays Lipstadt confirmation hearing over old tweets". Jewish Insider. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
- ^ Desiderio, Andrew (February 22, 2019). "Jim Risch tries to calm Republicans furious with Trump". Politico. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ "Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act". www.congress.gov. March 23, 2017.
- Intelligencer.
- ^ "S.2641 — 116th Congress (2019-2020): Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. October 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ Mattingly, Phil (December 5, 2019). "Powerful Senate chairman moves toward sanctions crackdown on Turkey as talks over weapons purchase falter". WRAL.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Team Biden Balks on Africa Sanctions". Foreign Policy. October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Sen. James E. Risch". American Conservative Union Foundation. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "ADA Voting Records | Americans for Democratic Action". Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "Aspiring Pol Changes Name To Pro-Life". CBS News. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Risch, Jim. ""The most basic right we as humans have is the right to life. My full statement on the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade below:"". Twitter. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Cox, Ramsey (February 15, 2013). "GOP bill would tighten rules on parental consent for abortion". The Hill. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ "NRA Endorses Jim Risch for U.S. Senate in Idaho". NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- National Public Radio. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Cowan, Richard (June 20, 2016). "Senate rejects gun-control measures after Orlando shooting". Reuters. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ "Risch, Crapo favored two of four gun bills that failed Monday". Idaho Statesman. June 21, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Levin, Marianne (December 18, 2018). "Senate approves Trump-backed criminal justice overhaul". Politico. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- The Spokesman Review. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (July 24, 2017). "With Senate vote looming, Crapo, Risch say they want to repeal, replace Obamacare". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ "Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act of 2020 (2020 - S. 3829)". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission". Washington Post. May 28, 2021.
- ^ "Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 2nd Session". senate.gov.
- ^ Folley, Aris (June 1, 2023). "Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling". The Hill. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 115th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results Idaho Primary Election May 28, 1996". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Idaho General Election Results November 5, 1996". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Idaho Primary Election Results May 26, 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Idaho General Election Results November 3, 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "May 23, 2000 Primary Election Results". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "November 7, 2000 General Election Results". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "May 28, 2002 Primary Election Results Statewide Totals". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "November 5, 2002 General Election Results Statewide Totals". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "May 23, 2006 Primary Election Results Statewide Totals". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "November 7, 2006 General Election Results Statewide Totals". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
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- ^ "2020 General Election Results – Statewide". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
External links
- Senator Jim Risch official U.S. Senate website
- Jim Risch for Senate
- Jim Risch at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Elections
- National Business Aviation Association: Election 2014, Sen. Jim Risch
- Risch revels in upcoming term as king The Idaho Statesman March 18, 2006
- Risch becomes Idaho's 31st governor The Idaho Statesman May 26, 2006