John Yarmuth
Chair of the House Budget Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded bySteve Womack
Succeeded byJodey Arrington
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byAnne Northup
Succeeded byMorgan McGarvey
Personal details
Born
John Allan Yarmuth

(1947-11-04) November 4, 1947 (age 76)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (since 1985)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (until 1985)
Spouse
Catherine Creedon
​
(m. 1981)​
Children1
EducationYale University (BA)
Signature
John Yarmuth's voice
John Yarmuth speaks in support of the American Rescue Plan
Recorded February 26, 2021

John Allan Yarmuth (/ˈjɑːrmɪθ/ YAR-mith; born November 4, 1947) is a retired American politician and newspaper editor who served as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district from 2007 to 2023. His district encompassed the vast majority of the Louisville Metro Area. From 2013 onward, he had been the sole Democratic member of Kentucky's congressional delegation. Yarmuth chaired the House Budget Committee from 2019 to 2023.[1] On October 12, 2021, he announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022.[2]

Early life and education

Yarmuth was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Edna E. (née Klein) and Stanley R. Yarmuth. He is descended from Jewish immigrants from Russia and Austria.[3] He graduated from Atherton High School.[4] He later graduated from Yale University, majoring in American studies.[4]

Early career

Yarmuth worked as a legislative aide for Republican U.S. Senator Marlow Cook from 1971 to 1974, then returned to Louisville and launched his publishing career by founding Louisville Today magazine, which operated from 1976 to 1982. He later worked as a vice president of University Relations at the University of Louisville from 1983 to 1986, where he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as an honoris causa initiate in 2014.[4][5]

Yarmuth described himself as a Rockefeller Republican in his earlier years. He left the party during Ronald Reagan's presidency, saying, "I saw this unmistakable move away from moderation when he started hosting Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and catering to the religious right".[6]

In 1990, Yarmuth founded the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO), a weekly newspaper for which he wrote a generally liberal political column that usually ran on page one. In 2003, he sold LEO to a company owned by Times Publishing Company of Pennsylvania, owner of the Erie Times-News. Yarmuth remained on board as a columnist and consultant until January 2006, when he put his column on hiatus to run for Congress.[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Yarmuth in May 2011

Elections

2006

See also: 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

On January 31, 2006, Yarmuth filed candidacy papers to represent Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. He won the Democratic primary on May 16, defeating Andrew Horne, Burrell Charles Farnsley and James W. Moore, and defeated incumbent Anne Northup in the November general election.

On August 7, 2006, The Courier-Journal reported that The Hill revealed a week before that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had earmarked $51.5 million for television advertising in 32 congressional districts across the nation, but none for Yarmuth's challenge in the third congressional district.[7]

On October 20, a Courier-Journal article stated that a WHAS11/SurveyUSA poll revealed the race had tightened dramatically, with Yarmuth leading Northup 48% to 47%. Another poll a month earlier had Northup leading by 6 points.[8] A WHAS11/SurveyUSA poll released on November 2 showed Yarmuth leading Northup 52% to 44%.[9]

On October 26, Yarmuth told Courier-Journal reporter Kay Stewart that he would donate his congressional salary—which would be $168,500 in 2007—to local charity.[10]

Because polls close early in Kentucky, many analysts saw this race as a key indicator and it immediately became one of the most watched House races in the nation. Yarmuth received 122,139 votes (51%) to Northup's 116,157 (48%). Independent candidates garnered 2,896 (1%).

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

Yarmuth ran unopposed in the primary, and faced Northup again in the general election.[11][12][13] He won with 59% of the vote.[14]

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Todd Lally and Independent Michael D. Hansen. He was reelected with 53% of the vote.[15]

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Brooks Wicker and Independent candidate Robert L. Devore Jr. Yarmuth received 206,385 votes (63.96%) to Wicker's 111,452 (23.32%) and Devore's 4,819 (1.49%).

2014

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

In the 2014 general election, Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Michael McFarlane and Independent Gregory Puccetti. On October 6, 2014, Kentucky Educational Television hosted a debate that was broadcast live on Louisville's KET, and was moderated by KET host Bill Goodman.[16] Yarmuth was reelected with 63.5% of the vote.

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Harold Bratcher and Independent Everett Corley. He won with 212,388 votes (63%) of the vote to Bratcher's 122,085 (37%). Corley received no votes.[17]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

On April 17, 2017, Yarmuth announced that his candidacy for reelection in the 2018 election.[18] During the campaign, he lobbied for the chairship of the House Budget Committee and promised to hold hearings on Medicare for all.[19] Yarmuth was reelected with over 62% of the vote against Vickie Yates Glisson, Kentucky's former Secretary of Health and Family Services.[20][21] After the Democrats took the House, Yarmuth became Budget Committee chair. In that position, he requested documents pertaining to the withholding of appropriated defense funds to Ukraine.[22]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky § District 3

Yarmuth was reelected to an eighth and final term with 62% of vote against Republican Rhonda Palazzo.

Tenure

Yarmuth in 2009.

Yarmuth took office on January 3, 2007.

After his first year in Congress, Yarmuth donated his post-tax congressional salary of just over $120,000 to various Louisville charities.[23]

On February 8, 2008, Yarmuth endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.[24]

On September 29, 2008, Yarmuth voted against the TARP bailout plan, as negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President George W. Bush, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.[25] He voted for the second version of the bailout bill.[26]

Yarmuth said he was so "nauseated" by a moment of silence for Michael Jackson on the House floor that he left the chamber. "I thought it was outrageous," he said. "In my two and a half years, we've not done this for anybody else. We've done it for former members and that's about it."[27]

After winning a 2008 rematch with Anne Northup, his 2006 general election opponent, Yarmuth was rewarded by the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee with a spot on the influential Ways and Means Committee. On the committee, he worked on issues on which he campaigned before the 2008 election: Social Security, pension, Medicare, and Medicaid issues.

At a September 2009 town hall meeting, constituents were unhappy with Yarmuth's decision to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "Yarmuth stayed calm in the face of boos and catcalls from some in the audience" according to an Associated Press report. "He warned that the current health care system is an unsustainable drain on businesses and the nation's economy."[28]

In 2011, Yarmuth and Walter Jones introduced a bill to overturn key parts of the controversial court case Citizens United v. FEC. The legislation would also give Congress the power to enact mandatory public financing for Congressional candidates and create a national holiday for voting purposes.[29]

In 2011, Yarmuth voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 due to a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.[30][31]

In 2013, Yarmuth introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would establish a public financing system for Congressional campaigns.[32][33]

In 2015, Yarmuth once again made an attempt at removing "dark money" from the political sphere by proposing HR 2125, the Keeping our Campaigns Honest Act of 2015.[34]

Yarmuth signed onto a "Medicare for All" bill along with 120 other House Democrats in 2018, supporting single-payer healthcare.[35]

Yarmuth was the only Kentuckian member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

On December 18, 2019, Yarmuth voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, the only House member from Kentucky to do so.[36]

For his tenure as the chairman of the House Budget Committee in the 116th Congress, Yarmuth earned an "A" grade from the nonpartisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.[37]

In 2021, Yarmuth introduced to the House the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, President Joe Biden's first major piece of legislation.[38]

On October 12, 2021, Yarmuth announced that he will retire from Congress at the end of his term in 2023.[39]

Committee assignments

Party leadership

Caucus memberships

Yarmuth's caucus memberships include:[43]

Electoral history

Kentucky 3rd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2006[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth 30,962 53.82
Democratic Andrew Horne 18,662 32.44
Democratic James Walter Moore 4,582 7.96
Democratic Burrel Charles Farnsley 3,322 5.77
Total votes 57,528 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2006[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth 122,489 50.62
Republican Anne M. Northup (incumbent) 116,568 48.18
Libertarian Donna Walker Mancini 2,134 0.88
Constitution W. Ed Parker 774 0.32
Total votes 241,965 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2008[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 203,843 59.37
Republican Anne M. Northup 139,527 40.63
Total votes 343,370 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2010[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 139,940 54.68
Republican Todd Lally 112,627 44.01
Libertarian Edward A. Martin 2,029 0.79
Independent Michael D. Hansen 1,334 0.52
Total votes 255,930 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 43,635 86.66
Democratic Burrel Charles Farnsley 6,716 13.34
Total votes 50,351 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2012[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 206,385 63.96
Republican Brooks Wicker 111,452 34.54
Independent Robert L. DeVore Jr. 4,819 1.49
Total votes 322,656 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2014[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 52,026 87.04
Democratic E. Ray Pierce 7,747 12.96
Total votes 59,773 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2014[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 157,056 63.49
Republican Michael Macfarlane 87,981 35.57
Independent Gregory Peter Puccetti 2,318 0.94
Total votes 247,355 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2016[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 212,401 63.50
Republican Harold Bratcher 122,093 36.50
Total votes 334,494 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2018[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 173,002 62.01
Republican Vickie Yates B. Glisson 101,930 36.06
Libertarian Gregory Boles 3,788 1.04
Total votes 278,720 100.0
Kentucky 3rd Congressional District General Election, 2020[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 230,672 62.07
Republican Rhonda Palazzo 137,425 37.07
Total votes 368,097 100.0

Television

In 2003, Yarmuth and former WHAS-AM radio talk show host John Ziegler debated political issues on the weekly WAVE program Yarmuth & Ziegler, with Yarmuth taking the liberal side and Ziegler the conservative side. On a successor program, Hot Button, which ran from September 2004 to December 2005, he faced off with conservative Jim Milliman.

Yarmuth appeared on the March 8, 2007, episode of The Colbert Report in the show's "Better Know a District" series. In a parody of Yarmuth's former Yarmuth & Ziegler debate series, host Stephen Colbert prodded Yarmuth into a point/counterpoint style debate. After agreeing to the "debate", Colbert forced Yarmuth to defend the shredding of kittens in wood chippers, which Yarmuth gamely proceeded to do. Colbert called Yarmuth a real-life Bruce Wayne, and presented him with a framed print of his congressional photo with a Batman mask photoshopped over his face.[59]

Personal life

Yarmuth has served on many boards, including the Bingham Child Guidance Center and Kentucky Country Day School. He is Kentucky's first Jewish congressman. Yarmuth and his wife, Cathy Yarmuth, have one son, Aaron, who is a graduate of Kentucky Country Day.[citation needed] Aaron was the owner of the Louisville Eccentric Observer, and along with a group of local investors purchased the publication in 2012. In May 2021 it was sold to the Euclid Media Group.[60]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth, Chairman". House Committee on the Budget. December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "House Budget Chair John Yarmuth announces retirement". POLITICO. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "yarmuth". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Official House Biography Archived June 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "GPO - Congressional Directory" (PDF). govinfo.gov. October 29, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Saksa, Jim (October 5, 2022). "John Yarmuth 'waxes philosophical' (and warns not to eat the Jell-O)". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Stewart, Kay (August 7, 2006). "National Democratic campaign doesn't plan ads for Yarmuth". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2006.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Stewart, Kay (October 20, 2006). "Poll: Northup, Yarmuth race in dead heat". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2006.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Hebert, Mark (November 2, 2006). "Yarmuth ahead in new poll". whas11.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  10. ^ Stewart, Kay (October 26, 2006). "Northup attacks Yarmuth's Wealth – Hypocrisy?". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  11. ^ Gerth, Joe (January 16, 2008). "Roberts probably out, Northup considers return". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
  12. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (January 28, 2008). "Northup to run to regain former congressional seat, adviser says". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "Northup Files To Run For Old Congressional Seat". WLKY.com. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  14. ^ "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  15. ^ "John Yarmuth wins Kentucky 3rd District". WDRB. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  16. ^ "Yarmuth and MacFarlane debate on KET". the Courier Journal. October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Live Results : 2016 KENTUCKY HOUSE ELECTION RESULTS". Realclearpolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  18. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth Running for reelection in 2018". weku.fm. April 17, 2017. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Costello, Darcy. "courier journal". Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  20. ^ "Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District election, 2018". ballotpedia.org. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  21. ^ "Vickie Yates Glisson". ballotpedia.org. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  22. ^ Two OMB officials resigned in part over concerns about Ukraine aid hold, official testifies Archived November 26, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Washington Post, Erica Werner and Felicia Sonmez, November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  23. ^ "Yarmuth For Congress » Campaign Blog » Yarmuth Donates 2007 Congressional Salary to Louisville Non-Profit Organizations". Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  24. ^ Carroll, James R. (February 9, 2008). "Yarmuth backs Obama in presidential race". Courier Journal. p. B5.
  25. ^ Abdullah, Halimah (September 29, 2008). "Four Congressmen vote No". Lexington Herald Leader. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008.
  26. ^ "Yarmuth Thinks Bailout Bill Stinks, Votes For It Anyway". WHAS-TV. October 3, 2008. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
  27. ^ Petchenik, Mike. "Yarmuth 'Nauseated' By Jackson Tribute". WLKY.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.[dead link]
  28. ^ "Yarmuth faces boisterous town hall meeting". WBKO. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
  29. ^ Phillip M. Bailey (December 20, 2011). "Yarmuth Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Case". Archives.wfpl.org. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  30. ^ "NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?". Ibtimes.com. December 16, 2011. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  31. ^ "House Vote 291 – Passes the the [sic] National Defense Authorization Act". Inside Congress. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  32. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Get Money Out of Politics". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  33. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Press : Rep. Yarmuth Introduces Public Financing Bill to Get Money Out of Politics". Yarmuth.house.gov. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  34. ^ "Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act of 2015 (H.R. 2125)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  35. ^ Sullivan, Peter (February 25, 2018). "Democrats march toward single-payer health care". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  36. ^ "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  37. ^ "Congressional Oversight Hearing Index". Welcome to the Congressional Oversight Hearing Index. The Lugar Center. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  38. ^ "House Sends Yarmuth-Authored American Rescue Plan to President Biden's Desk, Billions in Aid Coming to Kentucky". yarmuth.house.gov. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  39. ^ "Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth Won't Seek Re-Election". Wall Street Journal. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  40. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Committees". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  41. ^ "John Yarmuth, Representative for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  42. ^ "John A. Yarmuth Member Profile". clerk.house.gov. Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  43. ^ "Elected Official Detail Page". Municipal Association of South Carolina. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  44. ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  45. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  46. ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  47. ^ "Members". House Pro Choice Caucus. August 19, 2021. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  48. ^ "2006 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  49. ^ "2006 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  50. ^ "2008 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  51. ^ "2010 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  52. ^ "2012 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  53. ^ "2012 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  54. ^ "2014 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  55. ^ "2014 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  56. ^ "2016 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  57. ^ "2018 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  58. ^ "November 3, 2020 - Official 2020 General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. November 20, 2020. pp. 12–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  59. ^ Carroll, James R. (March 9, 2007). "Yarmuth jokes on the 'Colbert Report'". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  60. ^ Tobin, Ben (June 23, 2021). "Louisville publication LEO Weekly sold to Cleveland-based media company". The Courier-Journal. Gannett (published June 22, 2021). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.

External links

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John Yarmuth
U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byAnne Northup Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Kentucky's 3rd congressional district 2007–2023 Succeeded byMorgan McGarvey Preceded byChris Van Hollen Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee 2017–2019 Succeeded bySteve Womack Preceded bySteve Womack Chair of the House Budget Committee 2019–2023 Succeeded byJodey Arrington U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byPatrick J. Kennedyas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former US Representative Succeeded byZach Wampas Former US Representative
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