Mike Carey
Mike Carey 117th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 15th district
Assumed office
November 4, 2021
Preceded bySteve Stivers
Personal details
Born (1971-03-13) March 13, 1971 (age 51)
Sabina, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMeghan Carey
Children3, including Prescott Carey
EducationMarion Military Institute (AA)
Ohio State University (BA)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1989–1999
UnitArmy National Guard

Michael Todd Whitaker Carey[1][2] (born March 13, 1971) is an American politician and former coal lobbyist serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 15th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Carey was first elected in a 2021 special election.[3]

Early life and education

Carey was raised in Sabina, Ohio.[4] After attending East Clinton High School, he earned an Associate of Arts degree in economics from the Marion Military Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Ohio State University.[5]

Career

Carey testifying before the Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2011
Carey testifying before the Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2011

Carey served in the Army National Guard from 1989 to 1999.[6] As a college student, he worked as an aide to State Senator Merle G. Kearns.[7] He has since worked as vice president of government affairs for American Consolidated Natural Resources, a coal company. He is also chairman of the board of the Ohio Coal Association.[8] During the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, Carey developed negative campaign ads against Democratic nominees John Kerry and Barack Obama.[9]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2021 special

Main article: 2021 Ohio's 15th congressional district special election

Carey was the Republican nominee in the 2021 15th congressional district special election. He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.[10][11][12][13]

Carey received the most financial contributions out of all 11 candidates in the Republican primary, including from out-of-state donors and individuals in the coal and mining industries.[14] Political commentators and journalists called the race a test of Trump's influence over Republican politics.[15][16][17] Carey won the special election on November 2.[18]

117th Congress

On July 19, 2022, Carey and 46 other Republican representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[19] On July 28, 2022, Carey and 24 other Republican representatives voted for the CHIPS Act, increasing governmental funding for domestic semiconductor production.[20]

In late 2022, Carey announced his "complete" endorsement of Trump.[21]

2022 midterm elections

In the 2022 midterm elections, Carey defeated the Democratic nominee, union leader Gary Josephson.[22] Carey raised around $2.3 million for this election, the 251st-highest sum among elected representatives.[23]

118th Congress

Before the 118th Congress, Carey declared his support for Kevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker amid controversy about McCarthy's leadership following the 2022 midterm elections. Carey also announced his intention to "get on the Ways and Means Committee" in the 118th Congress.[24]

Committee assignments

Electoral history

2021 special election

Republican primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Carey 18,805 36.3
Republican Jeff LaRe 6,776 13.1
Republican Ron Hood 6,676 12.9
Republican Bob Peterson 6,407 12.4
Republican Ruth Edmonds 5,090 9.8
Republican Thomas Hwang 2,499 4.8
Republican Stephanie Kunze 2,363 4.6
Republican Thad Cooperrider 1,076 2.1
Republican Omar Tarazi 907 1.7
Republican John Adams 173 0.3
Republican Eric M. Clark 83 0.2
Total votes 51,855 100.0
2021 Ohio's 15th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Carey 94,501 58.3
Democratic Allison Russo 67,588 41.7
Total votes 162,089 100.0

2022 midterm election

2022 Ohio's 15th congressional district general election[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Carey 143,112 57.0
Democratic Gary Josephson 108,139 43.0
Total votes 251,251 100.0

References

  1. ^ "Michael T. W. Carey". Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Michael Carey". Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "In Ohio House special elections, progressives take a loss, Trump scores a win". Los Angeles Times. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Mike Carey". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Know your candidates Republican Primary for OH-15: Mike Carey". Circleville Herald. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Reutter, Justin. "Trump-backed Republican aims to promote "America-First agenda" in 15th District run". Chillicothe Gazette. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "Congressional candidate Mike Carey on growing up in Clinton County - Wilmington News Journal". www.wnewsj.com. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Rawnsley, Jackie Kucinich,Adam (July 8, 2021). "Trump Pick in Ohio Slammed as 'Swampiest Swamp Creature'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Samuelsohn, Darren. "Coal lobbyist mines anti-green vibe". POLITICO. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Kassel, Matthew (July 28, 2021). "An early test of Trump's clout in Ohio special election". Jewish Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Bischoff, Laura A. "Trump ally stumps for Mike Carey in 15th Congressional District race". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Trump's sway tested in race for open mid-Ohio US House seat". AP NEWS. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Next test of Trump's influence on the Republican Party: A crowded GOP primary fight for an Ohio House seat". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  14. ^ BeMiller, Haley. "Trump-backed coal lobbyist Mike Carey leads fundraising in 15th Congressional District". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  15. ^ Peters, Jeremy W. (August 2, 2021). "2 House Races in Ohio Will Test Democratic Divisions and Trump's Sway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Opinion | Yet another Trump-endorsed candidate may lose. That could be a huge blow to the former president". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  17. ^ Dan Merica and Michael Warren. "Trump faces another primary test in Ohio House race". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  18. ^ Foran, Clare. "Mike Carey wins special election in Ohio's 15th Congressional District, CNN projects". CNN.
  19. ^ Schnell, Mychael (July 19, 2022). "These are the 47 House Republicans who voted for a bill protecting marriage equality". The Hill. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "H.R. 4346: Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 -- House Vote #404 -- Jul 28, 2022". GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Carey, Mike. "I completely endorse President Trump!". Twitter. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  22. ^ "Meet Gary". Go Gary! Ohio 15th Congressional District.
  23. ^ "Raising: by the numbers". FEC.gov.
  24. ^ Popielarz, Taylor. "Ohio Rep. Mike Carey readies for GOP control of House". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "JasperReports - /Election Summary - Includes Overlaps" (PDF). Franklin County Board of Elections. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "U.S. House - District 15 - General". The Associated Press.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded bySteve Stivers Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Ohio's 15th congressional district 2021–present Incumbent U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byShontel Brown United States representatives by seniority 354th Succeeded bySheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress
Current members of the United States House of Representatives
Ohio's delegation(s) to the 117th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th congressional district
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