Russ Fulcher
Official portrait, 2018
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byRaúl Labrador
Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 22 district
In office
December 1, 2005 – December 1, 2014
Preceded byJack Noble
Succeeded byLori Den Hartog
Constituency21st district (2005–2012)
Personal details
Born
Russell Mark Fulcher

(1962-03-09) March 9, 1962 (age 62)
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Kara Fulcher
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 2018)​
Children3
EducationBoise State University (BBA, MBA)
WebsiteHouse website
Russ Fulcher's voice
Russ Fulcher speaks in opposition to the Great American Outdoors Act
Recorded July 22, 2020

Russell Mark Fulcher[1] (born March 9, 1962) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 21st district in the Idaho Senate from 2005 to 2012 and the 22nd district from 2012 until 2014.

Fulcher ran for governor of Idaho in 2014, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Butch Otter in the primary. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, succeeding incumbent Raúl Labrador, who retired from Congress to run, unsuccessfully, for governor of Idaho.

Fulcher is a member of the Freedom Caucus.

Early life and education

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A fourth-generation Idahoan, Fulcher was born in Boise, Idaho, but grew up on a dairy farm in Meridian, Idaho.[2] He received both a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from Boise State University in 1984 and 1988, respectively.[3] He also completed a course on electronic engineering through Micron Technology.[4]

Career

[edit]

While a member of the Idaho legislature, Fulcher worked as a broker in the commercial real estate business. Before that, he was involved in Idaho's technology industry. Fulcher spent much of that time working in international business development with Micron Technology.[citation needed]

Idaho Senate

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Idaho Senate District 21

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In 2005, Governor Dirk Kempthorne appointed Fulcher to the Idaho State Senate, representing the 21st legislative district, which encompasses large parts of Boise, Meridian and Kuna, to replace Jack Noble, who resigned after a conflict of interest. Fulcher was first elected in 2006 and served through 2012.[5][6]

Idaho Senate District 22

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Fulcher represented District 22 in the Idaho Senate from 2012 to 2014.[7] He served as Majority Caucus Leader from 2008 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2014.[8]

Committees
[edit]

Fulcher served on the following committees:

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

Elections

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2018

[edit]

On June 15, 2017, Fulcher announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Idaho's 1st congressional district in the 2018 election.[10][11]

He was endorsed by the incumbent representative, Raúl Labrador,[12] and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.[13]

Fulcher won the Idaho Republican Party primary with 43.1% of the vote, defeating David H. Leroy, Luke Malek, Christy Perry, Michael Snyder, Alex Gallegos, and Nick Henderson.[14] Fulcher won 18 of 19 counties in Idaho's 1st congressional district. He was one of two candidates to win his home county.[15]

He won the general election in November with 62.7% of the vote, defeating Cristina McNeil[14] (Democrat), W. Scott Howard[16] (Libertarian), and Marvin "Pro-Life" Richardson (Constitution).[17]

2020

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Fulcher was reelected on November 3, 2020, with 67.8% of the vote, defeating Rudy Soto (Democrat) and Joe Evans (Libertarian).

Tenure

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In December 2020, Fulcher was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[18] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[19][20][21]

On January 12, 2021, Fulcher allegedly assaulted a female Capitol security officer after setting off a metal detector outside the House floor, triggering an investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police.[22]

On December 1, 2023, Fulcher voted against the expulsion of Representative George Santos.[23]

Committee assignments

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For the 118th Congress:[24]

Caucus memberships

[edit]

Political positions

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Israel

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Fultcher voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[26][27]

Big Tech

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In 2022, Fulcher was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.[28][29]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

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Fulcher was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[30]

Electoral history

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Idaho Gubernatorial Republican Primary, 2014[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Butch Otter (incumbent) 79,779 51.4
Republican Russ Fulcher 67,694 43.6
Republican Harley Brown 5,084 3.3
Republican Walt Bayes 2,753 1.8
Total votes 155,310 100.0
Idaho 1st Congressional District Republican Primary, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Fulcher 42,793 43.1
Republican David H. Leroy 15,451 15.6
Republican Luke Malek 14,154 14.3
Republican Christy Perry 11,110 11.2
Republican Michael Snyder 10,255 10.3
Republican Alex Gallegos 3,478 3.5
Republican Nick Henderson 2,003 2.0
Total votes 99,244 100.0
Idaho 1st Congressional District General Election, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Fulcher 197,167 62.7
Democratic Cristina McNeil 96,932 30.8
Independent Natalie Fleming 6,188 2.0
Libertarian W. Scott Howard 5,435 1.7
Independent Paul Farmer 4,479 1.4
Constitution Marvin "Pro-Life" Richardson 3,181 1.0
Independent Gordon Counsil 1,054 0.3
Independent Michael J. Rath (write-in) 91 0.0
Total votes 314,527 100.0
Republican hold
Idaho 1st Congressional District Republican Primary, 2020[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Fulcher (incumbent) 93,879 79.9
Republican Nicholas Jones 23,657 20.1
Total votes 117,536 100.0
Idaho 1st Congressional District General Election, 2020[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Fulcher (incumbent) 310,736 67.8
Democratic Rudy Soto 131,380 28.7
Libertarian Joe Evans 16,453 3.6
Write-ins Pro-Life 7 0.0
Total votes 458,576 100.0
Republican hold
Idaho 1st Congressional District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Fulcher (incumbent) 222,901 71.3
Democratic Kaylee Peterson 82,261 26.3
Libertarian Darian Drake 7,280 2.3
Total votes 312,442 100.0
Republican hold

Other political campaigns

[edit]

2014 gubernatorial race

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On November 23, 2013, Fulcher announced his intention to run against incumbent governor Butch Otter in the 2014 Idaho gubernatorial election.[33] He was endorsed by Congressman Raúl Labrador.[34]

Fulcher lost to Otter in the May 2014 Republican primary, earning 43.6% of the vote.[35]

2016 presidential election

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Fulcher was a Ted Cruz delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[36] He supported Donald Trump in the general election.[37]

2018 gubernatorial race

[edit]

Fulcher announced on August 24, 2016, that he was running for governor.[38][39]

On June 15, 2017, he announced that he was dropping out of the 2018 Idaho gubernatorial election and would instead run for Idaho's 1st congressional district in the 2018 cycle.[40]

Personal life

[edit]

Fulcher was married to Kara Fulcher from 1987 to 2018. They have three adult children.[41]

Fulcher is an Evangelical.[42]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dan Popkey, Twenty years and a revolution in the Republican Party separate Otter and Fulcher, The Idaho Statesman
  2. ^ "Biography". Congressman Russ Fulcher. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "US Congress Rep. Russ Fulcher (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "9B News". 9b.news. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Who Is Russ Fulcher?". Idaho Statesman. November 25, 2013.
  6. ^ "2012 General Results Legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "2012 General Results Legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  8. ^ Miller, John. "Denney ousted as house speaker". Argus Observer. Ontario, OR. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  9. ^ Project Vote Smart - Senator Russ Fulcher - Biography
  10. ^ "Russ Fulcher makes it official: He's leaving Idaho governor's race to run for Congress". idahostatesman. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  11. ^ "Fulcher drops out of guv race, switches to 1st CD, winning Labrador's endorsement". Spokesman.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  12. ^ "Fulcher shifts gears, runs for Congress". Idaho Education News. June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "Ted Cruz Endorses Russ Fulcher in Idaho Congressional Race". U.S. News & World Report. March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Almukhtar, Sarah (May 15, 2018). "Idaho Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  15. ^ "Idaho Secretary of State-US Representative District 1 – by County".
  16. ^ "Home | W. SCOTT HOWARD FOR IDAHO". www.wsh4idaho.org. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (January 5, 2019). "Idaho Election Results: First House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  19. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  20. ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  22. ^ Police investigating Fulcher's physical contact with officer witness says, Lewiston Tribune, Hayat Norimine, February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  23. ^ "Who voted to expel George Santos? Here's the count on the House expulsion resolution - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  24. ^ "Russ Fulcher". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  25. ^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  26. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled". CNBC. September 29, 2022.
  29. ^ "H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022".
  30. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  31. ^ "Russell M. Fulcher (R)". Idaho Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  32. ^ a b c d "Russ Fulcher (R)". Idaho Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  33. ^ "Sen. Russ Fulcher announces for governor". idahostatesman. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  34. ^ "Raul Labrador backs Russ Fulcher for Idaho governor". Spokesman.com. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  35. ^ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  36. ^ "Idaho's Semanko: GOP floor fight not about dumping Trump | Idaho Statesman". www.idahostatesman.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  37. ^ Idahoans for Liberty Campaign 2016 (November 8, 2016), Russ Fulcher Idaho leading on States Rights, archived from the original on December 15, 2021, retrieved May 2, 2017((citation)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Russ Fulcher explains his qualifications for Idaho governor". idahostatesman. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  39. ^ "Russ Fulcher for Governor 2018 – YouTube". YouTube. June 14, 2017. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  40. ^ Russ Fulcher (June 14, 2017), "Russ Fulcher For Congress | My Announcement", youtube.com, retrieved June 15, 2017
  41. ^ "Idaho congressman Russ Fulcher quietly divorced prior to election | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  42. ^ "JNS: Russ Fulcher - an evangelical Christian from Idaho who will 'stand' with Israel". January 3, 2020.
[edit]
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Idaho Senate Preceded byJack Noble Member of the Idaho Senatefrom the 21st district 2005–2012 Succeeded byCliff Bayer Preceded byTim Corder Member of the Idaho Senatefrom the 22nd district 2012–2014 Succeeded byLori Den Hartog U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byRaúl Labrador Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Idaho's 1st congressional district 2019–present Incumbent U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byLizzie Fletcher United States representatives by seniority 240th Succeeded byChuy García
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