John Yarmuth

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John Yarmuth
John Yarmuth official photo.jpg
Chair of the House Budget Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded bySteve Womack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded byAnne Northup
Personal details
Born
John Allan Yarmuth

(1947-11-04) November 4, 1947 (age 73)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (1985–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (until 1985)
Spouse(s)
Catherine Creedon
​
(m. 1981)​
Children1
EducationYale University (BA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

John Allan Yarmuth (/ˈjɑːrmɪθ/ YAR-mith; born November 4, 1947) is an American politician and former newspaper editor serving as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district since 2007. His district encompasses the vast majority of the Louisville Metro Area. Since 2013, he has been the only Democratic member of Kentucky's congressional delegation.

Yarmuth serves as the chairman of the House Budget Committee.[1]

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.[2] He graduated from Atherton High School.[3] He later graduated from Yale University, majoring in American studies.[3]

Early career[]

He 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 the 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.[3][4]

Publisher and columnist[]

In 1990, Yarmuth founded the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO), a weekly newspaper for which he wrote a generally liberal political column that was usually featured on the first page. In 2003, Yarmuth 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.[3]

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

Yarmuth in May 2011

2006[]

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

Yarmuth filed candidacy papers on January 31, 2006, to represent Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Having won the Democratic primary on May 16, defeating Andrew Horne, Burrell Charles Farnsley and James W. Moore, he defeated incumbent Anne Northup (R) in November of that year.

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.[5]

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 percent. Another poll a month earlier had Northup leading by 6 points.[6] A WHAS11/SurveyUSA poll released on November 2 showed Yarmuth leading Northup 52 to 44 percent.[7]

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.[8]

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.

In the general election, Yarmuth garnered 122,139 votes (51%) to Northup's 116,157 votes (48%). Independent candidates garnered 2,896 votes (1%).

2008[]

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

Yarmuth ran unopposed in the primary, and faced Anne Northup in a rematch of the 2006 general election.[9][10][11]

Yarmuth won the 2008 election with 59% of the vote.[12]

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. Yarmuth was re-elected successfully with 53% of the vote.[13]

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%), Brooks Wicker received 111,452 votes (23.32%), and Robert L. Devore Jr. received 4,819 votes (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 Dr. Michael McFarlane and Independent Gregory Puccetti. On October 6, 2014, Kentucky Educational Television hosted a debate which was broadcast live on Louisville's KET, and was moderated by KET host Bill Goodman.[14] Yarmuth went on to win reelection with 63.5% of the votes cast.

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. Yarmuth won with 63% of the vote, receiving 212,388 votes. Harold Bratcher received 37% of the vote, totaling 122,085 ballots cast in his name. Everett Corley received no votes in the election.[15]

2018[]

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

On April 17, 2017, Yarmuth announced that he would run for a seventh term in the 2018 election.[16] During the campaign, he lobbied for chairpersonship of the House Budget Committee and promised to hold hearings on Medicare for all.[17] Yarmuth won re-election with over 62% of the vote against , Kentucky's former Secretary of Health and Family Services.[18][19] After the Democrats took the House, Yarmuth became Budget Committee chairman. In that position, he requested documents pertaining to the withholding of appropriated defense funds to Ukraine. As of November 2019, the administration of Donald Trump has only partly complied with the request.[20]

2020

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

Yarmuth ran for an eighth term in the 2020 election.

Tenure[]

Yarmuth in 2007.

Yarmuth took office on January 3, 2007. As of 2021, he is serving his eighth term as Congressman.

After his first year in Congress, Yarmuth donated his post-tax congressional salary of just over $120,000 to various charities in Louisville.[21]

On February 8, 2008, Yarmuth endorsed Barack Obama in his successful bid for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.[22]

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.[23] However, he did vote in favor of the second version of the bailout bill.[24]

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."[25]

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 general 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."[26]

In 2011, Yarmuth introduced a bill alongside Republican Congressman Walter Jones that would seek 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.[27]

In 2011, Yarmuth voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 due to a controversial provision which allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.[28][29]

In 2013, Yarmuth introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would establish a public financing system for Congressional campaigns.[30][31]

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, however the bill realistically had no chance of passing in the 114th Congress in which it was proposed.[32]

Yarmuth signed onto a "Medicare for All" bill in the House, along with 120 other Democrats in 2018, supporting single-payer healthcare.[33]

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

On December 18, 2019, Yarmuth voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump and was the only person representing Kentucky in the House to do so. [34]

For his tenure as the chairman of the House Budget Committee in the 116th Congress, Yarmuth earned an "A" grade from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.[35]

In 2021, Yarmuth introduced the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the house which was Joe Biden's first major piece of legislation.[36]

Committee assignments[]

Party leadership[]

  • Regional Whip

Caucuses memberships[]

Yarmuth's caucus memberships include:[40]

Electoral history[]

Kentucky 3rd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2006[44]
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[45]
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[46]
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[47]
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[48]
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[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. 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[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. 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[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. 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[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. 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[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Yarmuth (incumbent) 173,002 62.07
Republican Vickie Yates B. Glisson 101,930 36.57
Libertarian Gregory Boles 3,788 1.36
Total votes 278,720 100.0

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 referred to Yarmuth as a real-life Bruce Wayne, and presented him with a framed print of his congressional photo with a Batman mask photoshopped over his face.[54]

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. Aaron is currently the owner of the Louisville Eccentric Observer.

See also[]

  • List of Jewish members of the United States Congress

References[]

  1. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth, Chairman". House Committee on the Budget. December 19, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "yarmuth". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Official House Biography Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "GPO - Congressional Directory" (PDF). govinfo.gov. October 29, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Stewart, Kay (August 7, 2006). "National Democratic campaign doesn't plan ads for Yarmuth". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2006.
  6. ^ Stewart, Kay (October 20, 2006). "Poll: Northup, Yarmuth race in dead heat". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  7. ^ Hebert, Mark (November 2, 2006). "Yarmuth ahead in new poll". whas11.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  8. ^ Stewart, Kay (October 26, 2006). "Northup attacks Yarmuth's Wealth – Hypocrisy?". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  9. ^ Gerth, Joe (January 16, 2008). "Roberts probably out, Northup considers return". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.
  13. ^ "John Yarmuth wins Kentucky 3rd District". WDRB. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  14. ^ "Yarmuth and MacFarlane debate on KET". the Courier Journal. October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  15. ^ "Live Results : 2016 KENTUCKY HOUSE ELECTION RESULTS". Realclearpolitics.com. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  16. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth Running for reelection in 2018". weku.fm. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Costello, Darcy. "courier journal". Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  18. ^ "Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District election, 2018". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  19. ^ "Vickie Yates Glisson". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  20. ^ Two OMB officials resigned in part over concerns about Ukraine aid hold, official testifies, Washington Post, Erica Werner and Felicia Sonmez, November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Carroll, James R. (February 9, 2008). "Yarmuth backs Obama in presidental race". Courier Journal. p. B5.
  23. ^ Abdullah, Halimah (September 29, 2008). "Four Congressmen vote No". Lexington Herald Leader. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008.
  24. ^ "Yarmuth Thinks Bailout Bill Stinks, Votes For It Anyway". WHAS-TV. October 3, 2008. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
  25. ^ Petchenik, Mike. "Yarmuth 'Nauseated' By Jackson Tribute". WLKY.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.[dead link]
  26. ^ "Yarmuth faces boisterous town hall meeting". WBKO. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
  27. ^ Phillip M. Bailey (December 20, 2011). "Yarmuth Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Case". Archives.wfpl.org. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  28. ^ "NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?". Ibtimes.com. December 16, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Get Money Out of Politics". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 14, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  31. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Press : Rep. Yarmuth Introduces Public Financing Bill to Get Money Out of Politics". Yarmuth.house.gov. January 16, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  32. ^ "Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act of 2015 (H.R. 2125)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  33. ^ Sullivan, Peter (February 25, 2018). "Democrats march toward single-payer health care". The Hill. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  34. ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
  35. ^ "Congressional Oversight Hearing Index". Welcome to the Congressional Oversight Hearing Index. The Lugar Center.
  36. ^ "House Sends Yarmuth-Authored American Rescue Plan to President Biden's Desk, Billions in Aid Coming to Kentucky". yarmuth.house.gov. March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  37. ^ "Congressman John Yarmuth : Committees". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 15, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  38. ^ "John Yarmuth, Representative for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  39. ^ "John A. Yarmuth Member Profile". clerk.house.gov. Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  40. ^ "Elected Official Detail Page". Municipal Association of South Carolina. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  41. ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  42. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  43. ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  44. ^ "2006 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  45. ^ "2006 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  46. ^ "2008 Primary and General Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  47. ^ "2010 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  48. ^ "2012 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  49. ^ "2012 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  50. ^ "2014 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  51. ^ "2014 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  52. ^ "2016 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  53. ^ "2018 Primary and General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  54. ^ Carroll, James R. (March 9, 2007). "Yarmuth jokes on the 'Colbert Report'". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2007.

External links[]

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Anne Northup 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd congressional district
2007–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Steve Womack 		Chair of the House Budget Committee
2019–present
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Peter Welch 		United States representatives by seniority
103rd 		Succeeded by
Bob Latta
  • v
  • t
Kentucky's delegation(s) to the 110th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
110th
Senate: M. McConnell • J. Bunning
House: H. Rogers • R. Lewis • E. Whitfield • B. Chandler • G. Davis • J. Yarmuth
111th
Senate: M. McConnell • J. Bunning
House: H. Rogers • E. Whitfield • B. Chandler • G. Davis • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie
112th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • E. Whitfield • B. Chandler • G. Davis • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie
113th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • E. Whitfield • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie • A. Barr
114th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • E. Whitfield • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie • A. Barr • J. Comer
115th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie • A. Barr • J. Comer
116th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie • A. Barr • J. Comer
117th
Senate: M. McConnell • R. Paul
House: H. Rogers • J. Yarmuth • B. Guthrie • T. Massie • A. Barr • J. Comer
Retrieved from ""