Raúl Labrador

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Raúl Labrador
Raul Labrador 115th.jpg
Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
In office
June 29, 2019 – June 27, 2020
Preceded byJonathan Parker
Succeeded byTom Luna
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byWalt Minnick
Succeeded byRuss Fulcher
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
December 1, 2006 – December 1, 2010
Preceded byStan Bastian
Succeeded byReed DeMordaunt
Personal details
Born
Raúl Rafael Labrador

(1967-12-08) December 8, 1967 (age 53)
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Rebecca Johnson
​
(m. 1991)​
Children5
EducationBrigham Young University (BA)
University of Washington (JD)

Raúl Rafael Labrador (born December 8, 1967) is an American lawyer and politician who was the chair of the Idaho Republican Party. He previously served as a U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1] Labrador previously represented District 14B in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010. Labrador opted not to seek another term in Congress to run for Governor of Idaho in the 2018 election; he lost the Republican primary to Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little.[2]

Early life, education, and career[]

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Labrador relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, as a child and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1985. He was raised by a single mother who struggled financially.[3]

He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Chile from 1987 to 1989. Labrador returned to BYU and received a B.A. in Spanish in 1992 with an emphasis in Latin American literature. He was admitted to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and received his Juris Doctor in 1995.[4]

Married in 1991, Labrador relocated to his wife's home state of Idaho and practiced law and immigration law in private practice from 1995 until his election to the Idaho House of Representatives in 2006.[5][6]

Idaho House of Representatives[]

2006[]

Labrador ran for and won the Republican nomination for Idaho House Seat B against two other challengers. He won the general election with 65.55% against Daniel S. Weston.[7][8]

2008[]

He was unopposed in the May 2008 Republican primary.[9] Labrador defeated Glida Bothwell in the general election, winning 69.1% of the vote.[10]

Committee assignments[]

Labrador served on the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee in 2007, Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee from 2007 to 2010, the State Affairs Committee from 2007 to 2010, and the Transportation and Defense Committee from 2009 to 2010.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Tenure[]

Labrador in Las Vegas, 2011
Immigration

Labrador was a member of the "Gang of Eight," a bipartisan group of House members working on immigration reform legislation,[12] but on June 5, 2013, he left the negotiations because he wanted language in the bill requiring that illegal immigrants be responsible for their own health care costs.[13] Labrador said he would use his position on the House Judiciary Committee to pass immigration reform legislation.[citation needed]

Health

He voted for the American Health Care Act of 2017, which passed the House May 4, 2017.[14] One of the few Republican lawmakers who hosted a town hall after this vote, Labrador received national attention for stating during the meeting at Lewis-Clark State College that "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare." The statement caused a huge outcry from the audience present and on social media for several days.[15][16]

Labrador voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in 2017.[17]

Civil liberties

In June 2015, Labrador introduced HR 2802, titled the "First Amendment Defense Act" (FADA) which was said to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs from action by the federal government. Critics, such as Ian Thompson of the American Civil Liberties Union claimed that the bill would "open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples."[18]

Town halls

Labrador was one of the few Republicans to host a town hall after the election of Donald Trump and the only member of United States congressional delegations from Idaho to host one.[19]

Tax reform

Labrador voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[20] He says the bill will "allow hard-working Idahoans to keep more of their money," including helping them "meet their expenses and make crucial investments."[21]

Committee assignments[]

Caucus memberships[]

Political positions[]

Domestic issues[]

Health care[]

On April 20, 2017 Labrador said he does not believe healthcare is a human right.[25][26][27] Labrador supports the full repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because he believes it will raise costs and kill jobs.[28]

Labrador supports requiring those illegally residing in the United States to be responsible for their own health care costs.[13]

Economic issues[]

Elections[]

Labrador has stated that he supports the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which provides for the direct election of members of the U.S. Senate by the voters in each state. Before the amendment was ratified in 1913 Senators were selected by the legislatures of their respective states. With regard to this position, Labrador has stated "I have a consistent philosophy about government and the importance of states' rights."[29]

Tax reform[]

Labrador is in favor of tax reform, specifically reform that rids of loopholes, lowers "overall rates," and reduces government spending so the national debt does not increase.[21]

International issues[]

Energy & oil[]

Labrador is seen by many in eastern Idaho, which is not in his congressional district, as an opponent of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).[30]

Immigration[]

See also: Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act

On the July 6, 2014 episode of Meet the Press, Labrador stated that what the Obama administration needed to do was "immediately deport" young illegal immigrants. The comment came as part of a discussion about the estimated 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America who had tried to cross the border since October 2013.[31]

Social issues[]

Abortion[]

Labrador opposes late termination of pregnancy and believes "life begins at conception" and that "The unborn child is still a child – made in the image of God, who will one day have the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us. The fact that life begins at conception might be an uncomfortable truth for some. But it's a truth, all the same."[17]

Family Rights[]

Idaho is one of the states that has faith-healing exemption. In a debate, Labrador said he would not change it.[32]

Cannabis[]

Labrador has a "B" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. Labrador is in favor of veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence. He also supports industrial hemp farming.[33]

Elections[]

District 14 House Seat B - Part of Ada County
Year Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct
2006 Primary[34] Raúl Labrador 2,448 46.4% John Tomkinson 1,535 29.1% Jim Borton 1,292 24.5%
2006 General[35] Raúl Labrador 13,208 65.5% Daniel Weston 6,943 34.5%
2008 Primary[36] Raúl Labrador (incumbent) 4,945 100%
2008 General[37] Raúl Labrador (incumbent) 22,093 69.1% Glida Bothwell 9,869 30.9%
2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho § District 1

In 2010, Labrador defeated Vaughn Ward in the Republican primary 48%–39% on May 10, in what was widely considered a major upset.[38][39] In the general election, Labrador defeated first-term Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick 51%–41%.

2012
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho § District 1

Labrador supported Mitt Romney for president.[40][41][42]

2014
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho § District 1, and 2014 Idaho gubernatorial election

On August 14, 2013, Labrador decided not to challenge incumbent Idaho Governor Butch Otter in the Republican primary, instead running for reelection to Congress for a third term.[43][44]

On August 19, 2013, Democratic State Representative Shirley Ringo decided to challenge Labrador instead of running for an eighth term in the Idaho state legislature.[45]

Labrador announced on June 13 that he would challenge House Majority Whip, Representative Kevin McCarthy for the leadership position; in a vote held June 19, 2014 the House selected McCarthy.[46]

Labrador won both the Republican Primary (78.6%)[47] and the General Election (65%).[48]

2016

Labrador supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election.[49]

Labrador won both the Republican Primary (81%)[50] and the General Election (68.2%).[51]

Idaho Republican Party[]

Labrador has announced that he will run for Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party at its next State Central Committee meeting, having already received the backing and support of most IDGOP officers.[52]

On June 29, 2019, Labrador won Idaho Republican Party Chair by two votes, defeating former Superintendent of Education Tom Luna.[53]

In June 2020, Labrador resigned from his position as party chair and joined a local law firm. He was succeeded by Luna.[54]

2018 gubernatorial election[]

Main article: 2018 Idaho gubernatorial election

On May 9, 2017, Labrador filed to run in the 2018 Idaho governor race.[55] Labrador did a kick off tour in the last week of May 2017 with stops in Boise,[56] Post Falls,[57] and Idaho Falls.[58][59] Labrador was not able to run for Idaho's 1st congressional district and governor at the same time; leaving CD-1 an open seat for the 2018 Idaho election.

In November 2017, Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Labrador for the Governor of Idaho.[60]

Labrador took second in the 2018 Idaho gubernatorial election Republican primary to incumbent Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, winning 32.6% of the vote.[61]

Personal life[]

Labrador lives in Eagle, Idaho, with his wife, Rebecca, and their five children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

See also[]

References[]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

  1. ^ "Labrador to run for Idaho governor". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
  2. ^ Watkins, Eli. "Freedom caucus member launches bid for governor". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  3. ^ http://www.raullabrador.com/[dead link]
  4. ^ "Raul Labrador". Wall Street Journal. Election 2012. November 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  5. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov.
  6. ^ PARKER, ASHLEY and JULIA PRESTON (June 6, 2013). "In House, Immigration Spurs Push by G.O.P". NYT. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  7. ^ "2006 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  8. ^ "2006 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  9. ^ "2008 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  10. ^ "2008 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  11. ^ "Raul Labrador". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  12. ^ "Puerto Rico-Born Labrador Top Republican on Immigration". April 5, 2013 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Conservative Labrador quits House immigration group". The HIll. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  14. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 256".
  15. ^ Jenkins, A. (May 6, 2017) "GOP Congressman Raul Labrador: 'Nobody Dies Because They Don't Have Access to Health Care'". Time. Accessed at: http://time.com/4769830/raul-labrador-gop-congressman-nobody-dies-health-care/
  16. ^ "Following town hall backlash, Labrador says health care comment 'wasn't very elegant'". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Russell, Betsy Z. "Little speaks out on health care, Labrador on abortion; Ahlquist brings tour to North Idaho". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  18. ^ Percelay, Rachel (July 28, 2015). "The "First Amendment Defense Act" Is The Next Attack on LGBT Rights". Media Matters. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Guilhem, Matt. "Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador Holding Two Town Halls". Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  20. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (19 December 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b Russell, Betsy Z. "Labrador, Simpson laud GOP tax bill as it passes House". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Conservatives Form Their Own Caucus Because the RSC Isn't 'Hard-Core' Enough". National Journal. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  23. ^ "9 Republicans launch House Freedom Caucus". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  24. ^ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  25. ^ Kruesi, Kimberlee (April 20, 2017). "Idaho GOP Congressman Faces Angry Crowd at Town Hall". US News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2017. I do not believe health care is a basic human right," Labrador said to jeers while answering a question about health care reform and increasing costs. "I just don't think it's a right to have health care.
  26. ^ Savransky, Rebecca (April 20, 2017). "GOP rep booed at town hall for saying healthcare isn't a 'basic human right'". The Hill. Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) faced boos from a town hall audience while defending his views that healthcare is not a "basic human right." "I just don't think it's a right to have healthcare," Labrador said Wednesday in response to a question about healthcare reform and increasing costs, according to The Associated Press.
  27. ^ Barnhill, Frankie (April 20, 2017). "Labrador Pushed On Health Care, Russia And Trump's Taxes During Town Hall". KBSX. Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved May 10, 2017. So no I do not believe that health care is a basic right," says Labrador. "When something is a right it's something that must be provided by the government.
  28. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Raul Labrador: GOP health care bill 'has no natural constituency'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  29. ^ Spokesman Review Staff. (Oct. 14th, 2010). "Labrador: Repeal 17th Amendment". Spokesman Review. Accessed at: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2010/oct/14/labrador-repeal-17th-amendment/
  30. ^ Taggart, S. (June 25, 2017). "Shake-up in the race for governor". Idaho State Journal. Accessed at: http://idahostatejournal.com/opinion/columns/shake-up-in-the-race-for-governor/article_70263a1d-483c-5ce2-bc84-0291b380308e.html
  31. ^ "Americans don't want mass deportations but are sort of OK with increased deportations", washingtonpost.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  32. ^ "Spokesman-Review". Spokesman-Review.
  33. ^ "Idaho Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  34. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "May 23, 2006 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  35. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 7, 2006 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  36. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "May 27, 2008 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  37. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  38. ^ U.S. House Dist. 1 GOP KTVB.com Accessed June 1, 2010
  39. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (2010-05-26). "Rep. Raul Labrador wins Idaho primary upset". Politico. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  40. ^ "Idaho's Labrador, late to endorse in 2012 presidential race, jumps in early to support Rand Paul". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  41. ^ "Mitt Romney: Press Release: Rep. Raul Labrador: We Need Mitt Romney In Washington". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  42. ^ Helfrich, Jesse (2012-04-18). "GOP leaders endorse Mitt Romney, seek party unity behind probable nominee". TheHill. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  43. ^ Labrador decides not to challenge Otter for governorship of Idaho, politico.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  44. ^ "Rep. Raul Labrador To Seek Re-Election, Ends Speculation About Run For Governor". Fox News. August 14, 2013.
  45. ^ Shirley Ringo challenges Labrador for congressional seat, m.lmtribune.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  46. ^ Cornwell, Jane (June 13, 2014). "Republican Rep. Labrador running for House majority leader post". Reuters. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  47. ^ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  48. ^ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  49. ^ "Another congressman – Labrador – backs Trump's policies, not his rhetoric | McClatchy Washington Bureau". www.mcclatchydc.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  50. ^ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  51. ^ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  52. ^ "It's official. Raul Labrador hopes to serve as Idaho GOP chairman, support Trump's re-election". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  53. ^ Dawson, James (29 June 2019). "Raul Labrador Is Idaho's Next Republican Party Chairman". www.boisestatepublicradio.org. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  54. ^ Richert, Kevin (2020-06-29). "Luna elected state GOP chairman". Idaho Education News. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  55. ^ "Rep. Raul Labrador joins Idaho governor's race". AP News. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  56. ^ Press, KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated. "Labrador officially kicks off Idaho gubernatorial campaign". Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  57. ^ "'Unleash the raw potential'". 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  58. ^ Davis, Taja (2017-06-01). "Raul Labrador's stop in eastern Idaho to campaign for governor". KIFI. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  59. ^ "Labrador hasn't won VanderSloot's endorsement". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  60. ^ Russell B.Z. (Nov. 1, 2017). "Labrador announces Ted Cruz is endorsing him for governor of Idaho in '18", Spokane: Spokesman-Review. Labrador endorsed Cruz for the Republican nomination for President after Sen. Rand Paul dropped out of the race. Labrador had originally supported Paul. Accessed at: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2017/nov/01/labrador-announces-ted-cruz-endorsing-him-governor-idaho-18/
  61. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (2018-05-15). "Idaho Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-21.

External links[]

Idaho House of Representatives
Preceded by
Stan Bastian 		Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 14th district
Seat B
2006–2010 		Succeeded by
Reed DeMordaunt
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Walt Minnick 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st congressional district
2011–2019 		Succeeded by
Russ Fulcher
Party political offices
Preceded by

Acting 		Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
2019–2020 		Succeeded by
Tom Luna
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