Tim Walberg
Tim Walberg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 7th district | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Schauer |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Schwarz |
| Succeeded by | Mark Schauer |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | James E. Hadden |
| Succeeded by | Doug Spade |
| Constituency | 40th district (1983–1992) 57th district (1992–1999) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timothy Lee Walberg April 12, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Walberg (m. 1974) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Taylor University (BA) Wheaton College (MA) |
| Occupation | Pastor (former) |
| Website | House website |
Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He previously represented the district from 2007 to 2009.
Early life, education, and early career[]
Walberg was born and educated in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Alice Ann and John A. Walberg. His paternal grandparents were Swedish.[1] He left a position with the U.S. Forest Service to pursue higher education. He studied forestry at Western Illinois University and attended Moody Bible Institute before earning a B.A. in religious education from Taylor University. By then Walberg was halfway through a four-year stint as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in New Haven, Indiana, which concluded when he enrolled in graduate school at Wheaton College. After receiving an M.A. in communications in 1978, Walberg relocated to Tipton, Michigan, where he led services at Union Gospel Church.
Michigan legislature[]
Walberg was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998. He also spent time as a pastor and as a division manager for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago while continuing to live in Michigan.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives[]
Elections[]
- 2004
After six years out of politics, Walberg ran in a field of six candidates in the 2004 Republican primary for the 7th District after six-term incumbent Nick Smith retired. Walberg finished third in the primary. State Senator Joe Schwarz won the primary and the general election.[3]
- 2006
Walberg defeated Schwarz in the Republican primary.[4] In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Sharon Renier, 50%–46%.[5]
In 2007, there was a failed recall effort against Walberg.[6][7][8]
- 2008
Entering the 2008 race, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen identified Walberg as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Congress.[9] On August 23, 2007, State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer announced he would challenge Walberg.[10] The previous occupant of the seat, Joe Schwarz, who lost to Walberg in the 2006 Republican primary, declined to run but on September 30 endorsed Schauer.[11]
Schauer narrowly defeated Walberg in the November election, 49% to 47%. Between the two candidates, around $3.5 million was spent on the campaign,[12] making it one of the most expensive House races in the 2008 election. Schauer outspent Walberg by nearly $300,000.[13]
- 2010
On July 14, 2009, Walberg announced that he would challenge incumbent Mark Schauer.[14] He defeated Marvin Carlson and Brian Rooney in the Republican primary.
Polling showed the race as a dead heat.[15] Walberg defeated Schauer, 50%–45%.[16]
- 2012
Wahlberg defeated Democratic nominee Kurt Haskell, 53%–43%.[17]
- 2014
Walberg defeated former Democratic State Representative Pam Byrnes with 54% of the vote.[18]
- 2016
Walberg defeated Doug North in the August 2 Republican primary and Democratic nominee State Representative Gretchen Driskell[19] in the general election, with 55% of the vote.[20]
- 2018
Walberg defeated Driskell again, with 53.8% of the vote.[21]
- 2020
Walberg defeated Driskell a third time, with 58.7% of the vote.
Tenure[]
Walberg has repeatedly invoked birther conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama, arguing that Obama should have been impeached over his birth certificate.[22]
Walberg has repeatedly voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[23][24]
On July 23, 2014, Walberg introduced the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, a bill that would give government agencies tools to remove executives in the Senior Executive Service for performance issues.[25] In January 2016, the bill was referred to the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.[26]
Walberg rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.[27][28][29] On the subject, he said in May 2017, "I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I’m confident that, if there’s a real problem, he can take care of it."[27]
In December 2020, Walberg 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[30] 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.[31][32][33]
Committee assignments[]
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (Ranking Member)
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Subcommittee on Energy
Caucus memberships[]
- Republican Study Committee[34]
- House Baltic Caucus[35]
- Congressional Constitution Caucus[36]
Electoral history[]
- 2004 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
- Joe Schwarz (R), 28%
- Brad Smith (R), 22%
- Tim Walberg (R), 18%
- Clark Bisbee (R), 14%
- Gene DeRossett (R), 11%
- Paul DeWeese (R), 7%
- 2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
- Tim Walberg (R), 33,144, 53%
- Joe Schwarz (R) (inc.), 29,349, 47%
- 2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
- Tim Walberg (R), 49.93%
- Sharon Renier (D), 45.98%
- Robert Hutchinson (L), 1.55%
- David Horn (UST), 1.47%
- Joe Schwarz (write-in), 1.07%
- 2008 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
- Mark Schauer (D), 48.79%[37]
- Tim Walberg (R), 46.49%
- Lynn Meadows (G), 2.96%
- Ken Proctor (L), 1.76%
- 2010 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
- Tim Walberg (R), 50.1%
- Mark Schauer (D), 45.4%
- Other, 4.5%
- 2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
- Tim Walberg (R), 55.4%
- Kurt Haskell (D), 44.6%
Personal life[]
Walberg and his wife Sue live in Tipton (near Tecumseh), where they brought up their three children. Walberg's son Matthew works as a crime reporter for the Chicago Tribune.[citation needed]
Walberg is an ordained pastor. Ordained as a Baptist, he currently identifies as nondenominational[38] and attends a church affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.[39]
On November 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Walberg tested positive for the virus.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ "tim walberg". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "Rep. Tim Walberg". The Arena. Politico. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "2004 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Department of State. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Rep. Schwarz defeated in Michigan primary". NBC News. Associated Press. August 9, 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Recall campaign launched against Walberg. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
- ^ "Judge rules against Walberg recall effort". The Ann Arbor News. Associated Press. 2007-08-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ Pelham, Dennis (2007-08-29). "Walberg recall over". The Daily Telegraph (Lenawee). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ "Van Hollen's Top '08 Targets". National Journal. January 30, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2016.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- ^ Eggert, David (August 24, 2007). "Michigan Senate minority leader to challenge Walberg in 2008 race". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Schwarz endorses Democrat in race". MLive. Associated Press. September 30, 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Schauer declares victory in 7th District U.S. House race". Michigan Daily. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
- ^ Savage, Chris (September 26, 2009). "Eyeing A Comeback, Former Rep. Walberg Holds Health Care Town Halls". Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Gautz, Chris (July 14, 2009). "Former Congressman Tim Walberg to challenge U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer for old seat". MLive. Jackson Citizen Patriot. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "The Hill: Latest poll shows race between Mark Schauer, Tim Walberg a dead heat". Jackson Citizen Patriot. 2010-10-07.
- ^ "Michigan – Election Results 2010". New York Times. 2010-11-03.
- ^ "Michigan Congressional District 7 election results". NBC News. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Forgrave, Will (November 5, 2014). "11 Tim Walberg keeps U.S. Congressional seat, Democrat Pam Byrnes concedes the 7th District". MLive. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Forgrave, Will (February 9, 2015). "65 Democratic state Rep. Gretchen Driskell announces bid for 7th Congressional seat in 2016". MLive. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Oosting, Jonathan; Laing, Keith (November 9, 2016). "District 7: Rep. Walberg wins re-election over Driskell". The Detroit News. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Michigan's 7th Congressional District election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- ^ "U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg just can't let Barack Obama's birth certificate go". 16 August 2011.
- ^ Bob Wheaton (31 October 2012). "Rep. Tim Walberg would keep trying to repeal Obamacare". MLive.
- ^ Forgrave, Will (February 19, 2014). "Obamacare complaints aired at health-care forum hosted by U.S. Rep Tim Walberg". MLive. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Chaffetz, Jason (April 27, 2015). "Federal Rules Support Incompetence". Politico. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "H.R.4358 All Congressional Actions". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 3 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bobic, Igor (2017-05-31). "GOP Congressman: God Will 'Take Care Of' Climate Change If It Exists". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
- ^ Gajanan, Mahita. "Republican Congressman Says God Will 'Take Care Of' Climate Change". Time. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
- ^ "GOP congressman on climate change: God will 'take care of it' if it's real". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (2020-12-11). "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 2020-12-12.
- ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 2020-12-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "The Capitol Record Since 1906". Michigan State University. Retrieved January 20, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Faith on the Hill: The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress
- ^ Tim Walberg Becomes Second UB Congressman
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tim Walberg. |
- Congressman Tim Walberg official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Tim Walberg at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
| show Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan |
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Authority control  |
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- 1951 births
- 20th-century American politicians
- 21st-century American politicians
- American people of Swedish descent
- Christians from Michigan
- Living people
- Members of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan
- Michigan Republicans
- Moody Bible Institute alumni
- People from Lenawee County, Michigan
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Taylor University alumni
- Tea Party movement activists
- Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni