Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Mark Neumann
Personal details
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Janna Ryan

Paul D. Ryan, Jr. (born January 29, 1970) is an American politician and Congressman from Wisconsin. He is a member of the Republican Party, and represents Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (map) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Personal life

Ryan was born in Janesville, Wisconsin to Paul D. Ryan, Sr., and his wife, Betty. He graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School and later he attended Miami University in Ohio before entering the family business in Janesville. He lives in Janesville with his wife, Janna, and their children Elizabeth, Charles and Samuel.

Political career

Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Bob Kasten in 1992 and as legislative director for Sam Brownback of Kansas from 1995 to 1997. He served as a speech writer to Jack Kemp and William Bennett.

He was first elected to the House in 1998. In the Republican primary that year, he faced 35-year old beer distributor Brian Morello after former State Sen. George Petak withdrew from the race [1]. Ryan was expected to face a strong challenge from Petak, but he pressed Petak on his 1996 vote for tax increases pertaining to the new Miller Park stadium in Milwaukee County, which is mostly outside of the 1st district.

In the general election, he defeated Democrat Lydia Spottswood, a registered nurse and four-term Kenosha City Councilwoman, 57%-42%. Spottswood had come within nearly 4000 votes of defeating Mark Neumann in 1996, and she was better funded in 1998. However, by defeating Spottswood by a surprisingly comfortable margin, Ryan inherited the First District seat left by vacant by the retiring Neumann (who was challenging Russ Feingold for the U.S. Senate).

He defeated perennial candidate Jeffrey C. Thomas in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 by margins of 65%-34%, 67%-31%, 60%-38%, and 63%-37%.

Committee Assignments

Ryan currently serves on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and its Subcommittee on Social Security. The congressmen also is the ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee.

Electoral history

• 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
  • Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 160,033 votes, 63% - pwnage
  • Jeffrey Thomas (D), 95,303 votes, 37%
• 2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
  • Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 65%
  • Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
• 2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
  • Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
  • Jeffrey Thomas (D), 31%
• 2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
  • Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
  • Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
• 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
  • Paul Ryan (R), 57%
  • Lydia Spottswood (D), 43%

External links

• U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan official site
• United States Congress. "Paul Ryan (id: r000570)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Federal Election Commission — Paul D Ryan campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Paul Ryan issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Paul Ryan campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Paul D. Ryan (WI) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Paul Ryan profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Paul Ryan voting record
• Paul Ryan for U.S. Congress official campaign site