Chip Cravaack
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Chip" Cravaack is the U.S. Representative
for northeastern serving since January 2011. In his first try for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic
incumbent Jim Oberstar
by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican
since 1947 to represent the district. Previously, Cravaack was a pilot for Northwest Airlines
, and before that he was a Navy
pilot, and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy
.
, and grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio
, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1977. He was raised a Republican in a family that had a military background; his father had served in the Korean War, and his grandfather had served in World War I. Cravaack graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, receiving a bachelor of science degree.
from the University of West Florida
to prepare for his post military career. After his discharge from active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve
doing administative work for an aircraft carrier and retiring in 2009 with the rank of Captain.
in 1990. He was out of work for two years in the early 1990s due to strikes, layoffs and the bankruptcy of Northwest, during which time he gave flying lessons. He was a union steward
for the Airline Pilots Association. He served as a "strike coordinator" during the 1998 pilots' strike
, bringing military discipline and parade ground style marching to the picket lines. While working as a pilot for Northwest, he was noted for his determination and goal-oriented, linear thinking. He and his family settled in Lindstrom
, northeast of Minneapolis. He retired from Northwest in 2007 due to sleep apnea
, receiving a $79,000 per year medical disability pension, and becoming a stay-at-home dad for a time.
He was inspired to run for Congress by a suggestion from a talk radio
show host that voters demand town hall meetings with their congressmen during the health care bill Tea Party movement
protests of August 2009. Cravaack went with 25 people to one of Oberstar's Minnesota offices asking for a meeting that day and when Oberstar did not come, Cravaack decided to challenge him in the November 2010 election.
. No Republican had been elected to the office since 1947, and Oberstar was the longest-serving Congressman in Minnesota's history, usually cruising to re-election. Historically, northeastern Minnesota has been the most Democratic region in the entire state outside of the Twin Cities. Geography was also against Cravaack as well; his home in Lindstrom is located in Chisago County, in the southern portion of the district.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cravaack's campaign was "structured like a military operation". He toured the district in a motor home dubbed "The War Wagon", and ranked volunteers with titles such as commander, captain and precinct lieutenant. He found his history as a union steward attracted the interest of district voters, especially the miners.
Cravaack campaigned on a platform of free-market principles and government spending cuts. He was able to take advantage of the unpopularity of President Obama's legislative agenda, and Oberstar's votes in support of it. He attacked Oberstar's vote on the health care bill, saying he would vote to repeal and replace it, and called an Oberstar-approved extension of the Clean Water Act
to include wet meadows, a "land grab" by the federal government. He criticized the earmark
process that Oberstar had used to fund infrastructure
projects in the district, saying it was time for the spending to stop. Cravaack also attacked Oberstar's vote on "cap and trade
" legislation to limit carbon emissions, saying it would result in higher energy prices.
A candidate debate held in Duluth
featured a boisterous crowd that jeered Oberstar, with Oberstar calling for a more civil atmosphere at the next debate. The second debate was quieter and centered on economic issues. Cravaack argued that the 2003 Bush tax cuts
should be continued on all tax brackets to stimulate employment, and Oberstar said he would end the tax cut for the top two percent of earners, because the lowered tax had caused part of the deficit
.
A poll conducted for KSTP-TV
in the Twin Cities in October showed Oberstar ahead of Cravaack by only one point, 47 to 46 percent. Cravaack received the endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
as the polls tightened. He was also endorsed by Minnesota's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, and the largest newspaper in the district, the Duluth News Tribune
. In the November 2 election, Cravaack scored one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota political history, defeating Oberstar by only 4,400 votes, 48 percent to 47 percent. Cravaack believed the abortion issue was crucial to his victory; he had argued that the health care legislation
that Oberstar had voted for allowed for the payment of abortions with taxpayer funds, and encouraged euthanasia for the elderly. By the time he won the election, Cravaack had modified his view of the bill, saying that it was an example of socialized medicine that will result in the rationing of medical care.
for the number four GOP leadership position of House Republican Conference chair.
In March 2011, Cravaack came under criticism by Duluth students and community leaders for his vote in favor of a budget bill making drastic cuts to the federal Pell Grant
program that provides financial aid to college students, including 30 percent of the students at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He also came to press attention for implying during a Homeland Security Committee hearing that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
was furthering the goals of a terrorist organization.
Cravaack suffers from sleep apnea which ended his flying career with Northwest Airlines, now Delta Airlines, in 2007. As of 2010, he reported receiving thousands of dollars in disability payments.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for northeastern serving since January 2011. In his first try for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Jim Oberstar
Jim Oberstar
James Louis "Jim" Oberstar is a former U.S. Representative who served in the U.S. Congress from 1975 until 2011 as a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. He represented northeastern , which included the cities of Duluth, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, International Falls, and Hibbing...
by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
since 1947 to represent the district. Previously, Cravaack was a pilot for Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
, and before that he was a Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
pilot, and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
Early life and education
Cravaack was born in Charleston, West VirginiaCharleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, and grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1977. He was raised a Republican in a family that had a military background; his father had served in the Korean War, and his grandfather had served in World War I. Cravaack graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, receiving a bachelor of science degree.
Military service
Following graduation, Cravaack served in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, fulfilling an early ambition. While in the Navy, he earned a master's degree in educationMaster of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
from the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
to prepare for his post military career. After his discharge from active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve
Naval Reserve
A Naval Reserve is the reserve body of a nation's Navy, typically called-upon in times of conflict. Naval Reserves include:* La réserve Marine * Royal Naval Reserve * Royal Australian Naval Reserve* Canadian Naval Reserve...
doing administative work for an aircraft carrier and retiring in 2009 with the rank of Captain.
Northwest Airlines career
Cravaack moved to Minnesota and began working as a pilot for Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
in 1990. He was out of work for two years in the early 1990s due to strikes, layoffs and the bankruptcy of Northwest, during which time he gave flying lessons. He was a union steward
Union steward
A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company, who represents and defends the interests of her/his fellow employees but who is also a labor union official...
for the Airline Pilots Association. He served as a "strike coordinator" during the 1998 pilots' strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
, bringing military discipline and parade ground style marching to the picket lines. While working as a pilot for Northwest, he was noted for his determination and goal-oriented, linear thinking. He and his family settled in Lindstrom
Lindstrom, Minnesota
Lindström was settled predominantly by Swedish immigrants and their families. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,015 people, 1,225 households, and 855 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,332.1 people per square mile . There were 1,322 housing units at an average...
, northeast of Minneapolis. He retired from Northwest in 2007 due to sleep apnea
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing, during sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Similarly, each abnormally low...
, receiving a $79,000 per year medical disability pension, and becoming a stay-at-home dad for a time.
He was inspired to run for Congress by a suggestion from a talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
show host that voters demand town hall meetings with their congressmen during the health care bill Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
protests of August 2009. Cravaack went with 25 people to one of Oberstar's Minnesota offices asking for a meeting that day and when Oberstar did not come, Cravaack decided to challenge him in the November 2010 election.
2010 election
Cravaack entered the race as a political novice and an underdogUnderdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
. No Republican had been elected to the office since 1947, and Oberstar was the longest-serving Congressman in Minnesota's history, usually cruising to re-election. Historically, northeastern Minnesota has been the most Democratic region in the entire state outside of the Twin Cities. Geography was also against Cravaack as well; his home in Lindstrom is located in Chisago County, in the southern portion of the district.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cravaack's campaign was "structured like a military operation". He toured the district in a motor home dubbed "The War Wagon", and ranked volunteers with titles such as commander, captain and precinct lieutenant. He found his history as a union steward attracted the interest of district voters, especially the miners.
Cravaack campaigned on a platform of free-market principles and government spending cuts. He was able to take advantage of the unpopularity of President Obama's legislative agenda, and Oberstar's votes in support of it. He attacked Oberstar's vote on the health care bill, saying he would vote to repeal and replace it, and called an Oberstar-approved extension of the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
to include wet meadows, a "land grab" by the federal government. He criticized the earmark
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
process that Oberstar had used to fund infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
projects in the district, saying it was time for the spending to stop. Cravaack also attacked Oberstar's vote on "cap and trade
Emissions trading
Emissions trading is a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants....
" legislation to limit carbon emissions, saying it would result in higher energy prices.
A candidate debate held in Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
featured a boisterous crowd that jeered Oberstar, with Oberstar calling for a more civil atmosphere at the next debate. The second debate was quieter and centered on economic issues. Cravaack argued that the 2003 Bush tax cuts
Bush tax cuts
The Bush tax cuts refers to changes to the United States tax code passed during the presidency of George W. Bush and extended during the presidency of Barack Obama that generally lowered tax rates and revised the code specifying taxation in the United States...
should be continued on all tax brackets to stimulate employment, and Oberstar said he would end the tax cut for the top two percent of earners, because the lowered tax had caused part of the deficit
Deficit spending
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus....
.
A poll conducted for KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
in the Twin Cities in October showed Oberstar ahead of Cravaack by only one point, 47 to 46 percent. Cravaack received the endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
as the polls tightened. He was also endorsed by Minnesota's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, and the largest newspaper in the district, the Duluth News Tribune
Duluth News Tribune
The Duluth News Tribune is a newspaper in Duluth, Minnesota. It is published by Forum Communications, which bought it in 2006 after The McClatchy Company acquired the News Tribunes previous owner, Knight Ridder.The present incarnation of the newspaper is the outcome of the merger and takeover of...
. In the November 2 election, Cravaack scored one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota political history, defeating Oberstar by only 4,400 votes, 48 percent to 47 percent. Cravaack believed the abortion issue was crucial to his victory; he had argued that the health care legislation
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
that Oberstar had voted for allowed for the payment of abortions with taxpayer funds, and encouraged euthanasia for the elderly. By the time he won the election, Cravaack had modified his view of the bill, saying that it was an example of socialized medicine that will result in the rationing of medical care.
Tenure
Following his election in November 2010, Cravaack backed fellow Minnesota Representative, Michele BachmannMichele Bachmann
Michele Marie Bachmann is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing , a post she has held since 2007. The district includes several of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Woodbury, and Blaine as well as Stillwater and St. Cloud.She is currently a...
for the number four GOP leadership position of House Republican Conference chair.
In March 2011, Cravaack came under criticism by Duluth students and community leaders for his vote in favor of a budget bill making drastic cuts to the federal Pell Grant
Pell Grant
A Pell Grant is money the federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree or who are not enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating...
program that provides financial aid to college students, including 30 percent of the students at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He also came to press attention for implying during a Homeland Security Committee hearing that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
Lee Baca
Leroy David "Lee" Baca is the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. Baca holds a Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Southern California....
was furthering the goals of a terrorist organization.
Committee assignments
112th Congress- Committee on Homeland SecurityUnited States House Committee on Homeland SecurityThe U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
- Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
- Subcommittee on Transportation Security
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on AviationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on AviationThe Subcommittee on Aviation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation, including most aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration , the Transportation Security Administration, and the National...
(Vice Chair) - Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationThe Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over...
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentThe Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, the civil works programs of the U.S. Army...
- Subcommittee on Aviation
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation
Electoral history
}}Personal life
Cravaack is married and is the father of two boys. His wife works for a pharmaceutical company, but does not do any lobbying in Washington. His wife and children live in New Hampshire.Cravaack suffers from sleep apnea which ended his flying career with Northwest Airlines, now Delta Airlines, in 2007. As of 2010, he reported receiving thousands of dollars in disability payments.
External links
- Congressman Chip Cravaack official U.S. House site
- Cravaack for Congress official campaign site