Jim Esch
Encyclopedia
James D. "Jim" Esch was the 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...

 nominee for the 2006 and 2008 general elections for (map) of the United States House of Representatives
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...

, challenging 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...

 incumbent Lee Terry
Lee Terry
Lee Raymond Terry is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party.A lifelong Nebraskan, Congressman Lee Terry has worked continually to empower the people of the Second District. Terry has been a leader for Nebraska, advocating American energy...

.

Biography

Esch was born in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

, the eldest of six children. He attended Creighton Preparatory School
Creighton Preparatory School
Creighton Preparatory School , is a private, Jesuit college prep school founded in 1878 for young men. Centrally located in Omaha, Nebraska at 7400 Western Avenue, Prep is the largest Catholic high school in the state of Nebraska, USA with an enrollment of 1,038 young men...

 and Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...

, both Jesuit-run schools. He earned a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...

 in Business Administration in 1998 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 from the Creighton University School of Law
Creighton University School of Law
Creighton University School of Law is a part of Creighton University. Founded in 1904, Creighton Law is one of 14 Jesuit Catholic law schools in the U.S. One out of every 10 American law students is enrolled in a Jesuit law school. Situated primarily in urban centers, these schools were...

 in 2000.

He has served on the Boards of several Catholic charities, including the Siena Francis House homeless shelter, Heart Ministry outreach program and Black Student Catholic Scholarship Fund. Esch is also a member of the Omaha Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

Upon graduation from law school, Esch worked for the Steier Group, which provides professional development and public relations counsel to nonprofit organizations. From 2003 to 2005, Esch worked for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and served as director for the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership.

Esch is a fairly conservative Democrat, holding traditionally Republican views on issues such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, gun control and health care.

2006 U.S. congressional campaign

In 2006 Esch unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district against Republican incumbent Lee Terry
Lee Terry
Lee Raymond Terry is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party.A lifelong Nebraskan, Congressman Lee Terry has worked continually to empower the people of the Second District. Terry has been a leader for Nebraska, advocating American energy...

. He lost 55%-45%.

2008 U.S. congressional campaign

In 2008 Esch announced that he would again seek the Democratic nomination for a rematch with Lee Terry in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district. On May 13, 2008, he won the primary against Richard Carter of Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...

. He again lost to Terry 52% to 48%. Esch stated afterwards that at least Barack Obama was victorious [in his presidential bid] and that that was what mattered. Esch also said he was done running for the seat.

External links


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