Mac Thornberry
Encyclopedia
William McClellan "Mac" Thornberry (born July 15, 1958) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
The district encompasses the Texas Panhandle and stretches between the Oklahoma and New Mexico borders, winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains, then runs east across the Red River Valley. Covering over 40000 square miles (103,599.5 km²), it is the second-largest district in Texas and one of the largest (excluding at-large districts) in the country (it is larger than 13 states). Among the cities in the district are Amarillo and Wichita Falls.
, some 60 miles (97 km) east of Amarillo, in the heart of the 13th. His family has operated a ranch
in the area since 1881. He received his bachelor's degree
in history
from Texas Tech University
in Lubbock
. He obtained his Juris Doctor
from the University of Texas
Law School. He served as a staffer to two other Texas Republican congressmen, Tom Loeffler
and Larry Combest
, and as deputy Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under Ronald Reagan
before joining his brothers on the family ranch. He also practiced law in Amarillo.
He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Armed Services Committee where he leads the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. He also serves as a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Congressman Bill Sarpalius
in the 1994 general election
, a heavily Republican year nationwide. He polled 79,416 votes (55.41 percent) to Sarpalius' 63,923 votes (44.18 percent). Two years earlier in a much higher turnout election, Sarpalius had polled nearly double the votes that he received in 1994. The 13th has always been a somewhat conservative district, but Thornberry's victory is still regarded as an upset.
Since his initial election, Thornberry has consolidated his hold on the district and routinely wins by large majorities in an area that was historically Democratic as recently as the 1970s. Thornberry is only the third Republican to represent the district since Reconstruction. The previous Republican representatives were Robert D. "Bob" Price of Pampa
(1967–1975) and Beau Boulter
of Amarillo (1985–1989).
In the 2006 election, Thornberry defeated former Intelligence Officer
and Professor Roger Waun. He defeated Waun in a rematch in 2008, earning nearly 78 percent of the votes.
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 , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party
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...
.
The district encompasses the Texas Panhandle and stretches between the Oklahoma and New Mexico borders, winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains, then runs east across the Red River Valley. Covering over 40000 square miles (103,599.5 km²), it is the second-largest district in Texas and one of the largest (excluding at-large districts) in the country (it is larger than 13 states). Among the cities in the district are Amarillo and Wichita Falls.
Early life, education and career
Thornberry is a lifelong resident of ClarendonClarendon, Texas
Clarendon is a city in Donley County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,974 at the 2000 census. The county seat of Donley County, Clarendon is located on United States Highway 287 in the Texas Panhandle some sixty miles east of Amarillo. It was established in 1878 by Methodist clergyman L.H...
, some 60 miles (97 km) east of Amarillo, in the heart of the 13th. His family has operated a ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
in the area since 1881. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. He obtained his Juris Doctor
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 University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
Law School. He served as a staffer to two other Texas Republican congressmen, Tom Loeffler
Tom Loeffler
Thomas Gilbert Loeffler is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from central Texas. He was an advisor and fundraiser to the 2008 presidential campaign of U.S...
and Larry Combest
Larry Combest
Larry Ed Combest is a retired Texas Republican U.S. politician who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985 to 2003.-Early life:...
, and as deputy Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
before joining his brothers on the family ranch. He also practiced law in Amarillo.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
(Vice Chair)- Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:The Strategic Forces Subcommittee exercises oversight and legislative jurisdiction over:...
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
- Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceUnited States House Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceThe United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Mike Rogers. It is the primary committee in the U.S...
He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Armed Services Committee where he leads the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. He also serves as a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Political campaigns
Thornberry defeated DemocraticDemocratic 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...
Congressman Bill Sarpalius
Bill Sarpalius
William "Bill" Sarpalius is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, having represented from 1989 to 1995 District 13, which covers the Texas Panhandle eastward to Wichita Falls, Texas....
in the 1994 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, a heavily Republican year nationwide. He polled 79,416 votes (55.41 percent) to Sarpalius' 63,923 votes (44.18 percent). Two years earlier in a much higher turnout election, Sarpalius had polled nearly double the votes that he received in 1994. The 13th has always been a somewhat conservative district, but Thornberry's victory is still regarded as an upset.
Since his initial election, Thornberry has consolidated his hold on the district and routinely wins by large majorities in an area that was historically Democratic as recently as the 1970s. Thornberry is only the third Republican to represent the district since Reconstruction. The previous Republican representatives were Robert D. "Bob" Price of Pampa
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
(1967–1975) and Beau Boulter
Beau Boulter
Eldon Beau Boulter is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist who was a Republican U.S. representative from Texas between 1985 and 1989....
of Amarillo (1985–1989).
In the 2006 election, Thornberry defeated former Intelligence Officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
and Professor Roger Waun. He defeated Waun in a rematch in 2008, earning nearly 78 percent of the votes.
External links
- U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry official U.S. House site
- Mac Thornberry for Congress Campaign official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...