Reince Priebus
Encyclopedia
Reinhold Reince Priebus is the chairman of the Republican National Committee
. He is also a previous chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
.
Priebus is of Greek and German descent. He was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin
. Aged 16, he began volunteering for political campaigns. He graduated from George Nelson Tremper High School
in 1990. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1994. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he was elected student body president and earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science and English. After college, he worked in the Wisconsin Legislature
and then went to law school at the University of Miami School of Law
where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1998. During law school, he interned for the NAACP legal defense fund in Los Angeles. In 2008, he was recognized by the Milwaukee's Business Journal as one of Milwaukee's 40 Under 40 and named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers.
In 2004, in his first bid for public office, Priebus unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Robert Wirch
for a seat in the Wisconsin Senate.
In 2007, Priebus was elected Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party. As Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, Priebus presided over a historic shake up of the political landscape in 2010 as Republicans won the Governor's race, picked up a US Senate seat and took control of both houses of the Wisconsin legislature. This was the first time since 1998 that Republicans controlled both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate. Priebus acknowledges that the gains made in Wisconsin in 2010 have made it a targeted state in 2012.
on January 14, 2011. He was elected in an unprecedented seventh ballot. Following Ann Wagner
's withdrawal from the race, Priebus received the votes of 97 of the 168 committee members. In his race for chairman, Reince Priebus joined a myriad of candidates including Maria Cino, Ann Wagner, Saul Anuzis and incumbent Chairman Michael Steele. In declaring his candidacy, he said, "I'm not running for Chairman because I think I'm better than anyone or because I think I have all the answers. I'm running for chairman for only one reason: I believe our country is in a time of great peril and we have to do something about it." To turn around the RNC, Priebus said, "I will keep expenses low. I will put in strong and serious controls. We will raise the necessary funds to make sure we are successful. We will work to regain the confidence of our donor base and I will personally call our major donors to ask them to rejoin our efforts at the RNC."
The race centered around whether the direction that Chairman Steele was taking the committee should be continued. It became clear that a change was desired, so the race turned into who would be best to turn things around at the RNC. Issues involving the RNC's get-out-the-vote operation, along with its relationship with the Tea Party and the grassroots and the committee's $21 million in debt were front and center in the race.
In the December 1, 2010 RNC candidate forum, Priebus provided a few details about his politics. He stated he believes the RNC is "part of" the Tea Party movement; believes in God and stated that if he were elected as RNC chair it would be through God's blessing; believes it is the Republican Party's mission to "save our country, to save our party and to take back the White House"; believes someone who is "pro-abortion, pro-stimulus, pro-AIG ... might not be a Republican"; and believes that being pro-life is "paramount" to the Republican Party platform. He wants to ban earmarks and to require photo IDs to vote. He opposes the legalization of same sex marriage. His political heroes include Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln and he has stated that he owns five guns.
He was criticized by the incumbent Michael Steele. Steele said, "It's disappointing, you would hope that the bonds of loyalty were thicker than they apparently were." Responding to Michael Steele, Priebus said "We're moving on. I'm not going to talk about the past. This is about saving our party."
In an April 5, 2011 interview with Meredith Viera on The Today Show
, Preibus stated, "Under [President Barack Obama], he’s promised millions and millions of jobs. We've lost 26 million jobs, Meredith, since he’s been president. He promised under an $850 billion stimulus program
that we’d be on a path to recovery. Well, none of that has come true. … I think that pointing out a snail's pace in the job (growth) numbers is not going to be enough to undo 26 million jobs that are lost, Meredith." The non-partisan watchdog group PolitiFact rated this statement "Pants On Fire" -- or patently false.
Priebus clarified saying he meant 2.6 million jobs were lost, not 26 million. In an Op-Ed, months prior he
used the 2.6 million jobs lost figure.
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. He is also a previous chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
Republican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the United States Republican Party . The state party chair is Brad Courtney...
.
Priebus is of Greek and German descent. He was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
. Aged 16, he began volunteering for political campaigns. He graduated from George Nelson Tremper High School
George Nelson Tremper High School
George Nelson Tremper High School is a high school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and part of the Kenosha Unified School District. It was named after George Nelson Tremper, the principal of Kenosha High School from 1911 to 1944. The "new" school was completed in the fall of 1964, with the first...
in 1990. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1994. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he was elected student body president and earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science and English. After college, he worked in the Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin Senate and the lower Wisconsin Assembly...
and then went to law school at the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1998. During law school, he interned for the NAACP legal defense fund in Los Angeles. In 2008, he was recognized by the Milwaukee's Business Journal as one of Milwaukee's 40 Under 40 and named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers.
In 2004, in his first bid for public office, Priebus unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Robert Wirch
Robert Wirch
Robert W. Wirch is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 22nd district since 1997. He previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1993 through 1997.-Early life, education and career:...
for a seat in the Wisconsin Senate.
In 2007, Priebus was elected Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party. As Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, Priebus presided over a historic shake up of the political landscape in 2010 as Republicans won the Governor's race, picked up a US Senate seat and took control of both houses of the Wisconsin legislature. This was the first time since 1998 that Republicans controlled both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate. Priebus acknowledges that the gains made in Wisconsin in 2010 have made it a targeted state in 2012.
Campaign for RNC Chairman
Priebus was elected as Chairman of the Republican National CommitteeRepublican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
on January 14, 2011. He was elected in an unprecedented seventh ballot. Following Ann Wagner
Ann Wagner
Ann Wagner is an American politician who served as the United States Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from 2005 to 2009. She was also Chair of the Missouri Republican Party for six years, from 1999 until 2005, and Co-chair of the Republican National Committee for four years.- Early life...
's withdrawal from the race, Priebus received the votes of 97 of the 168 committee members. In his race for chairman, Reince Priebus joined a myriad of candidates including Maria Cino, Ann Wagner, Saul Anuzis and incumbent Chairman Michael Steele. In declaring his candidacy, he said, "I'm not running for Chairman because I think I'm better than anyone or because I think I have all the answers. I'm running for chairman for only one reason: I believe our country is in a time of great peril and we have to do something about it." To turn around the RNC, Priebus said, "I will keep expenses low. I will put in strong and serious controls. We will raise the necessary funds to make sure we are successful. We will work to regain the confidence of our donor base and I will personally call our major donors to ask them to rejoin our efforts at the RNC."
The race centered around whether the direction that Chairman Steele was taking the committee should be continued. It became clear that a change was desired, so the race turned into who would be best to turn things around at the RNC. Issues involving the RNC's get-out-the-vote operation, along with its relationship with the Tea Party and the grassroots and the committee's $21 million in debt were front and center in the race.
In the December 1, 2010 RNC candidate forum, Priebus provided a few details about his politics. He stated he believes the RNC is "part of" the Tea Party movement; believes in God and stated that if he were elected as RNC chair it would be through God's blessing; believes it is the Republican Party's mission to "save our country, to save our party and to take back the White House"; believes someone who is "pro-abortion, pro-stimulus, pro-AIG ... might not be a Republican"; and believes that being pro-life is "paramount" to the Republican Party platform. He wants to ban earmarks and to require photo IDs to vote. He opposes the legalization of same sex marriage. His political heroes include Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln and he has stated that he owns five guns.
Chairman of the RNC
When Priebus took over as Chairman, the RNC had over $24 million in debt. Right away, he moved to establish himself as a “workhorse political operative - in sharp contrast to Steele, a telegenic figure whose verbal gaffes and spending fueled controversy”. Priebus started luring back many of the major donors that had left the committee during Michael Steele's rocky tenure. The RNC has raised over $30 million since Priebus became Chairman. In May, the RNC raised $6.2 million and reported $6.1 million cash on hand. After releasing the May fundraising numbers Priebus said, "We will have the resources to turn back the failed leadership of Barack Obama and return a Republican majority to the U.S. Senate in 2012." Republicans are happy with what Priebus has been doing as Chairman. "I'm impressed," said Mel Sembler, a Florida real estate developer and a former party finance chairman. "He's doing the right things. He realizes he's got a relatively short time here in order to dig out of this debt and build the necessary resources to mount a presidential campaign."Controversies
Priebus has come under fire from conservative activists for his role in seeking federal stimulus funds during his time at the Michael Best & Friedrich law firm in 2009. Priebus was a member of the firm's "Stimulus Legislation Team", which sought to "identify opportunities, prepare appropriate proposals and make targeted contacts to secure [federal] funds". He has denied association with that team.He was criticized by the incumbent Michael Steele. Steele said, "It's disappointing, you would hope that the bonds of loyalty were thicker than they apparently were." Responding to Michael Steele, Priebus said "We're moving on. I'm not going to talk about the past. This is about saving our party."
In an April 5, 2011 interview with Meredith Viera on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
, Preibus stated, "Under [President Barack Obama], he’s promised millions and millions of jobs. We've lost 26 million jobs, Meredith, since he’s been president. He promised under an $850 billion stimulus program
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
that we’d be on a path to recovery. Well, none of that has come true. … I think that pointing out a snail's pace in the job (growth) numbers is not going to be enough to undo 26 million jobs that are lost, Meredith." The non-partisan watchdog group PolitiFact rated this statement "Pants On Fire" -- or patently false.
Priebus clarified saying he meant 2.6 million jobs were lost, not 26 million. In an Op-Ed, months prior he
used the 2.6 million jobs lost figure.
External links
- Profile at Michael Best law firm
- File at PolitiFact Wisconsin
- Chairman at GOP.com
- Reince Priebus for RNC Chair campaign site