Meet The NRCC Patriots And Young Guns Joining The 114th Congress (LIVE UPDATES)
Barbara has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2009. However, her commitment to public service started in 1991 as a senior aide to Congressman Frank Wolf and has since worked in many facets of politics and government. A lawyer by trade, Barbara has worked with associations and individuals as an advocate for a variety of policy issues such as tort reform, first amendment rights and foster care issues. Also a small businesswoman, she understands the harmful impact that higher taxes and regulation has on job growth. Barbara lives in McLean with her husband, Chip, where they’ve raised three children.
After becoming New York’s youngest lawyer at the time at age 23, Lee spent four years on Active Duty with the U.S. Army and served in different capacities including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Federal Prosecutor and Military Magistrate. In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Lee deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2010, Lee was elected to the New York State Senate where he successfully fought to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for 80 percent of employers, worked to repeal the Saltwater fishing License Fee, and helped secured funding for the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, a statewide program to help our returning veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Lee is running against Tim Bishop, a partisan Democrat who has been under federal investigation for his role in a pay-for-play fundraising scheme.
Elise was born and raised in Upstate New York and has a long and deep passion for public service. Growing up in a small business family, Elise learned, lived, and understands the values of hard work that go hand in hand with building and operating a small business that provides jobs in today’s challenging economy. With over one thousand customers, Premium Plywood Products is one of the largest wholesale distributors of hardwood plywoods and specialty wood products in Upstate New York. Premium Plywood Products’ materials are in Upstate New York homes, schools, businesses, colleges and universities, hospitals, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, community centers, military bases and more.
Tom MacArthur is a self-made businessman and first-time congressional candidate that has dedicated much of his adult life to creating jobs and supporting community programs. As an active member of his local church, Tom and his wife Debbie created and funded the St. Peter’s Sandy Relief fund, which aided numerous local families in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Their personal foundation has also supported everything from wounded veterans and children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Tom has served as a Councilman and local Mayor. Prior to his public service, Tom worked in the insurance industry for 30 years and as the chairman and CEO of York Risk Services Group.
Carlos Curbelo was born in Miami to Carlos and Teresita Curbelo, Cuban exiles who fled Fidel Castro’s tyranny in the 1960s. In 2002, just months out of college, Carlos founded Capitol Gains, a public and media relations firm that has done work for South Florida companies as well as state, national, and international political campaigns. In 2009, he was named State Director for US Senator George LeMieux and in 2010, he was appointed by Florida’s Governor to the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a federally mandated board tasked with prioritizing local transportation and infrastructure projects. Carlos is also the co-founder of Centre Court Charities, a non-profit organization that runs basketball leagues for high school students during the summer months. In November of 2010, Carlos was elected, with the support of over 27,000 voters, to serve on the Miami Dade County School Board. Miami Dade County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in the country. Shortly after being elected, he was the only School Board Member in the state asked to serve on the Governor’s Education Transition Team where he was a champion for reform and for equity in funding. On the School Board, Carlos has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, parental involvement, and transparency in the district’s operations.
Bob Dold is a husband, and a father of three who owns and operates a small business, Rose Pest Solutions, located in Northfield. Bob was elected to Congress in 2010 to represent the 10th District of Illinois and was ranked as one of the most independent, bipartisan leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bob’s personal perspective has been shaped by a strong family and guided by the principles of serving as an Eagle Scout Scoutmaster. Integrity, personal responsibility, and civic leadership, along with a passionate desire to leave a better future for the next generation of Americans, are the values that have inspired Bob to run for public office.
A dedicated wife and mother, Mia Love is the daughter of Haitian immigrants who later went on to serve two terms on the city council of Saratoga Springs, one of Utah’s fastest growing cities. After being elected Mayor, Love is best known for her conservative positions on limited government, increased citizen liberties and limited restraints on business. She believes that government should stay out of the way of business and out of the lives of citizens. She advocates a return to the personal responsibility and reduced government dependency.
Bruce was born and raised in Waterville, Maine and was a successful businessman before serving as State Treasurer from 2011-13. As State Treasurer, Bruce advanced fiscal discipline, business common sense, and real solutions to Maine’s serious problems. His goal has been to help build a pro-economic growth climate that creates more jobs and better lives for our citizens. Bruce is proud to be from Maine. He is grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the State that has given so much to his family.
Born and raised in Huntington, Evan Jenkins has a passion for West Virginia, its people and its future. Evan is currently serving his third term as a Senator for Cabell and Wayne counties where he has been a champion of children’s’ issues, a public safety advocate, and is considered the most ‘Pro-Jobs’ legislator for his work in economic development. Evan is running in the Third District against Nick Rahall, who has supported a carbon tax and is President Obama’s biggest booster in West Virginia.
John Katko is a former federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice and an Onondaga County native. A fresh face and first-time candidate for elective office, John is a thoughtful, responsive, and independent public servant. John and his wife Robin reside in Camillus, New York with their three sons, where they are parishioners of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and actively involved in Camillus Youth Hockey. A lifelong sportsman, John is an avid hunter and fisherman.
Cresent Hardy is active in his church and community organizations such as Junior Livestock, 4H, and veterans groups. He and his business partner created the Legacy of Higher Learning and Talent Development organization which has provided scholarships for young Sother NEvadans to help them attend college. As a small business owner, Cresent knows what it takes to create jobs, make a payroll, and meet a budget. He understands that businesses are critical in bringing new jobs and economic prosperity to communities and during his time in state government, he helped bring many new businesses to Mesquite. Cresent and his wife, Peri, have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of four wonderful children.
The son of Cuban refugees, Alex Mooney grew up to experience all that America has to offer for those who come to this country to work hard. As a young man, Alex worked as an aide on Capitol Hill and then left to work at a small conservative public policy organization. After seeing Washington’s wasteful ways firsthand, Alex decided to run for office, becoming the youngest and only Hispanic member of the Maryland State Senate. For almost a decade he fought for Republican ideals. Alex and his wife, Dr. Grace Gonzalez Mooney, have two children.
Frank has served his fellow Granite Staters from the corner office in Manchester’s City Hall to Capitol Hill. As mayor of New Hampshire’s largest city, Frank took on the task of restoring order and discipline to Manchester’s finances. While serving in Congress from 2011 to 2012, his “Getting Granite Staters Back to Work” jobs initiative was his top priority in New Hampshire. Through it, Frank hosted job fairs in Rochester, Derry, Manchester (for military veterans and their families), and Portsmouth, plus a Women’s Conference, several Manufacturers’ Summits, Small Business Roundtables and other events designed to help Granite Staters find good, middle class jobs.
Dr. Joe Heck has passionately served the residents of Nevada as a physician, Army Reservist, and community volunteer. Born in New York and raised in Pennsylvania, Joe moved to Southern Nevada in 1992. A 1984 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Health Education, he received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1988, and completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1992. In 1993 he received Board Certification in Emergency Medicine and in 2000 was issued a Certificate of Added Qualification in Emergency Medical Services.
Ryan Costello currently serves as Chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners. As Chair he recently approved a revised 5-year strategic plan for Chester County. Dedicated to the community, Costello has served on numerous leadership positions in the district, including the Pension Board, Prison Board, and Board of Elections. Ryan graduated from Villanova Law School and has been a practicing attorney since 2002 with the Phoenixville firm O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei. Ryan lives in West Chester with his wife, Christine and their son, Ryan Jr.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski is a native Hoosier, born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. Before being elected to Congress, Walorski was elected to serve Hoosiers in the Indiana House of Representatives. Rising quickly to leadership, Congresswoman Walorski served as the Assistant Floor Leader for the Republican Caucus. Serving Hoosier families is Congresswoman Walorski’s top priority and why she continues to serve her constituents on the Armed Services, Budget and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
Bruce Westerman has been honored to serve as Arkansas’s first Republican House Majority Leader in 138 years. Bruce now wants to take his common sense principles to Washington to continue fighting for Arkansas families where an unfair Obama Administration governs from the top-down, picking winners and losers. He is a lifelong resident of Garland County and sees it as a huge privilege to be sent to Congress to serve on behalf of his community. Bruce knows that serving in Congress is necessary to ensure that Arkansas children have a brighter future as well as a federal government that treats them fairly.
A ninth generation Arkansan, French Hill has devoted himself to building central Arkansas as a premier place to live, work and raise a family. French served as Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and later founded Delta Trust, a banking and investment business headquartered in Little Rock. Having worked in the private sector and in financial institutions affected by the Obama Administration’s big-government, tax and spend agenda, Hill has seen firsthand the struggles and challenges that businesses in Arkansas and across the country face. He and his wife have two children and live in Little Rock.
Rick Allen has spent the last 25 years building his construction company from the ground up in Augusta, Georgia. Allen is a conservative small businessman who will bring his experience in job creation and principled leadership to Congress to combat the growing reach of the federal government into the lives of every American. Rick knows that Washington is broken. Job-killing policies, overregulation, and antiquated tax laws have plagued Georgians for far too long, stifling American entrepreneurism. Rick knows it’s time to get Washington back on the path to a prosperous economy. Rick also knows firsthand about creating jobs in spite of the obstacles put in place by the federal government. Rick is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who has worked hard to serve his community and his church.
Ryan Zinke is a third generation Montanan with deep family roots across the state. After graduating from Whitefish High School, he attended the University of Oregon where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geology, later earning an MBA in Finance and Masters in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego. Ryan served for twenty-three years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. His distinguished career included service as a commander at SEAL Team SIX, Deputy and acting commander of Combined Joint Special Operations in Iraq, and the “Dean” of the Naval Special Warfare graduate school. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service. In 2008, Ryan was elected to the Montana State Senate and served in the 2009 and 2011 legislative sessions. Currently, Ryan is a CEO for a consulting firm that advances technology in the industries of aerospace, oil and gas, and national security.
Mike Bost is an Illinois native and a lifelong resident of Murphysboro. He was elected to the Illinois State House in 1994, and has represented the 115th House District of Illinois for ten terms. Previously, Bost served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, and served as a firefighter for the Murphysboro Fire Department. Bost also worked in his family’s trucking business for 13 years, and rose from driver to manager in just a short time. Having seen first-hand the financial struggles and day to day management that working in and running a small business requires, Bost fully understands the burden that the Obama Administration is placing on Illinois’ small businesses and families.
A lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio, Congressman Dave Joyce is an experienced leader who has spent his career protecting and fighting for Ohioans. Before being elected to Congress, Joyce worked to put some of the most dangerous criminals behind bars as the Geauga County Prosecutor. After six consecutive terms in office as prosecutor, Congressman Joyce has proved an effective, compassionate leader. Congressman Joyce now serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and fights to get Ohioans back to work.
David Valadao was born and raised in Hanford, California in the center of the agriculturally rich 21st Congressional District. As a lifelong resident of the Central Valley, David has been active in the agriculture and dairy community, as well as many local causes including Children’s Hospital Central California, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and various Catholic Charities. The Valadao family emigrated from the Azores Islands of Portugal to the United States in 1969. After settling in the Central Valley, David’s father started a small dairy farm in 1973. David was born April 14, 1977. As young men, David and his brothers learned the value of hard work by rising early in the morning to work on the dairy alongside their parents. They were blessed to achieve the American Dream of entrepreneurship and are proud of the business they have built as a family. They consider their many employees to be a part of their extended family. The Valadao family now has two dairies and farmland in Kings and western Tulare County, where they grow alfalfa, corn, and wheat as dairy feed stock. David attended local schools, graduating from Hanford High School in 1995. David then went on to the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. Now David serves as a partner in the Valadao Dairy. David married his high school sweetheart, Terra, in 1999. Together, they have three beautiful children, ages 10, 8 and 4. David’s firsthand experience operating a business and suffering the consequences of regulations imposed by out of touch Washington and Sacramento bureaucrats is one of the reasons he decided to run for the newly drawn 21st Congressional Seat in 2012. David’s leadership experience also led him to realize that he can make more of a difference for his family and the families of all in the District by working to craft solutions instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining. Join us in this journey. Elect David Valadao to return prosperity to our region, and the families of California’s 21st Congressional District.
Tim Walberg believes in the Michigan values of hard work, entrepreneurship, compassion, and creating opportunities for each person to use their God-given gifts to care for their families, reach for their dreams, and help their community. As an elected official, community foundation leader, manager in higher education, and pastor, Tim has demonstrated a consistent commitment to advancing opportunities for individuals to succeed and doing his part in elected office to help make America a pillar of freedom and hope in the world.Tim’s previous work includes service as a pastor for nearly 10 years. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1983 and served until 1999. During his time in the State Legislature, Tim gained a reputation as a principled voice for less government spending, lower taxes, and fewer regulations.
Dr. Dan Benishek has spent a lifetime living in, working in, and serving Northern Michigan. Dr. Dan was born in Iron River, Michigan. At the young age of 5, he lost his father in a mining accident leaving his mother to raise him and his brother, Tim. Together, Dr. Dan’s family began working in his grandmother’s business—the Iron River Hotel. Helping with housekeeping, working in the bar and doing chores around the hotel, a strong work ethic and understanding of how to take on challenges was instilled with him early. Upon graduating from West Iron High School in 1970, he went on to earn a B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan in 1974 and a medical degree from Wayne State Medical School in 1978. After completing an internship in Flint, Dr. Dan returned to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and served the community as a general surgeon treating patients for nearly 30 years. In addition, he worked part-time at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. As a doctor that led teams in the operating room, Dr. Dan understands what it means to work together and find solutions to challenges and problems as they appear. However, he noticed the politicians in Washington did not share that same understanding, as he watched them spend money our country didn’t have and then pile debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren, threatening their future. It was for this reason he sought elected office for the first time ever in 2010. Since coming to Congress and having the privilege to serve the people of Northern Michigan, Dr. Dan has been working and fighting every day to grow the economy in the area. He has worked tirelessly to encourage a strong environment for job creators to grow and thrive, improve the care our veterans receive, fix our broken health care system, reduce spending, and ensure that families can support themselves and prosper right here. Dr. Dan is an avid outdoorsman and like many in Northern Michigan, enjoys spending his time hunting, fishing and taking advantage of all of our natural resources. Dan and his wife Judy currently live near Crystal Falls, Michigan. They have five children and four grandchildren.
Serving the people of Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, Bill Johnson has made it a priority to create jobs for his fellow Ohioans. Bill joined the Air Force in 1973 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving his country for more than 26 years. Bill is a strong advocate for Ohio families when it comes to stopping President Obama’s War on Coal and ensuring Ohioans have the opportunity to create and maintain jobs at home.
Rod Blum started from humble beginnings, holding on to the American Dream and hope for a better life. He grew his software company from five employees to 325 in five years, earning him the title of Iowa Entrepreneur of the Year in High-Tech. In addition to being a technology entrepreneur, Rod is a successful real estate developer and a high school basketball coach.
Mike Coffman is a veteran and former small business owner in Aurora that has served his state and country since enlisting in the Army at age 17. The son of a career soldier who grew up in the working class neighborhoods of Aurora, in 1972 Mike dropped out of high school to join the Army, later earning a high school diploma and attending the University of Colorado on the G.I. Bill. Prior to graduating, he was able to take a leave of absence from the Army Reserve and the University of Colorado for one year to attend Vaishnav College in India and the University of Veracruz in Mexico. After C.U., Mike transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps where he became an infantry officer. In 1983, Mike Coffman came back to Colorado to start a small business while continuing to serve his country in the Marine Corps Reserve. His property management business in Aurora grew to over 20 employees and he sold his stake in it in 2000. Having been a small business owner, Mike knows the struggle of balancing a budget, meeting a payroll and running an operation efficiently enough to make a profit — skills all too uncommon in Washington, DC. He has served Colorado as a state legislator, the state treasurer and as the secretary of state. Mike is married to Cynthia Coffman, the Chief Deputy Attorney General who is currently running as the Republican nominee for Attorney General. They recently adopted a new Golden Retriever puppy named Attie. The only veteran in the Colorado Congressional delegation, Mike is also the only Member of Congress to have served in both Iraq wars.
Tom Reed has gained a reputation of fighting for job creation through tackling our national debt, reducing burdensome regulations on small businesses, and reforming the tax code to make it simpler, fairer, and less costly, and developing an “all-of-the-above” comprehensive energy policy.
David Rouzer was the Republican nominee for the 7th Congressional district in 2012, and he fell just 654 votes short of unseating long-time Democrat incumbent Congressman Mike McIntyre. David currently helps small businesses with marketing and business development through his consulting business. He also spends his time working on his family’s farm. He is former member of the North Carolina Senate, representing Johnston and Wayne Counties from 2009 to 2012, and was consistently ranked by the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation as one of the most effective pro-business legislators.
As Chief of Staff for Senator Grassley, David worked day in and day out on behalf of Iowans. He listened to their concerns, developed solutions, and navigated the federal bureaucracy to get results. Throughout David’s tenure in the Senate, he heard Iowan’s concerns about burdensome regulations, the skyrocketing national debt, long-term unemployment, and the mounting government scandals. It was these concerns, coupled with his desire to use his years of experience fighting for the people of Iowa in Senator Grassley’s office, which compelled David to run for the Congress. David has the experience and knowledge to start working for Iowans on his first day as a Congressman. David has a track record of getting results for Iowans and he’s ready to continue his service.
On January 3, 2013, Rodney was sworn-in as the congressman for the 13th District of Illinois, a 14-county district covering both urban and rural areas of Central and Southwestern Illinois. As a Member of the 113th Congress, Rodney serves on the House Committees on Agriculture and Transportation & Infrastructure. Since the age of seven, Rodney has lived in Taylorville, where he attended public school. He continued his education in central Illinois and graduated with honors from Millikin University in Decatur. While growing up, Rodney worked in his parents’ restaurant, so he’s seen first-hand the daily challenges faced by small business owners. In his role as Projects Director for Congressman John Shimkus, Rodney became intimately familiar with the role that the federal government plays in our communities, where it can help, and where it can hurt. He was instrumental in helping Illinois citizens and communities cut through government red tape and works daily to provide support and relief to a wide array of important local projects. Despite his busy schedule, Rodney has always put family first. In 1995, he married Shannon, his high school sweetheart. At age 26, soon after the birth of their daughter, Toryn, Shannon was diagnosed with cancer. Drawing on their faith and family for support, Rodney and Shannon faced the devastating diagnosis head-on and prevailed. Throughout her treatment, Rodney never missed one of Shannon’s sessions. Almost two years after Shannon’s initial diagnosis, they celebrated the birth of their twin sons Griffin and Clark. Today, Shannon is a 13-year survivor. She is a registered nurse and an instructor at St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield, where she helps educate Illinois’ next generation of caregivers. The Davis family attends St. Mary’s Church, where Rodney served on the Finance Committee and as Volunteer Athletic Director. His other civic activities have included serving as fundraising drive chairman for the Christian County United Way, co-chairing a multimillion dollar YMCA capital fund drive, and serving on Christian County Senior Center Board of Directors. In his free time, Rodney coaches Taylorville Junior Football and his sons’ Little League team. Rodney will continue to work aggressively in Congress to end overspending, address the nation’s skyrocketing debt, and work to improve the economy to provide a better quality of life for the families of Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.