Anthony Gonzalez (politician)

Last updated

Anthony Gonzalez's voice
Anthony Gonzalez honors a deceased Hinckley Township trustee
Recorded February 25, 2021
Anthony Gonzalez
Anthony Gonzalez, official portrait, 116th Congress 2.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Ohio's 16th district
In office
January 3, 2019 –January 3, 2023

Anthony E. Gonzalez (born September 18, 1984) is an American politician and former professional football player. He served as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 16th congressional district from 2019 to 2023.

Contents

He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he studied philosophy. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the final pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. Following his sports career, which was cut short by injuries, he enrolled in graduate studies at Stanford University and earned a master's degree.

Gonzalez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2018, sworn in on January 3, 2019, [1] and reelected in 2020. [2] In September 2021, Gonzalez announced he would not seek another term. [3]

Early life

Gonzalez's maternal grandfather was a World War II veteran. [4] His Cuban-American father immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba after Fidel Castro took power. [5] His father is president of Ferragon Corporation, a steel company. [5]

Gonzalez attended St. Joseph grade school in Avon Lake, Ohio, and Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a standout in both football and track. In football, he was a two-way player. As a senior, he was a first-team All-state honoree as well as the Associated Press and The Plain Dealer Co-defensive Player of the Year, catching 71 passes for 1,873 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. His 26.4 yards per catch set a school record. In track, he lettered for four years and qualified for the state finals as a junior and senior. Gonzalez also played basketball as a freshman.[ citation needed ] He attended Ohio State University and was an Academic All-American majoring in philosophy, [6] in which he earned a bachelor's degree.

Football career

College

Gonzalez was a three-year letterman at Ohio State University, playing with fellow future NFL wide receivers Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr., and Roy Hall, as well as Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith. As a junior, Gonzalez was an All-Big Ten choice by league coaches. [6] He finished his college career playing in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, where the Buckeyes lost to the Florida Gators 41–14.

YearTeamGamesReceiving
RecYdsAvgTD
2004 Ohio State 8817922.42
2005 Ohio State 122837313.33
2006 Ohio State 135173414.48
Total33871,28614.813

Professional

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)		193 lb
(88 kg)		31 in
(0.79 m)		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.44 s1.57 s2.59 s4.08 s6.54 s38 in
(0.97 m)		10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		16 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [7] [8] [9]

Indianapolis Colts

Gonzalez was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 32nd selection in the 2007 NFL draft, and was taken to become the Colts' slot receiver. He was one of three Ohio State receivers selected in that draft. [10]

In Gonzalez's first year, he caught 37 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns. The next season he caught 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2009, Gonzalez earned the starting wide receiver position along with Reggie Wayne after Marvin Harrison was released from the team in the off-season. He injured his right knee during the season opener against Jacksonville Jaguars and was expected to miss up to eight weeks. [11] He failed to return that season and was placed on injured reserve on December 24.

In 2010, Gonzalez lost the starting wide receiver position due to missing the 2009 season. He played in a total of two games as a slot receiver with five catches for 67 yards and no touchdowns. He injured his left leg in week eight against the Houston Texans and was placed on Injured Reserve for the rest of the year.

Gonzalez's role in the Colts offense diminished even further during the 2011 season. He played in only eight games and did not catch a pass. He became an unrestricted free agent in the following off-season.

During Gonzalez's time with Indianapolis, the Colts won three AFC South Division titles (2007, 2009, 2010), an AFC Championship (2009), and a trip to Super Bowl XLIV.

New England Patriots

On March 17, 2012, Gonzalez signed with the New England Patriots. [12] The Patriots released him on May 29, 2012. [13]

Career statistics

Regular season
YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2007 IND 1393757615.6573
2008 IND 1625766411.6584
2009 IND 1100000
2010 IND 2056713.4340
2011 IND 8000000
Total4012991,30713.2587
Playoffs
YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2007 IND 1047919.8551
2008 IND 1169716.2360
Total211017617.6551

Retirement

Gonzalez decided to retire from sports and enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business in September 2012, [14] from which he received a master of business administration degree.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

In 2018, Gonzalez filed to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in Ohio's 16th congressional district. His predecessor, Jim Renacci, was retiring to mount an unsuccessful Senate campaign against incumbent Sherrod Brown. Gonzalez won the November 6 election with 57% of the vote, becoming the first Latino to represent Ohio in Congress. [1] [15] He raised more than $525,000 in less than a month after announcing his run, including donations from former NFL teammate Peyton Manning, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, and several other former NFL and college football players. [16] [17] Along with Texas Democrat Colin Allred, he was one of two former NFL players to be elected to Congress in 2018.

2020

Gonzalez defeated the Democratic nominee, physicist Aaron Paul Godfrey, [18] 63.2% to 36.8%. [19]

2022

Gonzalez originally ran for reelection in the 16th district, prompting a primary challenge from Republicans who supported former President Donald Trump due to Gonzalez's impeachment vote. [20] Ohio's slow population growth in the 2020 United States census made the district obsolete as of 2023, leaving the campaigns' statuses unclear. [21] On September 16, Gonzalez announced he would not run for Congress in 2022. [3]

Tenure

Gonzalez with President Donald Trump in January 2020 President Trump Signs H.R. 1424 - The Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act (49350876498).jpg
Gonzalez with President Donald Trump in January 2020

The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump on December 18, 2019, claiming Trump had abused the power of his office and obstructed the will of Congress by seeking foreign aid to influence the results of the 2020 election against challenger Joe Biden. Gonzalez voted not to impeach Trump, saying there was not enough evidence. [22]

The Senate voted mostly on party lines to acquit Trump of the charges on February 5, 2020. [23]

Just 12 days before the end of Trump's term, the House passed a second impeachment resolution with one article claiming "incitement of insurrection", before and during the U.S. Capitol attack. Gonzalez was one of ten Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for this offense. [24] [25] [26] The Senate again acquitted Trump.

Ohio Republican Party chair Bob Paduchik said the second impeachment resolution addressed "an unconstitutional, politically motivated process that served no purpose." As a result of his vote to impeach Trump, the Ohio Republican Central Committee voted to censure Gonzalez, stating that Gonzalez had "betrayed his constituents" and "relied on emotions rather than the will of his constituents and any credible facts". [27] Gonzalez and his family received continual threats following the impeachment vote, and he took additional security measures to protect his wife and family. [28]

On May 19, 2021, Gonzalez was one of 35 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol. [29] In retaliation, Trump endorsed former White House aide Max Miller in the 2022 primary for the seat. [30]

On October 21, 2021, Gonzalez was one of nine House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress. [31] On November 5, 2021, he was among the 13 House Republicans to break with their party and vote with a majority of Democrats in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. [32]

Immigration

Gonzalez voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 1158) which effectively prohibits ICE from cooperating with Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs). [33]

Same-sex marriage

On July 19, 2022, Gonzalez was one of 47 Republican Representatives to vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law. [34]

Contraception

Gonzalez voted for H.R. 8373 ("The Right to Contraception Act"), a bill designed to protect access to contraceptives and health care providers' ability to provide contraceptives and information about contraception. [35] It would also fund Planned Parenthood. [36]

Big Tech

In 2022, Gonzalez was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior. [37] [38]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

2018 OH-16 Republican Primary Results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Anthony Gonzalez 34,056 53.06
Republican Christina Hagan 26,18540.79
Republican Michael Grusenmeyer3,9466.15
Total votes64,187 100
Ohio's 16th congressional district, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Anthony Gonzalez 170,029 56.7
Democratic Susan Moran Palmer129,68143.3
Total votes299,710 100.0
Republican hold
Ohio 16th congressional district, 2020 Republican primary [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Anthony Gonzalez (incumbent) 43,026 100.0
Total votes43,026 100.0
Ohio's 16th congressional district, 2020 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Anthony Gonzalez (incumbent) 247,335 63.2
Democratic Aaron Paul Godfrey144,07136.8
Total votes391,406 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Gonzalez, his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children live in Rocky River, Ohio.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Anthony Gonzalez, former Ohio State University football star, files to run for Congress in Ohio
  2. ↑ "Republican Anthony Gonzalez reelected to Ohio's 16th Congressional District seat". News5Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Martin, Jonathan (September 16, 2021). "Ohio House Republican, Calling Trump 'a Cancer,' Bows Out of 2022" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ "MEET ANTHONY". Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Local Cuban-American businessman talks President's trip [ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 "Anthony Gonzalez: The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts". Colts.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Anthony Gonzalez Stats, News and Video - WR". NFL.com . Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Anthony Gonzalez Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  9. ↑ "2007 Draft Scout Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Colts WR Gonzalez could miss up to eight weeks; Baskett signs". Nfl.com.
  12. ↑ "Patriots sign free agent WR Anthony Gonzalez". Patriots.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Patriots Release WR Anthony Gonzalez". SBnation.com.
  14. ↑ "Ex-Indianapolis Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez is in graduate school". Indy Star. September 28, 2012.
  15. ↑ How the 9 former athletes running for office performed in Tuesday's election
  16. ↑ Peyton Manning, other sports figures get behind Anthony Gonzalez's bid for Congress
  17. ↑ CuyahogaGOP [@CuyahogaGOP] (February 20, 2018). "2018 Endorsements https://t.co/WfHNAEYIvT" (Tweet). Retrieved January 23, 2021– via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Eaton, Sabrina (December 18, 2019). "Christina Hagan files to challenge Tim Ryan: See who's running for Congress in Northeast Ohio". cleveland.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  19. 1 2 "2020 OFFICIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  20. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex (February 22, 2021). "Trump aide preps primary against Ohio impeachment supporter". Politico. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  21. ↑ Exner, Rich (April 26, 2021). "Ohio loses a congressional seat in apportionment from census 2020 results". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  22. ↑ Chris Mosby (December 18, 2019). "Strongsville Rep. Anthony Gonzalez Votes Against Impeachment Gonzalez said he didn't feel there was direct evidence tying President Donald Trump to abuses of power". patch.com.
  23. ↑ Ewing, Philip (February 5, 2020). "'Not Guilty': Trump Acquitted On 2 Articles Of Impeachment As Historic Trial Closes". NPR.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ "10 GOP lawmakers vote to impeach Trump, trial moves to Senate". FOX 35 . January 13, 2021.
  25. ↑ "These 10 House Republicans voted to impeach Trump on Wednesday". CNN. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  26. ↑ Rep. Anthony Gonzalez [@RepAGonzalez] (January 13, 2021). "See my full statement on impeachment below. https://t.co/pBBYRI2RUP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021– via Twitter.
  27. ↑ JORDAN WILLIAMS (May 7, 2021). "Ohio GOP censures Republican lawmaker over Trump". thehill.com.
  28. ↑ Martin, Jonathan (September 17, 2021). "Ohio House Republican, Calling Trump 'a Cancer,' Bows Out of 2022". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  29. ↑ LeBlanc, Paul (May 19, 2021). "Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  30. ↑ Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham accuses congressional candidate of abuse, Washington Post , Felicia Sonmez, October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  31. ↑ "These are the 9 House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress". CNN . October 21, 2021.
  32. ↑ Annie Grayer (November 6, 2021). "These 6 House Democrats voted against the infrastructure bill. These 13 Republicans voted for it". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  33. ↑ "H.R. 1158: DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act … -- House Vote #690 -- Dec 17, 2019".
  34. ↑ Lai, Stephanie (July 19, 2022). "House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Amid Concern About Court Reversal". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  35. ↑ "H.R. 8373: To protect a person's ability to access contraceptives … -- House Vote #385 -- Jul 21, 2022".
  36. ↑ "Democrats' contraception bill would force taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood". July 21, 2022.
  37. ↑ "House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled". CNBC . September 29, 2022.
  38. ↑ "H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022".
  39. ↑ "MEMBERS". RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  41. ↑ "2020 ELECTIONS RESULTS". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 16th congressional district
2019–2023		Constituency abolished
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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