Ferguson was born in Ridgewood,New Jersey. Ferguson is the son of Thomas Ferguson,former chairman and CEO of CommonHealth USA,a healthcare marketing and communications group. He attended the Delbarton School,the University of Notre Dame,and has an MPA from the Georgetown University.[1] He attended the University of Notre Dame with punk musician Ted Leo,where it is claimed that he adhered to more left-leaning politics,voiced in the song "The Anointed One" off the album Hearts of Oak.[2]
Before running for Congress he worked as a teacher at a private school,and worked as a part-time as an instructor at a community college.[3]
Ferguson was the Republican nominee for 6th Congressional District in 1998,but lost to Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone. In 1999,Ferguson moved to the more Republican 7th district,where incumbent Bob Franks was retiring to run for the United States Senate. Ferguson defeated Thomas Kean Jr. and future West Virginia Attorney GeneralPatrick Morrisey in the primary. He faced a difficult general election campaign against the Democratic candidate,former Fanwood mayor Maryanne Connelly but narrowly won,receiving 50% of the vote. At 30 years old,Ferguson was the youngest member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
In 2002 and 2004,Ferguson defeated challenges from Democrats Tim Carden and Steve Brozak by comparatively large margins.[10][11]
In 2005,citing his family's own experience in providing care to his mother as she fought cancer,Ferguson sponsored the Lifespan Respite Care Act,which authorized $289 million in grants to states to train volunteers and provide respite care services to sick and elderly family members or children with special needs. President George W. Bush signed Ferguson's legislation into law December 21,2006.[12]
In 2006,Ferguson won reelection in a tight race with Democratic state legislator Linda Stender. Stender attempted to portray him as too conservative for the district and tie him with President Bush,who was extremely unpopular at the time in New Jersey. The 7th district had a slight Republican lean,and Stender won the more liberal suburban counties of Middlesex and Union. Ferguson managed to win reelection by winning large margins in the more conservative areas in Somerset and Hunterdon counties,and holding Stender to only a small lead in Union. Overall,he defeated Stender by just over 3,000 votes and a margin of less than 2 percentage points.[13]
Ferguson announced on November 19,2007,that he would not run for re-election in 2008,stating that he wanted to spend more time with his family.[14] He was succeeded by fellow Republican Leonard Lance,a state senator. Ferguson and his wife Maureen have five children.
Ferguson was the recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Legislator of the Year award from the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars,the 2006 Legislator of the Year Award from the National Visiting Nurses Association,[15] and the 2007 Congressional Award from the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society.
Overall,Ferguson's voting record was moderate by national Republican standards,as is typical of Republicans from New Jersey.[16] He was known as a social conservative and staunch advocate for anti-abortion causes,obtaining a 100% rating by the National Right to Life Committee.[17]
Post-congressional career
Ferguson in 2018
Upon his retirement from Congress effective January 3,2009,Ferguson became chairman and CEO of Ferguson Strategies LLC,a government affairs and strategic business consulting firm based in Washington,D.C. The firm provided services to Fortune 100 companies as well as start-ups,with an emphasis on health care and life sciences as well as financial services and energy.[18]
In 2016,Ferguson joined the law firm BakerHostetler as a senior advisor and leader of the firm's Federal Policy team.[24]
In 2022,Ferguson joined AT&T as executive vice president of federal legislative relations,where he is responsible for managing the team that represents AT&T before Congress,the White House,and executive branch departments.[25]
↑ Chebium, Raju. "Ferguson won't seek reelection to Congress", Home News Tribune, November 19, 2007. Accessed November 19, 2007. "Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-Warren Township, said today he won't seek reelection next year to a fifth term.... he next elections are in November 2008; Stender is again a Democratic candidate for the 7th district seat Ferguson currently occupies."
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