Walt Minnick

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Minnick, who long considered himself a political independent, was recruited to run against incumbent Republican Senator Larry Craig in the 1996 Senate election in Idaho by then-Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. Although Minnick originally intended to enter the race as an Independent, he was convinced to run as a Democrat by former Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus. [7] Minnick lost to Craig by 85,110 votes, receiving 40% of the vote to Craig's 57%. [8] Minnick would have the single best performance of any Democrat against Craig, who would win his two other terms with over 60% of the vote.

United States Representative

Elections

2008

Minnick ran unopposed in the 2008 Democratic primary held in late May. An expected primary challenge by 2006 nominee Larry Grant was averted when Grant withdrew from the race and endorsed Minnick the month prior. Although the 1st is a heavily Republican district, Democrats thought they had a realistic chance of winning the district because the Republican incumbent, Bill Sali, had been a lightning rod for controversy.

In the November 4, 2008 general election, Minnick narrowly defeated Sali by 4,211 votes votes, taking 51% of the vote to Sali's 49%. While Minnick carried only seven of the district's 18 counties, he prevailed largely by winning the district's share of Ada County, home to Boise and more than two-thirds of the district's vote. With his victory, Minnick represented the third most Republican district in the nation to be held by a Democrat and he became the first Democrat to represent Idaho at the federal level since Larry LaRocco, who represented the 1st District for two terms until the 1994 elections. At the time, the district had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+18. John McCain easily carried the district with 62% of the vote in 2008.

2010

Minnick was the only Democrat endorsed by the Tea Party Express, a conservative group. [9] Minnick was challenged by Republican state Representative Raúl Labrador, Libertarian Mike Washburn, and Independent Dave Olson. Despite polls showing Minnick leading, but Labrador defeated him by 24,096 votes in an upset. Since Minnick left office, no other Democrat has represented Idaho in Congress.

Tenure

After taking office, Minnick joined the Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats. [10] He voted with his party 71% of the time. [11] [12]

In January 2009, Minnick joined with 10 other Democrats to oppose the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. [13] In June 2009, Congressman Minnick voted with 43 other Democrats against the American Clean Energy and Security Act, [14] and in December 2009, voted with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. [15] Minnick was the lone Democrat to receive a perfect score from the Club for Growth on their RePork Card ratings, for his votes to cut spending in Congress. [16]

Minnick voted against the Stupak–Pitts Amendment which proposed to put restrictions on federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. [17] On March 21, 2010, Minnick voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010. [18] Minnick said that there is very little cost control in the bill. [19]

Minnick voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, [20] the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, [21] the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, [22] the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, [23] and against establishing spending caps through fiscal year 2014. [24]

Committee assignments

Later career

After leaving office, he co-founded the lobbying firm The Majority Group with his former chief-of-staff Rob Ellsworth and Wall Street attorney Chris DiAngelo. [25] [26] [27] [28]

Electoral history

Walt Minnick
Walt Minnick official photo.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Idaho's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2009 –January 3, 2011
2010 Election for U.S. Representative of Idaho's 1st Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Raúl Labrador 126,231 51.0
Democratic Walt Minnick (incumbent)102,13541.3
Independent Dave Olson14,3655.8
Libertarian Mike Washburn4,6961.9
2008 Election for U.S. Representative of Idaho's 1st Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Walt Minnick 175,567 50.61
Republican Bill Sali (incumbent)171,32449.39
1996 Election for U.S. Senate
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Larry Craig (incumbent) 283,532 57.02
Democratic Walt Minnick198,42239.91
Independent Mary J. Charbonneau10,1372.04
Natural Law Susan Vegors5,1421.03

References

  1. ↑ Leven, Rachel (June 5, 2012). "Former Rep. Minnick blazes his own trail". The Hill . Retrieved February 14, 2022. He served as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army
  2. ↑ http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/03/3156656/idaho-democrat-minnicks-defeat.html Idaho Democrat Minnick's defeat turns red state redder
  3. ↑ Minnick overcomes tight race, beats Sali. Associated Press. December 18, 2008.
  4. ↑ Meyer, Greg. Minnick brings out a heavy hitter, KLEW-TV, November 14, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
  5. ↑ Timber giant to buy TJ Intl. CNN. November 23, 1999.
  6. ↑ Abruzzese, Sarah. "Rep. Walt Minnick Offers a One-Termer's Perspective." The New York Times. December 13, 2010.
  7. ↑ Broder, David S. Tales From Longworth. The Washington Post. January 8, 2009.
  8. ↑ "96 PRESIDENTIAL and CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION STATISTICS". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Walt Minnick: The Tea Party's 'token Democrat'?" The Week. April 22, 2010
  10. ↑ Blue Dog Coalition Members
  11. ↑ Rep. Walt Minnick, Idaho (D) OpenCongress.
  12. ↑ Members of Congress / Walt Minnick Washington Post U.S. Congress Votes Database. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  13. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 46 House.gov
  14. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 477 (American Clean Energy and Security Act) House.gov
  15. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 887 (Affordable Health Care for America Act) House.gov
  16. ↑ Cadei, Emily. Minnick Earns Perfect Score on 'RePork Card' Archived August 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics. August 13, 2009.
  17. ↑ "House Vote 884 - Restricts Federal Funding for Abortion". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Idaho reaction to the congressional vote on the health care bill". Idaho Statesman. March 22, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  19. ↑ http://www.idahoreporter.con/2010/minnick-says-health-care-will-be-congressional-issue-for-next-decade/ [ dead link ]
  20. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 37 (Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009) House.gov
  21. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 104 (Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009) House.gov
  22. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 187 (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act) House.gov
  23. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 223 (Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act) House.gov
  24. ↑ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 610. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  25. ↑ "About The Majority Group | The Majority Group". May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Walt Minnick | The Majority Group". March 24, 2012. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  27. ↑ Politico.com (2011). Former Blue Dogs find lobby deals. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  28. ↑ Rachel Leven (June 5, 2012). "Former Rep Minnick blazes own trail". The Hill.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Idaho
(Class 2)
1996 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st congressional district
2009–2011		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former U.S. Representative		Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative
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