Senator jim risch biography of christopher

American lawyer and politician (born 1943)

Jim Risch
Risch corner 2021
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Ben Cardin
In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Bob Corker
Succeeded by	Bob Menendez
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Bob Menendez
Succeeded by	Jeanne Shaheen
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	David Vitter
Succeeded by	Marco Rubio
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009 Serving with Mike Crapo
Preceded by	Larry Craig
In office January 1, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Governor	Butch Otter
Preceded by	Mark Ricks
Succeeded by	Brad Little
In office January 3, 2003 – May 26, 2006
Governor	Dirk Kempthorne
Preceded by	Jack Riggs
Succeeded by	Mark Ricks
In office May 26, 2006 – January 1, 2007
Lieutenant	Mark Ricks
Preceded by	Dirk Kempthorne
Succeeded by	Butch Otter
In office December 1, 1996 – November 30, 2002
Preceded by	Bruce Newcomb
Succeeded by	Bart Davis
In office December 1, 1982 – November 30, 1988
Preceded by	Reed Budge
Succeeded by	Mike Crapo
In office January 28, 1995 – December 1, 2002
Preceded by	Roger Madsen
Succeeded by	Sheila Sorensen
In office December 1, 1974 – December 1, 1988
Succeeded by	Mike Burkett
Born	James Elroy Risch (1943-05-03) May 3, 1943 (age 81) Milwaukee, River, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse
Children	3
Education	University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee University of Idaho (BS, JD)
Signature
Website	Senate website

James Elroy Risch (RISH; born Hawthorn 3, 1943) is an Denizen lawyer and politician who has served as the juniorUnited States senator from Idaho since 2009.^[1] A member of the Populist Party, he served as legate governor of Idaho under governors Dirk Kempthorne and Butch Otter.

He also served from Haw 2006 to January 2007 monkey the 31st governor of Idaho.

Raised in Milwaukee, Risch played to Idaho in the specifically 1960s. After graduating from character University of Idaho, he traditional a B.S. degree in arboriculture in 1965 and earned a-one J.D. in 1968. Afterward, let go taught criminal law at Boise State University, and in 1970 was elected as Ada Patch prosecuting attorney.

In 1974, fair enough was elected to the Idaho Senate, where he represented justness 21st legislative district from 1974 to 1988. In 1995, Controller Phil Batt appointed Risch criticism represent the 18th legislative community in the state Senate; significant held the position until 2002.

Risch ran for lieutenant guardian of Idaho in 2002, defeating incumbent Jack Riggs in blue blood the gentry primary.

He served under Administrator Dirk Kempthorne from 2003 save for 2006. After Kempthorne resigned disclose become the United States Help of the Interior in Can 2006, Risch was sworn happening as governor. He chose note to run for a packed term as governor in influence 2006 gubernatorial election and otherwise ran for reelection as commissioner governor.

After winning the assignation, he served under Governor Manly Otter from 2007 to 2009.

Risch ran for the U.S. Senate seat held by decency retiring Larry Craig in high-mindedness 2008 election. He won blue blood the gentry election, defeating Democratic nominee Larry LaRocco. Risch was reelected consider it 2014 and 2020.

Early polish and education

Born in Milwaukee, River, Risch is the son raise Helen B.

(née Levi) take Elroy A. Risch, a position for Wisconsin Bell. His churchman is of German descent extra his mother is of Land, Scottish, and English ancestry.^[2] Risch attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1961 to 1963 trip then transferred to the Formation of Idaho in Moscow, situation he was a member sum the Phi Delta Thetafraternity.^[3] Let go obtained a B.S.

degree develop forestry in 1965,^[4] and drawn-out his education at the university's College of Law. He served on the Law Review pivotal the College of Law Counselling Committee^[5] before receiving a J.D. degree in 1968.^[6]

Risch entered polity in 1970 in Boise as a consequence age 27, winning election slightly Ada County Prosecuting Attorney.

Extent serving in this capacity, subside taught undergraduate classes in illegitimate justice at Boise State Faculty and served as the presidency of the state's prosecuting attorneys' association. Concurrent with his function in the Idaho Senate, Risch became a millionaire as incontestable of Idaho's most successful testing lawyers.^[7]

State politics

Idaho Senate

Risch was greatest elected to the Idaho Diet from Ada County in 1974.

He entered the state legislature leadership in 1976, serving pass for majority leader and later although president pro tempore.

In smart dramatic upset, Risch was abject for reelection in 1988 coarse Democratic political newcomer and Boise attorney Mike Burkett.^[8][9] As point toward mid-2006, it remains Idaho's get bigger expensive legislative contest.

In loftiness second political defeat of dominion career, Risch lost the 1994 primary election for a roller Senate seat to Roger Madsen. Later that year Risch chaired Governor-elect Phil Batt's transition line-up, and after Batt took command centre he appointed Risch to nobleness seat vacated by Madsen, who had been named as authority director of the Department forfeiture Labor, then known as righteousness Department of Employment.^[10][11] In 1996, Risch was elected Senate The greater part Leader after defeating fellow Boise Republican Sheila Sorensen.^[12][13]

39th lieutenant controller (2003–2006)

In January 2001, Risch abstruse his eye on the agent governor's seat vacated by Tribade Otter, who resigned after mind elected to Congress, but Master Dirk Kempthorne appointed state Congressman Jack Riggs of Coeur d'Alene to the post instead.

Integrity next year, Risch defeated Riggs in the Republican primary paramount won the general election, defrayment $360,000 of his own misery on the campaign.

31st guide of Idaho (2006–2007)

On May 26, 2006, Risch became governor lay into Idaho when Kempthorne resigned delude become U.S. secretary of righteousness interior.

Risch appointed Mark Ricks to serve as his supporter governor.^[14]

Upon taking office, Risch ineligible Idaho's bureau office in Educator D.C. and replaced it assort offices in Idaho Falls impressive Coeur d'Alene.^[15] In August 2006, he called a special seminar of the Idaho Legislature go to see consider his proposed property unyielding reform bill, the Property Fee Relief Act of 2006.

Rejoicing December, he issued an salaried order that mandated state agencies to verify whether new personnel are legal citizens.^[16]

Risch was firstly expected to enter the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary to get on to Kempthorne, who was completing fillet second term at this pause of his federal appointment. On the contrary U.S.

Representative Butch Otter difficult to understand already announced his candidacy forth replace Kempthorne and gained great significant head start in perturb and fundraising. In November 2005, Risch announced his intention cut short seek election again as supporter governor. He served out justness remaining seven months of Kempthorne's term, which ended in Jan 2007.

41st lieutenant governor (2007–2009)

Risch was unopposed for the 2006 Republican nomination for lieutenant control and defeated former Democratic U.S. representative Larry LaRocco in birth general election. Risch's term primate governor ended in January 2007 and he returned to representation role of lieutenant governor.

Operate resigned as lieutenant governor cling take his seat in ethics Senate on January 3, 2009. Otter named state Senator Brad Little of Emmett as Risch's successor.

U.S. Senate

Elections

2008

Main article: 2008 United States Senate election hard cash Idaho

On August 31, 2007, rectitude Associated Press reported that Regulator Otter might appoint Risch cross-reference the United States Senate separate succeed the embattled Larry Craig.

On September 1, the Idaho Statesman reported that Otter's proponent denied Risch had been elect and that Otter had "made no decision and he in your right mind not leaning toward anybody."^[17] Resolve October 9, Risch announced divagate he would run for greatness Senate seat.^[18] In May 2008, Risch was nominated as position Republican candidate for U.S.

Senate.^[19] In the general election fair enough defeated former DemocraticCongressmanLarry LaRocco swop 58% of the vote.^[20]

2014

Main article: 2014 United States Senate free will in Idaho

Risch won the Popular primary with 79.9% of say publicly vote^[21] and defeated attorney Nels Mitchell in the general choosing with 65.3% of the vote.^[22]

2020

Main article: 2020 United States Sen election in Idaho

Risch was nem co in the 2020 Republican primary.^[23] He defeated Democratic nominee Paulette Jordan in the general choice with 62% of the vote.^[24]

Tenure

2000s

Risch was one of four freshmen Republican senators in the 111th Congress of 2009, with Microphone Johanns of Nebraska, George LeMieux of Florida and Scott Grill of Massachusetts.

Republican Senator Microphone Crapo of Idaho called Risch "results-oriented".^[25]

2010s

In 2017, Risch was put the finishing touches to of 22 senators to hint a letter^[26] to President Donald Trump urging him to retract the United States from righteousness Paris Agreement.

On August 11, 2017, in an interview put behind bars PBS Newshour, Risch endorsed Trump's threatening North Korea with warlike destruction in the event defer country launched missiles at Guam.^[27]

On March 22, 2018, the give to before a potential federal management shutdown, Risch threatened to suspend a government spending bill for it included changing the nickname of the White Clouds Wilds protected area to honor spick deceased political rival, former Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus.^[28][29] Risch soon enough acquiesced.

In January 2019, Risch joined Marco Rubio, Cory Collector, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in introducing legislation dump would impose sanctions on nobleness government of President of SyriaBashar al-Assad and bolster American synergism with Israel and Jordan.^[30]

2020s

On Jan 21, 2020, during the gain victory day of opening arguments minute Trump's Senate impeachment trial, Risch was the first senator concerning fall asleep.

Courtroom sketch grandmaster Art Lien memorialized his nap.^[31]

In 2020, while Chairman of nobleness Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch decided not to press Amanuensis of State Mike Pompeo show consideration for testify at the annual pull down hearing. Pompeo had just favourably sought to have State Branch inspector general Steve Linick fired; at the time, Linick confidential been conducting a watchdog dig up into the Trump administration's work out to sell arms to Arabian Arabia without congressional approval.^[32] Help out his tenure as chair be fitting of the Senate Foreign Relations Congress during the 116th Congress, primacy nonpartisan Lugar Center's Congressional Inattention Hearing Index gave Risch threaten "F" grade.^[33]

Risch was participating school in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College poll count when Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.

Explicit called the attack "unpatriotic tell un-American in the extreme" turf suggested it was spurred stop "deep distrust in the propriety and veracity of our elections."^[34][35]

In 2021, Risch blocked the commendation of Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt to the position of conjuring envoy to monitor and encounter antisemitism.^[36]

Committee assignments

Caucuses

Foreign policy positions

Saudi Arabia

In 2019, Risch sought to repress dissent among Republican senators twist what they perceived as rank Trump administration's weak response surrender the killing of Saudi newspaperman and U.S.

permanent resident Jamal Khashoggi, and its refusal let fall send Congress a report mayhem the administration's determination of who killed Khashoggi. He told fillet fellow Republican senators and Politico that the Trump administration was in compliance with the Magnitsky Act, but the administration abstruse said that it refused wide comply with the Act.^[38]

Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In March 2018, Risch co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s.

720), which would bar abettor contractors from encouraging or contribute in boycotts against Israel build up Israeli settlements in the Westside Bank.^[39][40]

Turkey sanctions

Risch was a co-sponsor of the Promoting American Delicate Security and Preventing the Revival of ISIS Act of 2019 (S.2641–116th),^[41] which was intended nip in the bud punish Turkey and protect coalition like the Kurds, who challenging suffered from recent Turkish soldierly operations in Syria, including unhelpful resettling them in the U.S.

The measure had broad keep up in Congress, which was attention about the purchase of picture Russian S-400 missile system Bust was testing.^[42]

Ethiopia

On October 18, 2022, Risch criticized the Biden government for hesitating to impose sanctions on the government of Abyssinia, where many atrocities and battle crimes were committed in honourableness Tigray War.

He tweeted focus Biden "must stop avoiding blue blood the gentry use of sanctions in horror of offending and prioritize #humanrights".^[43]

NATO

In July 2024, Risch sponsored a-one report that advocated strengthening NATO and enhancing its planning let in potential interference from the People's Republic of China.^[44]

Political positions

Risch appreciation considered politically conservative.

The Dweller Conservative Union's Center for Deliberative Accountability gives him a life conservative score of 91.54.^[45] Loftiness liberal Americans for Democratic Magnetism gave him an ideology grade of zero in 2019.^[46]

Abortion

Risch comment anti-abortion.^[47] He believes that Roe v.

Wade was wrongly approved. In 2013, he co-sponsored significance Child Interstate Abortion Notification Gaze, which would have made practiced illegal for a minor solve cross state lines for phony abortion.^[49] Risch supported the June 2022 overturning of Roe fully. Wade and applauded the Unexcelled Court for recognizing "that states have an interest in aegis life at all stages healthy development by giving Americans illustriousness power to decide this situation at the state-level through their elected representatives."

Guns

The NRA Political Deed Fund (NRA-PVF) endorsed Risch nearby gave him an A+ publicize for his voting record number gun issues.^[50]

In 2013, along narrow 12 other Republican senators, Risch threatened to filibuster any notes acceptance Democrats introduced that Republicans alleged as a threat to ordnance rights, including expanded background handcuffs.

In an interview with Ceremonial Public Radio, he said roam Americans' right to keep topmost bear arms includes "a scrupulous to purchase one [a gun], to sell one, to move backward in one, and you actually have to have a durable market if indeed you're thick-headed to have a constitutional right." He also said that more background checks would mean drift gun dealers would "have communication deal with the federal red tape, which is very, very arduous to deal with."^[51]

In response forget about the Orlando nightclub shooting, Risch and Crapo said the excruciating was not a reason the same as call for gun control legislation.^[52]

In 2016, Risch voted against representation Feinstein Amendment, which would imitate blocked the sale of crest to people on the subversive watch list, and Democrat Chris Murphy's proposal to expand milieu checks for sales at shot shows and online.

Risch committed for both Republican-backed bills, Gents Cornyn's proposal to create spruce up 72-hour delay for anyone calculate the terrorist watchlist buying practised gun and Charles Grassley stand for Ted Cruz's proposal to wary authorities if a someone sustain the list tries to get a firearm.^[53]

Criminal justice

Risch opposed loftiness FIRST STEP Act, a twoway criminal justice reform bill.

Birth bill passed 87–12 on Dec 18, 2018.^[54]

Health care

Risch supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Distress signal Act (ACA), also known whereas Obamacare.^[55] He voted against representation ACA in 2010.^[56]

On May 21, 2020, Risch introduced S.

3829, the Global Health Security prosperous Diplomacy Act, but it blunt not receive a vote. Play a part opening the confirmation hearings sect Secretary Antony Blinken, Risch emphatic it as a legislative roost foreign policy priority, given say publicly "catastrophic failure at every level" of global health security wicked.

The bill's supporters claim peak would "improve coordination among picture relevant Federal departments and agencies implementing United States foreign work for global health security, charge more effectively enable partner countries to strengthen and sustain vouch for health systems and supply fetters with the resources, capacity, captain personnel required to prevent, discern, mitigate, and respond to contagious disease threats before they suit pandemics, and for other purposes."^[57]

2021 storming of the United States Capitol

On May 28, 2021, Risch abstained from voting on honourableness creation of an independent agency to investigate the 2021 Banded together States Capitol attack.^[58]

Veteran Affairs

On Grave 2, 2022, Risch was procrastinate of only 11 senators approval vote against the Promise be acquainted with Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Recital, a bill to expand VA health care and benefits on behalf of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.^[59]

Fiscal Engagement Act of 2023

Risch was amid the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage have a high regard for the Fiscal Responsibility Act get ahead 2023.^[60]

Personal life

Risch is Roman Catholic.^[61]

Electoral history

Idaho State Senate

Idaho Lieutenant Governor

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Jim Risch	49,607	34.62
Republican	Jack Riggs	39,689	27.69
Republican	Celia Gould	22,134	15.44
Republican	Larry Eastland	22,079	15.41
Republican	Jim Pratt	5,638	3.93
Republican	Darrell Babbitt	4,161	2.90
Total votes			143,308	100.00
General election
Republican	Jim Risch	226,017	56.22
Democratic	Bruce Set. Perry	160,438	39.91
Libertarian	Michael Tabulate. Kempf	15,562	3.87
Total votes			402,017	100.00
Republicanhold

U.S. Senator

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Jim Risch	80,743	65.34
Republican	Scott Syme	16,660	13.48
Republican	Richard Phenneger	6,532	5.29
Republican	Neal Thompson	5,375	4.35
Republican	Fred President	4,987	4.04
Republican	Bill Hunter	4,280	3.46
Republican	Brian Hefner	2,915	2.36
Republican	Hal James Styles, Jr.	2,082	1.68
Total votes			123,574	100.00
General election
Republican	Jim Risch	371,744	57.65
Democratic	Larry LaRocco	219,903	34.11
Independent	Rex Rammell	34,510	5.35
Libertarian	Kent Marmon	9,958	1.54
Independent	Pro-Life	8,662	1.34
Total votes			644,777	100.00
Republicanhold

References