Mike Carey | |
|---|---|
 Carey in 2025 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's15th district | |
| Assumed office November 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Stivers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Todd Whitaker Carey (1971-03-13)March 13, 1971 (age 54) Sabina, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Meghan Carey |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Marion Military Institute (AA) Ohio State University (BA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1989–1999 |
| Unit | Army National Guard |
Michael Todd Whitaker Carey[1][2] (born March 13, 1971) is an American politician and former coal lobbyist serving as theU.S. representative forOhio's 15th congressional district. A member of theRepublican Party, Carey was first elected in a2021 special election.[3]
Carey was raised inSabina, Ohio.[4] After attendingEast Clinton High School, he earned anAssociate of Arts degree in economics from theMarion Military Institute and aBachelor of Arts in history fromOhio State University.[5]
Carey served in theArmy National Guard from 1989 to 1999.[6] As a college student, he worked as an aide to State SenatorMerle G. Kearns.[7] Carey, prior to his election, worked as vice president of government affairs forAmerican Consolidated Natural Resources, a coal company. He was also chairman of the board of the Ohio Coal Association, prior to stepping down following his congressional run.[8][9] During the2004 and2008 presidential elections, Carey developed negative campaign ads againstDemocratic nomineesJohn Kerry andBarack Obama.[10]
As a result of his past career in the coal industry, Carey considers himself a "an advocate for coal miners and American energy independence" and prioritizes development of energy policy in theHouse of Representatives.[11]
Carey was the Republican nominee in the 2021 15th congressional district special election. He was endorsed by then former PresidentDonald Trump and former Vice PresidentMike Pence.[12][13][14][15]
Carey received the most financial contributions out of all 11 candidates in the Republican primary, including from out-of-state donors and individuals in the coal and mining industries.[16] Political commentators and journalists called the race "a test of Trump's influence over Republican politics."[17][18][19] Carey won the special election on November 2.[20]
On July 19, 2022, Carey and 46 other Republican representatives voted for theRespect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[21] On July 28, 2022, Carey and 24 other Republican representatives voted for theCHIPS Act, increasing governmental funding for domestic semiconductor production.[22]
In late 2022, Carey announced his "complete" endorsement of Trump.[23]
In the 2022 midterm elections, Carey defeated the Democratic nominee, union leader Gary Josephson.[24] Carey raised around $2.3 million for this election, the 251st-highest sum among elected representatives.[25]
Before the 118th Congress, Carey declared his support forKevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker amid controversy about McCarthy's leadership following the2022 midterm elections. Carey also announced his intention to "get on theWays and Means Committee" in the 118th Congress.[26] In mid-2023, Carey announced the re-launch of the "House Civility and Respect Caucus" with RepresentativeJoyce Beatty, originally formed by RepresentativeSteve Stivers and Beatty. The House Civility and Respect Caucus's expressed purpose is to "promote the use of respectful dialogue on challenging issues."[27]
Following the ousting ofSpeaker of the House Kevin McCarthy inOctober 2023, Carey worked to gather votes for the election of Ohio RepresentativeJim Jordan's bid for Speaker of the House.[28] Following Jordan's withdrawal from the speakership bid, Carey voted for Speaker of the HouseMike Johnson.[29]
Carey voted to provide Israel with military support following2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[30][31]
Following the2024 election of Donald Trump, Carey was considered a "top contender" to fill he U.S. Senate seat vacated by elected-Vice PresidentJ.D. Vance.[32] In November 2024, the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters publicly endorsed Mike Carey as a candidate to fill the seat.[33][34] GovernorMike DeWine appointed former-Ohio Lieutenant GovernorJon Husted to fill the vacated seat.
Carey has a deep and friendly relationship with the American Albanian community. He has frequently engaged with leaders and officials such as with the Albanian AmbassadorErvin Bushati.[35]
Carey and his wife, Meghan, have two sons and reside inColumbus. Carey has a son named Prescott from a previous relationship; he also has a grandson.[38] He is aRoman Catholic.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Carey | 18,805 | 36.3 | |
| Republican | Jeff LaRe | 6,776 | 13.1 | |
| Republican | Ron Hood | 6,676 | 12.9 | |
| Republican | Bob Peterson | 6,407 | 12.4 | |
| Republican | Ruth Edmonds | 5,090 | 9.8 | |
| Republican | Thomas Hwang | 2,499 | 4.8 | |
| Republican | Stephanie Kunze | 2,363 | 4.6 | |
| Republican | Thad Cooperrider | 1,076 | 2.1 | |
| Republican | Omar Tarazi | 907 | 1.7 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 173 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | Eric M. Clark | 83 | 0.2 | |
| Total votes | 51,855 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Carey | 94,501 | 58.3 | |
| Democratic | Allison Russo | 67,588 | 41.7 | |
| Total votes | 162,089 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Carey | 143,112 | 57.0 | |
| Democratic | Gary Josephson | 108,139 | 43.0 | |
| Total votes | 251,251 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Carey (incumbent) | 196,338 | 56.46 | ||
| Democratic | Adam Miller | 151,411 | 43.54 | ||
| Total votes | 347,749 | 100 | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's 15th congressional district 2021–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 291st | Succeeded by |
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