Mike Michaud | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Filner |
| Succeeded by | Corrine Brown |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaine's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | John Baldacci |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Poliquin |
| Member of theMaine Senate from the 3rd district | |
| In office December 7, 1994 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Ludwig |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Stanley |
| Member of theMaine House of Representatives from the 134th district | |
| In office December 3, 1980 – December 7, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Birt |
| Succeeded by | Harry Bailey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Herman Michaud (1955-01-18)January 18, 1955 (age 70) Millinocket,Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Michael Herman Michaud (/miːʃoʊ/mee-SHOW;[1] born January 18, 1955) is an American businessman and politician fromMaine. Michaud served as theU.S. representative forMaine's 2nd congressional district from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of theDemocratic Party. The primarily rural district comprises nearly 80% of the state by area and includes the cities ofLewiston,Auburn,Bangor,Presque Isle, andEllsworth. It is the largestCongressional district by area east of theMississippi River.
Michaud was previouslyPresident of the Maine Senate. He was employed for over two decades at theGreat Northern Paper Company and remains a member of theUnited Steelworkers. He was one of the few members of Congress during his tenure who did not attend college.[2] He did, however, attend theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government atHarvard University.[2][3] He has also been awardedhonorary Doctor of Public Service degrees from Maine'sUnity College,Husson College, andMaine Maritime Academy.[2][3]
Michaud, who speaks a littleFrench, is the first openlyFranco-American to be elected to a U.S. federal office from Maine.[2][4][5][6] He was elected as a co-chair of the congressional French Caucus in January 2011.[5] Hecame out as gay in 2013, becoming one of the few openlyLGBT members of Congress and the first to reside in Maine.
Michaud was the Democratic nominee forGovernor of Maine in the2014 election.[7] While initially considered a favorite by some analysts on account of the general unpopularity of incumbentPaul LePage, he lost by a margin larger than expected. He currently holds a seat on theEast MillinocketBoard of Selectmen.
Michaud was born in Millinocket, Maine, the son of Geneva Jean (née Morrow) and James Michaud, Sr. His parents were both of French-Canadian descent.[8] He grew up inMedway, Maine, and is a graduate ofSchenck High School inEast Millinocket.
He was a mill worker and supervisor atGreat Northern Paper Company inEast Millinocket, from 1973 until his election to Congress in 2002, during which time he was a member of theUnited Steelworkers. Michaud's interest in politics began when he campaigned to clean up thePenobscot River in the late 1970s.
Michaud was elected to theMaine House of Representatives in 1980 to the 134th district. In 1984, he defeated an independent candidate by a landslide, despite large Republican gains in other districts.[9] He also won re-election in 1986, 1988, 1990, and 1992.
Michaud served eleven terms in the Maine Legislature, including seven in theMaine House of Representatives and four in theMaine Senate. In the House, Michaud representedMedway andEast Millinocket.[10]
As Chair of the Energy Committee, he helped to increase the cost of dumping.[11][12]
In 1994, he ran for Maine's 3rd Senate district. Despite the fact that it was a typical backlash year with one party taking the lead, he defeated incumbent State SenatorMargaret Ludwig, a millionaire, 58%-42%.[14] In 1996, he won re-election to a second term with 64% of the vote.[15] In 1998, he won re-election to a third term with 77% of the vote.[16] In 2000, he won re-election to a fourth term with 69% of the vote.[16]
During his years in the state legislature, he continued to work at the Great Northern Paper Company until his election to Congress. To accommodate his legislative schedule, he changed his factory shifts, for instance by working weekends.[17]
From 1994 to 1996, Michaud was appointed toGovernorAngus King's Productivity Realization Task Force. In 1997, he was appointed to the Maine Commission on Children's Health Care. After the 1998 election, theMaine Senate found itself divided into 17 Republicans, 17 Democrats and one Independent. In a compromise organization, each party agreed to assume the Senate Presidency for one year, with the single Independent awarded the chair of the crucial Appropriations Committee. Accordingly, in December 2000, Michaud was unanimously electedPresident of theMaine Senate.
In 2001, Mike was honored with the dedication of the Michael H. Michaud Technology Center for helping to secure state funding for theUniversity of Maine at Presque Isle Houlton Higher Education Center. He also received theCollege Board's Education Award at theNational Council of State Legislatures annual meeting.[3]
Michaud ran for Congress in2002 forMaine's 2nd congressional district after incumbent DemocratJohn Baldacci decided to run forGovernor of Maine. Michaud faced three other state senators in the Democratic primary. He won the primary with a plurality of 31% of the vote, beating the second place challenger, Susan W. Longley, by 4 percentage points. The general election garnered considerable publicity because Michaud wasanti-abortion, while the Republican waspro-abortion rights. RepublicanKevin Raye, ofPerry, was the Chief of Staff to U.S. SenatorOlympia Snowe. Michaud defeated Raye, 52%–48%.[18]
Michaud won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican businessman Brian Hamel, 58%–39%.[19]
Michaud won re-election to a third term, defeating RepublicanLisbonTown Selectman Laurence Scott D'Amboise, 71%–29%.[20]
Michaud won re-election to a fourth term, defeating his Republican opponent, professor John Frary 67%-33%.[21]
Michaud won re-election to a fifth term, defeating Republican business owner andU.S. Army veteran Jason Levesque, 55%–45%. He won every county in the district, exceptPiscataquis.[22]
Michaud won re-election to a sixth term, defeating Republican State Senator andMaine Senate President Kevin Raye (who had run ten years earlier), 58%–42%.[23] He won every county exceptWashington, the location of Raye's hometown ofPerry.
Michaud was the only freshman Democratic member of Congress to vote for the 2003 ban on intact dilation and extraction (IDX), often calledpartial-birth abortion.[citation needed] However, Michaud's stance on abortion and related reproductive issues has changed since he entered office.[citation needed] When he was elected in 2003, he received a 10% rating by the NARAL Pro Choice America, a reflection ofanti-abortion votes; between 2010 and 2013, the same organization gave Michaud a 100% rating.[24] This change is likely in part because of the votes Michaud made in favor of allowing and expanding stem cell research, and his vote against banning abortion from federal health care coverage.[citation needed]
Mike Michaud has been an advocate for veterans for as long as he has served in Congress. As Chairman of theHealth Subcommittee of theVeterans' Affairs Committee, Michaud has advocated for more extensive healthcare benefits for veterans and also for more inclusive rural healthcare for veterans.[citation needed] In 2007 Michaud came close to being elected Chairman of theVeterans' Affairs Committee.[citation needed] He has also called for lowering the cost of prescription drugs.[citation needed] In addition, Michaud has worked to pass legislation providing scholarships for returning soldiers, and decreasing the rate of homelessness among veterans.[citation needed] Recently, Michaud became an original cosponsor of "Hiring our Veterans Act" which gives tax credits to employers who hire veterans.[citation needed] Michaud has worked with the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) on many projects.[citation needed] These include a scholarship foundation for children of soldiers killed in active duty, an expansion of VA care in rural Maine, and a major increase in VA funding.[citation needed]
On May 29, 2014, Michaud called for the resignation ofVeterans Affairs SecretaryEric Shinseki in response to problems in theVeterans Health Administration regarding long wait times and coverups of poor performance.[25] He had faced criticism on this issue from his opponents in the Governor's race.[25]
In addition to veterans' health, Michaud has been supporting healthcare on a larger scale.[citation needed] He has voted in favor of increased health coverage for children, and voted against cuts to Medicare.[citation needed] In 2010, he received a 100% rating from the American Public Health Association, along with favorable ratings from other healthcare groups.[citation needed] Michaud joined a group of 44 congressmen in November 2011 to express the importance of men's being screened for prostate cancer.[citation needed] This bipartisan group was formed after the United States Preventive Task Force recommended that healthy men should not have such a screening.[citation needed]
Michaud is a member of theBlue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in theHouse of Representatives.[citation needed] He was the only Congressperson from New England in the coalition. On October 19, 2007, he endorsed former SenatorJohn Edwards for president.[citation needed]
Michaud has a strong record of voting in support of environmental issues.[26] Michaud voted no on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling, on barring theEPA from regulatinggreenhouse gases, on scheduling permitting for new oil refineries, on authorizing construction of new oil refineries, on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy, and on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy.[26] Michaud voted yes on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution by requiring utilities to supply an increasing percentage of their demand from a combination ofenergy efficiency savings andrenewable energy, on tax credits for renewable electricity with PAYGO offsets, on tax incentives for energy production and conservation, on tax incentives for renewable energy, on investing in homegrownbiofuel, on criminalizing oilcartels likeOPEC, on removing oil and gas explorationsubsidies, and on keeping moratorium on offshore oil drilling.[26] Furthermore, Michaud co-sponsored a bill in 2005 to establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances; the bill was referred to theSenate Committee on Environment and Public Works but, however, it never came to vote.[26] He also co-sponsored a bill in 2008 to allow states to define strictergreenhouse gas emission standards than those specified by the federal Clean Air Act.[26] In keeping with his voting record, Michaud adopted aBlue Dog Coalition press release to balancefossil fuels and viablerenewable energy.[26]Campaign for America's Future (CAF) has given Michaud a score of 100% on energy issues.[26]
Michaud was briefly mentioned in Maine native authorStephen King's work,11/22/63.
On June 13, 2013, Michaud announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to enter the2014 race forGovernor of Maine. His campaign announced on August 14 that he would officially enter the race the next day.[7][27][28]
Michaud won the Democratic primary unopposed. He lost the general election to incumbent RepublicanPaul LePage by a larger than expected margin, in part due to the unknown popularity of LePage, an alleged massive Republican wave that took place nationwide, and a third-party candidate splitting votes.[29][30][31][32]
He was succeeded in Congress by RepublicanBruce Poliquin in January 2015.
TheUnited States Department of Labor announced on July 30, 2015, that PresidentBarack Obama nominated Michaud to a department position dealing with training and employment of veterans.[33]
Michaud served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training from December 2, 2015, to January 20, 2017. As the head of theVeterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Michaud reported to Secretary of LaborTom Perez. VETS serves as the focal point in the federal government for veterans' employment by preparing military service members for transition to civilian employment, providing veterans with services to assist them in getting good jobs, protecting veterans' employment rights, and promoting veterans' employment in the private sector.[34]
In 2018, he was elected to theBoard of Selectmen inEast Millinocket, his hometown.[35]
On March 28, 2019, Michaud was nominated by Gov.Janet Mills to serve as a trustee on both the board of theUniversity of Maine System and theMaine Community College System.[36]
Michaud endorsedMichael Bloomberg as a nominee forPresident of the United States in the2020 Maine Democratic primary.[37]
Michaudcame out as gay in an editorial released to thePortland Press Herald,Bangor Daily News, and theAssociated Press on November 4, 2013; however he stated that he has never had a romantic partner.[38][39] He isthe first openlyLGBT congressman to serve the state of Maine; he was one of seven then-current members of the United States House of Representatives to be openly LGBT, and one of eight in either house of Congress. If he had been elected Governor, he would have become the first openly gay Governor in the United States at the time of his election (Gov.Jim McGreevey of New Jersey came out after he had taken office). Michaud served as a Grand Marshal for the 2014Portland Pride Parade on June 21.[40]
| Year | Office | Election | Democratic | Party | Votes | % | Republican | Party | Votes | % | Other | Party | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 116,868 | 52.01% | Kevin Raye | Republican | 107,849 | 47.99% | |||||||
| 2004 | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 199,303 | 58.03% | Brian Hamel | Republican | 135,547 | 39.47% | Carl Cooley | Independent[41] | 8,586 | 2.50 | |||
| 2006[42] | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 179,732 | 70.52% | Laurence D'Amboise | Republican | 75,146 | 29.48% | |||||||
| 2008[43] | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 226,274 | 67.44% | John Frary | Republican | 109,268 | 32.57% | |||||||
| 2010[44] | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 147,042 | 55.13% | Jason Levesque | Republican | 119,669 | 44.87% | |||||||
| 2012[45] | Maine's 2nd congressional district | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 191,456 | 58.19% | Kevin Raye | Republican | 137,542 | 41.81% | |||||||
| 2014[46] | Governor of Maine | General | Mike Michaud | Democratic | 265,125 | 43.37% | Paul LePage | Republican | 294,553 | 48.19% | Eliot Cutler | Independent | 51,518 | 8.43% |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaine's 2nd congressional district 2003–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee 2012–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Maine 2014 | Succeeded by |
| 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 |
| People | |
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| Other | |
