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Mike Sodrel | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's9th district | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Baron Hill |
| Succeeded by | Baron Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Eugene Sodrel (1945-12-17)December 17, 1945 (age 79) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marquita Dean (died 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Indiana University, Southeast |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1973 |
| Unit | Indiana National Guard • 151st Infantry Regiment |
Michael Eugene Sodrel[1] (born December 17, 1945) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives forIndiana's 9th congressional district from 2005 to 2007. Sodrel launched another run against incumbent Democratic Rep.Baron Hill in 2010 – his fifth straight run for Congress in the ninth district. However, he lost the Republican nomination to Bloomington attorneyTodd Young, who won the general election.
In 2022, after a twelve-year political retirement, Sodrel announced he was running for his old seat in the2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana.[2] He would lose the Republican primary to State SenatorErin Houchin.[3]
Born inLouisville, Kentucky, Sodrel grew up across theOhio River inNew Albany, Indiana. He graduatedNew Albany High School in 1963. Sodrel attendedIndiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana.[citation needed]
From 1966 to 1973, Sodrel served in the151st Infantry Regiment of theIndiana National Guard.[4] He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. Since 1963, Sodrel has worked at his family's business, Sodrel Truck Lines Inc. He founded the Free Enterprise System Inc. (a charter motor-coach/contract passenger-carrier) and Sodrel Logistics.[5]
Sodrel is the author of an internet book,Citizen Sheep Government Shepherds.[6]
Sodrel served as a member of theUnited States House Committee on Agriculture,United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,United States House Committee on Small Business, andUnited States House Committee on Science.
During his term, Sodrel opposed partial-birthabortions and federal funding for elective abortions. He opposed additional environmental regulations. He has outspokenly supported theright to bear arms. He has a 92 lifetime rating from theAmerican Conservative Union,[7] and a zero rating from theLeague of Conservation Voters.[8] He is in favor of permanently repealing the federalestate tax.
In 2006 Sodrel introduced a bill that would prevent federal courts from ruling on the content of speech in state legislatures. The proposal came as a response to U.S. District JudgeDavid Hamilton's ruling that official Indiana House proceedings could not begin with sectarian prayers that advanced any particular religion.[9]
Sodrel has campaigned on a platform of creating and protecting jobs, loweringtaxes and values.[clarification needed] He drives his own18-wheeler on the campaign trail. He first ran for the House of Representatives in 2002, losing to incumbentBaron Hill, 51% to 46%. In the 2004 rematch, he defeated Hill by 1,425 votes.
Sodrel faced Hill again in the 2006 general election. TheCook Political Report, an independent nonpartisan newsletter, rated the race as a toss-up.[10]
PresidentGeorge W. Bush came to a Sodrel fundraiser in Indianapolis early in 2006, while his opponent gained help in Indianapolis with fundraisers from former PresidentBill Clinton.
Sodrel ultimately lost his bid for re-election by a margin of 50% to 45%. The candidates raised equivalent funds in 2006.
Texas millionaireBob J. Perry gave more than $5 million to theEconomic Freedom Fund, a527 group, which included Hill as one of its targets for removal. The group paid for automated "push poll" calls attacking Hill. These calls stopped after action by the Indiana Attorney General.[11]
In October 2007 Sodrel announced that he would run again in 2008 for the Congressional seat against Baron Hill, whom he defeated in 2004 but to whom he lost in 2002 and 2006.[12]In 2006 Cook rated the race as a toss-up for the duration of the race, but in 2008 the race moved between Likely D to Lean D on the Cook Political Report.[13]Sodrel's fundraising was weak compared both to Hill and Sodrel's 2006 figures.
Hill defeated Sodrel in the election, 58% to 39%.[14]
On January 11, 2010, at an event inJeffersonville, Indiana, Mike Sodrel announced that he would again seek the 2010 Republican nomination for the 9th congressional seat. He joined two other candidates in the field of Republican contenders: Bloomington attorneyTodd Young (a native ofCarmel, Indiana) and Columbus real-estate investor Travis Hankins. A poll published by the left-leaning weblogFiredoglake showed Sodrel leading Hill 49–41 in a head-to-head race.[15] However he lost the Republican nomination, coming in third place behind Travis Hankins and winner Todd Young. Young won the general election against Hill.[16]
On February 8, 2022, Sodrel announced that he would once again seek the Republican nomination for the ninth district after three-term representativeTrey Hollingsworth announced his retirement.[2] Sodrel was one of nine Republicans seeking the nomination in the district.[17] Sodrel would come in second in the primary to State SenatorErin Houchin, who would go on to succeed Hollingsworth as Congressperson for the ninth district.[3]
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Baron P. Hill | 96,654 | 51% | Mike Sodrel | 87,169 | 46% | Jeff Melton | Green | 2,745 | 2% | Al Cox | Libertarian | 2,389 | 1% | |||||
| 2004 | Baron P. Hill | 140,772 | 49% | Mike Sodrel | 142,197 | 49% | Al Cox | Libertarian | 4,541 | 2% | |||||||||
| 2006 | Baron P. Hill | 110,454 | 50% | Mike Sodrel | 100,469 | 46% | D. Eric Schansberg | Libertarian | 9,893 | 4% | * | ||||||||
| 2008 | Baron P. Hill | 181,254 | 58% | Mike Sodrel | 121,514 | 38% | D. Eric Schansberg | Libertarian | 12,000 | 4% |
In 1967, Sodrel married Marquita Dean; they have two children and seven granddaughters. Sodrel has served on numerous charitable organization's board of directors, including the Remnant Trust and as a past regional council president of theBoy Scouts of America.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 9th congressional district 2005–2007 | 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 |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
