Jason Lewis

Republican Party

Prior offices

U.S. House Minnesota District 2

Successor:Angie Craig

Predecessor:John Kline

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Iowa

Graduate

University of Colorado, Denver

Contact

Campaign website

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Jason Lewis (Republican Party) was a member of theU.S. House, representingMinnesota's 2nd Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2017. He left office on January 3, 2019.

Lewis (Republican Party) ran for election to theU.S. Senate to represent Minnesota. He lost in the general election onNovember 3, 2020.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2017-2018

At the beginning of the115th Congress, Lewis was assigned to the following committees:^[1]

• Committee on Budget
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Key votes

See also:Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, clickhere.

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

For detailed information about each vote, clickhere.

• Votes on domestic policy (click to expand)

  VotedNay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Conference report) (HR 2)

   Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

  Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023.^[2]

  VotedYea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))

   Bill Passed (213-211) on June 21, 2018

  Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program.^[3]

  VotedYea on: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)

   Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018

  Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border.^[4]

  VotedNay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)

   Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

  Reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies some Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.^[5]

  VotedYea on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)

   Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017

  Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.^[6]

  VotedYea on: Kate's Law (HR 3004)

   Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017

  Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally.^[7]

  VotedYea on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)

   Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017

  Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws.^[8]

  VotedYea on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)

   Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017

  Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.^[9]

• Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand)

  VotedYea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)

   Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.^[10]

  VotedYea on: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)

   Bill Passed (377-20) on September 13, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.^[11]

  VotedYea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)

   Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.^[12]

  VotedYea on: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)

   Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.^[13]

  VotedYea on: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)

   Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018

  Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act^[14]

  VotedNay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)

   Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes.^[15]

  VotedNay on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)

   Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.^[16]

  VotedYea on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)

   Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.^[17]

  VotedYea on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

   Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.^[18]

  VotedYea on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

   Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018.^[19]

  VotedYea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)

   Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.^[20]

  VotedYea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

   Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017

  Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.^[21]

  VotedYea on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)

   Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017

  Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017.^[22]

  VotedYea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

   Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017

  Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses.^[23]

  VotedYea on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

   Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017

  Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate's budget resolution.)^[24]

  VotedYea on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

   Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017

  Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027.^[25]

  
  

  VotedYea on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)

   Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017

  Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills.^[26]

  VotedYea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)

   Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017

  Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts.^[27]

  Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)

   Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017

  Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.^[28]

  VotedYea on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)

   Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017

  Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts.^[29]

  VotedNay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)

   Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017

  Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017.^[30]

• Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand)

  VotedYea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)

   Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities^[31]

  VotedYea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)

   Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.^[32]

  
  

  VotedYea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)

   Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017

  Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths.^[33]

  VotedYea on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)

   Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017

  Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018.^[34]

  VotedYea on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)

   Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017

  Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes.^[35]

  VotedYea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)

   Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017

  Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.^[36]

  VotedYea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)

   Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017

  Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.^[37]

  VotedYea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)

   Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017

  Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority.^[38]

  VotedYea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)

   Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017

  The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding.^[39]

Elections

2020

See also: United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020

United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Minnesota

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Minnesota on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tina Smith (D)	48.8	1,566,522
		Jason Lewis (R)	43.6	1,398,145
		Kevin O'Connor (Legal Marijuana Now Party)	5.8	185,064
		Oliver Steinberg (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)	1.8	57,174
	Submit photo	Rob Barrett Jr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	22
		George Dennis Jr. (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	5
		Steve Carlson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	3
		John Berman (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	2
	Submit photo	Jason Shaver (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Josh Ondich (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,261

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,209,198
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

IncumbentTina Smith defeatedPaula Overby,Ahmad Hassan,Steve Carlson, andChristopher Seymore in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tina Smith	87.1	497,501
		Paula Overby	5.3	30,497
		Ahmad Hassan	3.5	20,037
		Steve Carlson	2.9	16,429
		Christopher Seymore	1.1	6,480

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 570,944 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Alexandra Marie Holker (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Jason Lewis defeatedCynthia Gail,John Berman,Bob Carney Jr., andJames Reibestein in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jason Lewis	78.1	191,288
	Submit photo	Cynthia Gail	7.2	17,675
		John Berman	6.6	16,212
		Bob Carney Jr.	4.3	10,503
	Submit photo	James Reibestein	3.8	9,210

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 244,888 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Forest Hyatt (R)
• Christopher Chamberlin (R)
• Theron Preston Washington (R)
• Rob Barrett Jr. (R)

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Oliver Steinberg advanced from the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Oliver Steinberg	100.0	3,275

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,275 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota

Kevin O'Connor advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. Senate Minnesota on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kevin O'Connor	100.0	6,996

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,996 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2018

See also:Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

See also:Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election (August 14, 2018 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 2

Angie Craig defeated incumbentJason Lewis in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Angie Craig (D)	52.7	177,958
		Jason Lewis (R)	47.1	159,344
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	666

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 337,968 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bradley Svenson (Independence Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2

Angie Craig advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Angie Craig

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeff Erdmann (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2

IncumbentJason Lewis advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Jason Lewis

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2016

See also:Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was abattleground district in 2016. Republican incumbentJohn Kline, who began serving in Congress in 2002, chose not to run for re-election in 2016, leaving the seat open.Jason Lewis (R) defeatedAngie Craig (D) andPaula Overby (I) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Craig faced no primary opponent, while Lewis defeatedMatthew Erickson,John Howe, andDarlene Miller in the Republican primary on August 9, 2016.^{[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]}

U.S. House, Minnesota District 2 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jason Lewis	47%	173,970
	Democratic	Angie Craig	45.2%	167,315
	Independent	Paula Overby	7.8%	28,869
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	360
Total Votes				370,514
Source:Minnesota Secretary of State

U.S. House, Minnesota District 2 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Jason Lewis	48.9%	11,641
Darlene Miller	30.7%	7,305
John Howe	13.6%	3,244
Matthew Erickson	6.8%	1,612
Total Votes		23,802
Source:Minnesota Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jason Lewis did not completeBallotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Lewis' campaign website stated the following:

2018

Campaign website

Lewis' campaign website stated the following:

2016

Campaign website

The following issues were listed on Lewis' campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes,click here.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.

Noteworthy events

Decision to self-quarantine because of coronavirus on October 2, 2020

See also:Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic
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On October 2, 2020, Lewis announced that he would self-quarantine after flying on Air Force One with PresidentDonald Trump (R), who later tested positive for the coronavirus. Lewis said he would seek a coronavirus test.^[52]

The Jason Lewis Show

Comments Lewis made in 2012 about women and race were discussed in several articles and criticized by Democratic rivalAngie Craig (D) in July 2018. On his radio show, "The Jason Lewis Show," Lewis said, "Now, are we beyond those days where a woman can behave as a slut, but you can’t call her a slut?”^[53] In another segment, Lewis said, "There's a cultural problem in the African-American community that is leading to [violence]. The entitlement mentality."^[54]

Craig called the comments disappointing. "Our leaders are role models for our kids and must hold themselves to that standard," she said.^[53]

The Lewis campaign released the following statement: “This has all been litigated before, and as Rep. Lewis has said time and time again, it was his job to be provocative while on the radio.”^[55]

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

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