Larry Kissell
Lawrence Webb "Larry" Kissell (b. January 31, 1951) was aDemocratic member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina. representedNorth Carolina's 8th Congressional District from 2009 to 2013. Kissell defeatedMarcus Williams in the Democratic primary on May 8, 2012.[1][2] Republican challengerRichard Hudson defeated Democratic incumbent Kissell on November 6, 2012.[3]
According to a March 2012 article inRoll Call, Kissell was one of the top 10 most vulnerable incumbents.[4]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship byGovTrack, Kissell was a "centrist Democrat."[5]
Biography
Kissell was born in Pinehurst,North Carolina. He earned his B.A. from Wake Forest University in 1973.[6]
Career
After earning his degree, Kissell worked for 27 years in textiles. In 2001, Kissell began a new career as a high school civics teacher in East Montgomery,North Carolina.[7]
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
Kissell served on the following committees:[8]
- Agriculture Committee
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
- Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture
- Armed Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Readiness
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Issues
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
Kissell voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[9]
Voting with party
November 2011
Larry Kissell voted with the Democratic Party76.3 percent of the time, which ranked 175th among the 192 House Democratic members as of January 2012.[10]
Elections
2012
Kissell ran in the2012 election for theU.S. House to representNorth Carolina's8th District. Kissell won the nomination on theDemocratic ticket after he defeatedMarcus Williams in the primary.[1] He facedRichard Hudson (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.
TheWashington Post listed theHouse of Representatives elections inNorth Carolina in 2012 as one of thestates that could have determined whether Democrats retook the House orRepublicans held their majority in 2013.[11]North Carolina was rated 8th on the list.[11]
Kissell did not receive the monetary assistance set aside for him from theDemocratic Party, while theRepublican Party poured money intoHudson's campaign.[12] Despite the fact that the majority of voters in this district were registeredDemocrats, the district had a history of votingRepublican, and after redistricting the ratio of Democrats to Republicans decreased.[12] The disparity of funds and the new political demographic had analysts favoringHudson in this race, but Kissell won against long odds in the past: in 2006, he won the primary for the Democratic nomination without the support of the party.[13]
Kissell's voting record caused some rifts in a local chapter of the Democratic Party. Leaders of the Cabarrus County Democratic Party signed a petition to remove their chairman after she refused to endorse Kissell because of his anti-Obama voting record. Kissell voted to repeal the PPACA (Obamacare), refused to endorse Obama for re-election and declined to attend the Democratic National Convention.[14]
Hudson's campaign reported that Kissell declined to schedule a final debate between the two candidates, and claimed that he was reluctant to engage in debates throughout his campaign.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Larry KissellIncumbent | 45.4% | 137,139 | |
| Republican |  Richard Hudson | 53.2% | 160,695 | |
| Write-In | N/A | 1.5% | 4,446 | |
| Total Votes | 302,280 | |||
| Source:North Carolina State Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Primary results
The primary took place on May 8, 2012.[16]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Larry Kissell | 72.6% | 45,987 |
| Marcus W. Williams | 27.4% | 17,393 |
| Total Votes | 63,380 | |
2010
On November 2, 2010,, Kissell was re-elected to theUnited States House for a second term. He defeated Harold Johnson (R), Thomas Hill (Libertarian), and the write-in candidates.[17]
| U.S. House, North Carolina Congressional District 8 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Larry KissellIncumbent | 53% | 88,776 | |
| Republican | Harold Johnson | 43.7% | 73,129 | |
| Libertarian | Thomas Hill | 3% | 5,098 | |
| Write-in | 0.3% | 439 | ||
| Total Votes | 167,442 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The websiteLegistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Kissell paid his congressional staff a total of $990,945 in 2011. Overall,North Carolina ranked 7th in average salary for representative staff. The averageU.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[18]
Net worth
2011
Based oncongressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available byOpenSecrets.org, Kissell's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $58,009 to $354,999. That averages to $206,504, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2011 of $5,107,874. His average calculated net worth[19] increased by 119.68% from 2010.[20]
2010
Based oncongressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available byOpenSecrets.org, Kissell's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-6,991 to $194,999. That averages to $94,004, which is lower than the average net worth of Democrats in 2010 of $4,465,875.[21]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also:National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each yearNational Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kissell ranked 177th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[22]
2011
Each yearNational Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Kissell was tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives ranking 176th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[23]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the termLarry + Kissell + North Carolina + House
Personal
Note: Pleasecontact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Kissell is married to his wife, Tina, and they have two daughters: Jenny and Aspen.[24]
External links
- Congressman Larry Kissellofficial campaign site
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media coverage:
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Primary Election Results," accessed May 9, 2012.
- ↑Coshocton Tribune, "GOP candidates Hudson, Keadle face runoff," May 8, 2012
- ↑Politico, "2012 Election Map, North Carolina," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑Roll Call, "Top 10 Vulnerable: Targets on Their Backs," accessed March 16, 2012
- ↑GovTrack, "Kissell," accessed May 22, 2012
- ↑Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "KISSELL, Larry, (1951 - )"
- ↑Congressman Larry Kissell, Representing the 8th District of North Carolina, "Biography"
- ↑Congressman Larry Kissell, Representing the 8th District of North Carolina, "Biography"
- ↑U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑11.011.1Washington Post, "The 10 states that will determine control of the House in 2012," accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑12.012.1Fay Observer, "Rep. Larry Kissell faces fight from Richard Hudson in Congressional District 8," accessed October 17, 2012(dead link)
- ↑Charlotte Observer, "Robert Pittenger's $3 million dwarfs rival war chests," accessed October 17, 2012(dead link)
- ↑Independent Tribune, "Cabarrus Democratic leaders move to oust party chair," accessed October 17, 2012
- ↑Fay Observer, "U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell won't commit to debate against challenger Richard Hudson," accessed October 17, 2012(dead link)
- ↑North Carolina State Board of Elections, "2012 Primary Results," accessed October 10, 2012
- ↑U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑LegiStorm, "Larry Kissell," accessed September 25, 2012
- ↑This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
- ↑OpenSecrets, "Larry Kissell (D-NC), 2011," accessed February 22, 2013
- ↑OpenSecrets, "Larry Kissell (D-NC), 2010," accessed September 25, 2012
- ↑National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," March 7, 2013
- ↑National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑Congressman Larry Kissell, Representing the 8th District of North Carolina, "Biography"
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robin Hayes | U.S. House of Representatives - North Carolina, District 8 2009–2013 | Succeeded by Richard Hudson |
