Curt Clawson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2014 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's19th district | |
| In office June 25, 2014 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Trey Radel |
| Succeeded by | Francis Rooney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Curtis Jay Clawson (1959-09-28)September 28, 1959 (age 66) Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | |
| Basketball career | |
| No. 33 – Purdue Boilermakers | |
| Position | Point guard /shooting guard |
| League | Big Ten Conference |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Batesville High School, Indiana |
| College |
|
| Career highlights | |
| |
Curtis Jay Clawson (born September 28, 1959) is an American politician who served as theUnited States representative forFlorida's 19th congressional district from 2014 to 2017, serving as aRepublican. He is the former chief executive of Hayes Lemmerz, a Michigan-based automobile wheel and brakes supplier.[1][2]
Clawson was elected to the House of Representatives in aspecial election in 2014, defeatingDemocrat April Freeman in a landslide. He was elected to a full term in2014, defeating Freeman a second time.
Clawson did not seek a third term in2016, and was succeeded byFrancis Rooney.
Clawson attendedBatesville High School inBatesville, Indiana. A high school basketball star, he was recruited byGene Keady.[3] At Purdue, he was a 2× All-Academic Big Ten selection (1982–83 and 1983–84). He was a team captain for the 1983–84 Big Ten Champions, was a member of 2× NCAA teams (1982–83 and 1983–84) and an NIT Finalist team (1981–82).[4] He graduated in 1984 with a BA in Spanish and a BS from theKrannert School of Management.[3] He was named a "Purdue Old Master" in 2010 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.[3]
In 1990, he earned an MBA fromHarvard University.[3]
Clawson was theRepublican Party nominee in aspecial election to fill the seat being vacated byTrey Radel.[5] and won the election on June 24, 2014. In the April 22, 2014 Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—Clawson defeated State Senate Majority LeaderLizbeth Benacquisto and former State RepresentativePaige Kreegel with 38% of the vote to Benacquisto's 26% and Kreegel's 25%.[5] Clawson was endorsed in the primary by theTea Party Express.[4] He spent $2 million on advertising and in one of his ads he challenged U.S. PresidentBarack Obama to a game of one on one basketball.[4]
Clawson won a full term in November 2014 with 64 percent of the vote.
Clawson delivered theTea Party response to President Obama'sState of the Union Address in 2015.[6][7]
On May 20, 2016, Clawson announced that he would not seek re-election that year, citing his desire to support his father in the aftermath of his mother's death the previous year.[8]
Clawson was a member of theCongressional Constitution Caucus.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curt Clawson | 26,857 | 38 | |
| Republican | Lizbeth Benacquisto | 18,032 | 26 | |
| Republican | Paige Kreegel | 17,762 | 25 | |
| Republican | Michael Dreikorn | 7,560 | 11 | |
| Total votes | 70,211 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curt Clawson | 66,922 | 66.9 | |
| Democratic | April Freeman | 29,314 | 29.3 | |
| Libertarian | Ray Netherwood | 3,729 | 3.7 | |
| Write-In | Timothy J. Rossano | 24 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 99,989 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curt Clawson* | 159,354 | 64.6 | |
| Democratic | April Freeman | 80,824 | 32.7 | |
| Libertarian | Ray Netherwood | 6,671 | 2.7 | |
| Write-In | Timothy J. Rossano | 12 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 246,861 | 100.0 | ||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's 19th congressional district 2014–2017 | 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 |
