Tim Walberg
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded byMark Schauer
Constituency7th district (2011–2023)
5th district (2023–present)
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Preceded byJoe Schwarz
Succeeded byMark Schauer
Constituency7th district
Member of the
Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byJames E. Hadden
Succeeded byDoug Spade
Constituency40th district (1983–1992)
57th district (1992–1999)
Personal details
Born
Timothy Lee Walberg

(1951-04-12) April 12, 1951
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Susan Walberg
​
(m. 1974)​
Children3
EducationMoody Bible Institute
Taylor University (BA)
Wheaton College (MA)
OccupationPastor (former)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the 7th district from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2023. As the longest tenured member from Michigan, Walberg is the current Dean of its delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]

Early life, education, and early career

Walberg was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Alice Ann and John A. Walberg. His paternal grandparents were Swedish.[2] In 1964, Walberg served the Barry Goldwater 1964 presidential campaign as a volunteer. Walberg graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School in 1969 and briefly served the U.S. Forest Service. From 1973 to 1977, Walberg served as pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in New Haven, Indiana.[3]

Michigan legislature

Walberg was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998. He also spent time as a pastor and as a division manager for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago while continuing to live in Michigan.[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2004

After six years out of politics, Walberg ran in a field of six candidates in the 2004 Republican primary for the 7th District after six-term incumbent Nick Smith retired. Walberg finished third in the primary. State Senator Joe Schwarz won the primary and the general election.[5]

2006

Walberg defeated Schwarz in the Republican primary.[6] In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Sharon Renier, 50%–46%.[7]

In 2007, there was a failed recall effort against Walberg.[8][9][10]

2008

Entering the 2008 race, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen identified Walberg as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Congress.[11] On August 23, 2007, State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer announced he would challenge Walberg.[12] The previous occupant of the seat, Joe Schwarz, who lost to Walberg in the 2006 Republican primary, declined to run but on September 30 endorsed Schauer.[13]

Schauer narrowly defeated Walberg in the November election, 49% to 47%. Between the two candidates, around $3.5 million was spent on the campaign,[14] making it one of the most expensive House races in the 2008 election. Schauer outspent Walberg by nearly $300,000.[15]

2010

On July 14, 2009, Walberg announced that he would challenge incumbent Mark Schauer.[16] He defeated Marvin Carlson and Brian Rooney in the Republican primary.

Polling showed the race as a dead heat.[17] Walberg defeated Schauer, 50%–45%.[18]

2012

Wahlberg defeated Democratic nominee Kurt Haskell, 53%–43%.[19]

2014

Walberg defeated former Democratic State Representative Pam Byrnes with 54% of the vote.[20]

2016

Walberg defeated Doug North in the August 2 Republican primary and Democratic nominee State Representative Gretchen Driskell[21] in the general election, with 55% of the vote.[22]

2018

Walberg defeated Driskell again, with 53.8% of the vote.[23]

2020

Walberg defeated Driskell a third time, with 58.7% of the vote.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Environment

Walberg rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.[27][28][29] On the subject, he said in May 2017, "I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I’m confident that, if there’s a real problem, he can take care of it."[27]

Healthcare

Walberg has repeatedly voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[30][31] Walberg shares an office with Jackson Right to Life, which was vandalized by abortion rights activists in June 2022, just before the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. Fox News attributed the attack to the group Jane's Revenge.[32]

LGBTQ rights

In 2015, Walberg cosponsored a resolution to amend the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[33] Walberg also cosponsored a resolution disagreeing with the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.[34]

Walberg voted against the Respect for Marriage Act codifying Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges, recognizing marriages across state lines regardless of "sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals."[35]

On October 8, 2023, Walberg gave a keynote speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Uganda, at the invitation of Ugandan legislator David Bahati. Walberg's trip to Uganda was paid for by The Fellowship, which sponsored the breakfast. During his speech, Walberg urged Uganda to "stand firm" against international pressure to "change you", apparently referencing sanctions by the United States government against Uganda over the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, which prescribes lengthy prison sentences and in certain instances the death penalty for homosexual activities. “Worthless is the thought of the world, worthless, for instance, is the thought of the World Bank, or the World Health Organization, or the United Nations, or, sadly, some in our administration in America who say, ‘You are wrong for standing for values that God created,’ for saying there are male and female and God created them," said Walberg. Bahati, the original sponsor of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, stated that Walberg had told him “Uganda is on the right side of God,” when he asked Walberg if he were comfortable associating with Bahati. Walberg additionally praised Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who also spoke at the breakfast, and who signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law. [36][37][38][39]

2008 presidential election

Walberg has repeatedly invoked birther conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama, arguing that Obama should have been impeached over his birth certificate.[40]

2020 presidential election

In December 2020, Walberg was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[41] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[42][43][44]

Electoral history

2004 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
  • Joe Schwarz (R), 28%
  • Brad Smith (R), 22%
  • Tim Walberg (R), 18%
  • Clark Bisbee (R), 14%
  • Gene DeRossett (R), 11%
  • Paul DeWeese (R), 7%
2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
  • Tim Walberg (R), 33,144, 53%
  • Joe Schwarz (R) (inc.), 29,349, 47%
2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
  • Tim Walberg (R), 49.93%
  • Sharon Renier (D), 45.98%
  • Robert Hutchinson (L), 1.55%
  • David Horn (UST), 1.47%
  • Joe Schwarz (write-in), 1.07%
2008 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
  • Mark Schauer (D), 48.79%[45]
  • Tim Walberg (R), 46.49%
  • Lynn Meadows (G), 2.96%
  • Ken Proctor (L), 1.76%
2010 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
  • Tim Walberg (R), 50.1%
  • Mark Schauer (D), 45.4%
  • Other, 4.5%
2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
  • Tim Walberg (R), 55.4%
  • Kurt Haskell (D), 44.6%

Personal life

Walberg and his wife, Sue, have been married since 1974. They have three adult children: Matthew, Heidi, and Caleb.[46]

Walberg is an ordained pastor. Ordained as a Baptist, he currently identifies as nondenominational[47] and attends a church affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.[48]

References

  1. ↑ "About Tim". Congressman Tim Walberg. January 3, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ "tim walberg". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Primary Election Guide: Everything you need to know about Monroe County's candidates". Monroe News. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Rep. Tim Walberg". The Arena. Politico. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "2004 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Department of State. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Rep. Schwarz defeated in Michigan primary". NBC News. Associated Press. August 9, 2006. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Statistics of the Congressional Election" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ Recall campaign launched against Walberg. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Judge rules against Walberg recall effort". The Ann Arbor News. Associated Press. August 29, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  10. ↑ Pelham, Dennis (August 29, 2007). "Walberg recall over". The Daily Telegraph (Lenawee). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Van Hollen's Top '08 Targets". National Journal. January 30, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2016.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ Eggert, David (August 24, 2007). "Michigan Senate minority leader to challenge Walberg in 2008 race". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Schwarz endorses Democrat in race". MLive. Associated Press. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Schauer declares victory in 7th District U.S. House race". Michigan Daily. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  15. ↑ Savage, Chris (September 26, 2009). "Eyeing A Comeback, Former Rep. Walberg Holds Health Care Town Halls". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  16. ↑ Gautz, Chris (July 14, 2009). "Former Congressman Tim Walberg to challenge U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer for old seat". MLive. Jackson Citizen Patriot. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  17. ↑ "The Hill: Latest poll shows race between Mark Schauer, Tim Walberg a dead heat". Jackson Citizen Patriot. October 7, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Michigan – Election Results 2010". New York Times. November 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Michigan Congressional District 7 election results". NBC News. December 2, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  20. ↑ Forgrave, Will (November 5, 2014). "11 Tim Walberg keeps U.S. Congressional seat, Democrat Pam Byrnes concedes the 7th District". MLive. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  21. ↑ Forgrave, Will (February 9, 2015). "65 Democratic state Rep. Gretchen Driskell announces bid for 7th Congressional seat in 2016". MLive. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  22. ↑ Oosting, Jonathan; Laing, Keith (November 9, 2016). "District 7: Rep. Walberg wins re-election over Driskell". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Michigan's 7th Congressional District election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  27. 1 2 Bobic, Igor (May 31, 2017). "GOP Congressman: God Will 'Take Care Of' Climate Change If It Exists". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  28. ↑ Gajanan, Mahita. "Republican Congressman Says God Will 'Take Care Of' Climate Change". Time. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  29. ↑ "GOP congressman on climate change: God will 'take care of it' if it's real". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  30. ↑ Wheaton, Bob (October 31, 2012). "Rep. Tim Walberg would keep trying to repeal Obamacare". MLive.
  31. ↑ Forgrave, Will (February 19, 2014). "Obamacare complaints aired at health-care forum hosted by U.S. Rep Tim Walberg". MLive. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  32. ↑ Keene, Houston (June 22, 2022). "Pro-life org, congressman's campaign office vandalized in Jane's Revenge-linked attack". Fox News. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  33. ↑ Huelskamp, Tim (February 12, 2015). "Cosponsors - H.J.Res.32 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Marriage Protection Amendment". www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  34. ↑ King, Steve (July 29, 2015). "Cosponsors - H.Res.359 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Providing that the House of Representatives disagrees with the majority opinion in Obergefell et al. v. Hodges, and for other purposes". www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  35. ↑ Bobic, Igor (July 19, 2022). "These 157 House Republicans Voted Against Protections For Same-Sex Marriage". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  36. ↑ Larsen, Jonathan (December 20, 2023). "U.S. Prayer Breakfast Co-Chair Defends Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Law". The Young Turks. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ Sekanjako, Henry (October 9, 2023). "Museveni urges unity at National Prayer Breakfast". New Vision. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  38. ↑ "LIVE: NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST OCTOBER 8, 2023" (video). youtube.com. UBC Television Uganda. October 8, 2023.
  39. ↑ https://www.wlns.com/news/walbergs-uganda-speech-continues-to-receive-pushback-why-it-matters/
  40. ↑ Demas, Susan J. (August 16, 2011). "U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg just can't let Barack Obama's birth certificate go". mlive.com.
  41. ↑ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  42. ↑ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  44. ↑ Diaz, Daniella (December 11, 2020). "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  45. ↑ "The Capitol Record Since 1906". Michigan State University. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  46. ↑ "Rep. Tim Walburg". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Faith on the Hill: The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress". pewforum.org. Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center. January 5, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Tim Walberg Becomes Second UB Congressman". United Brethren Central. March 5, 2007.
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