Official Biography of US Senator from New Jersey Harrison LeClavers(D-Trenton)
Name: Harrison David LeClavers
Avatar: Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist
Seat: New Jersey Class I
Party: Democratic Party
Caucus: Progressive Democrats
Birth: February 1st, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York. 42 years old, 10 points.
Gender: Male. 0 points
Residence: Jersey City, New Jersey
Religion: National Baptist(Mainline Protestant). 0 points.
Race: African-American(5 points).
Family Info: Straight, maried with 5 children(0 points)
His parents are Gregory and Cassandra LeClavers. His only sibling is only brother Gregory LeClavers II. LeClavers II died fighting in Iraq in 2003.
. HIs wife is Angelina LeClavers, married in 1999. Six children. Adopted his nephew Gregory LeClavers III when his father died in Iraq, and his mother was already dead. Gregory LeClavers III was born in 1997. Harrison's 5 children by blood are Calvin(b. 2001), Alicia(b. 2004), Munir(b. 2008), Alan(b. 2011), and Christina(b. 2015).
Education: Graduated from the University of Michigan(Ann Arbor) with a degree in Finance in 1998. Went to Law School at Notre Dame, graduated in 2004. 20 total points(5 for U of M undergrad, 15 for Notre Dame Law).
Socioeconomic history: Working Class. 10 points.
Occupational History:
College/Professional Athlete. 15 points. Played football at the University of Michigan for four years as a rotational linebacker. National champion in 1997. Played in NFL for 2 years before he washed out of the league. Played snaps for the Philadelphia Eagles, also played on the New York Jets practice squad. Not considered well known. Played NFL snaps in 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Business Associate. Wall Street Banker from 2000-2001. Worked at Goldman Sachs. 10 points. Then decided to go back to school and get a law degree.
Lawyer. 10 points. Lawyer from 2004-2007.
State Representative: 1 point, 1 term. State Rep from 2007-2009.
One term Mayor of Jersey City. 2009-2013. 10 points (population 292,000).
Electoral History:
New Jersey General Assembly Election, Lower House, 2007
General
LeClavers won uncontested in the general. He won a 3 way primary with 51% of the vote. 1 point.
Jersey City mayor Election 2009
LeClavers - 54%
Luis Manzo - 28%
L. Harvey Smith - 16%
US Senate Special Election New Jersey, 2013
Primary
LeClavers - 44%
Rush Holt - 35%
Frank Pallone - 17%
General
LeClavers - 51%
Steve Lonegan
US Senate Election, New Jersey, 2014
General
LeClavers - 56%
Jeff Bell - 43%
Total Points used: 91 points.
Harrison LeClavers was born in Brooklyn, New York, in the mid 1970s to Gregory and Cassanda LeClavers. He grew up in a working class neighborhood- he was always an outgoing kid, even though his father was simply a factory worker. But his parents, while not coming from much, instilled great work ethic in him. And while his grades were good, he actually turned out to be a football prodigy. At least, at the HS level. He was good enough to be recruited by schools acround the country, however, and the 4 star linebacker ended up playing at the University of Michigan.
The team, of course, was pretty damn strong at that point, and while he played all four years, he was never considered an every down player. Rotational starter, played probably 50-60% of snaps his sophomore-senior seasons(and did not play at all as a freshman). No matter- Big 10 winner, Rose Bowl champion, national champion. He made it to the show, playing int he NFL for two seasons, for the Eagles. While he never really suffered any injuries, it was clear that he simply wasn't good enough for the big leagues. After two seasons, he basically washed out of the NFL. He had a chance to go to NFL Europe, but decided he had tried his dream of football, and was going to focus his energies elsewhere.
Wiht his U of M connections, he ended up going on Wall Street and being an investment banker for two years. Made some good cash, but it took a toll on his family life. The Jersey City to Manhattan commute wasn't exactly fun. Then, after two years of that, he decied to go back to school- took the LSAT, sent in applications, and got accepted to Notre Dame Law School. Back to the Midwest for three years, until he got his degree and was able to come home. He became a criminal defense attorney. He was able to make a big name for himself, being very active in the community in Jersey City.
He liked the law, but truly, he loved making an impact. After three years, he decided that he needed to go into public service. So with legislative elections in 2007, he decided to run for office. With an intense ground game, he was able to connect with progressives and earn a big time win. Jersey City, of course, is basically all Dems, so he coasted in the general. He was a progressinve in the legislature, and was largely considered a very effective legislator.
But he decided that his best talent was not the machine politics necessary to move up in Trenton. Ergo, he decided to return back to Jersey City, and run for Mayor. He was elected, and served one full term. Considered a strong Mayor, he became Mayor in a tough time. Height of the financial crisis, he was a big fan of the Obama campaign. But Mayoral offices are always wearing, and he got into a number of public fueds with Governor Christie. It ended up leading him to retire, and re-evaluate his next moves in politics. HIs original idea was to try adn run for Congress the next year- but then, suddenly, the death of New Jersey's Dem Senator left a clear field.
When Cory Booker decided not to run for office, he decided to run in the primary. He outmuscled other members of New Jersey's congressional delegation in a stunning upset, corraling progressives towards him. He won the heavily blue state in the special, and then defended the seat successfuly in 2014.
Key Votes:
113th Congress 2013-2015
Both: Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization : Aye
Both: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 : No
114th Congress 2015-2017
Both: Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 : Aye
