William Whitaker (R-KY)

[micgat23]

U.S. Senator William  J. Whitaker (R-KY)

Name: William Jackson Whitaker, IV

Seat: Kentucky, Class II

Avatar: Todd Young

Party: Republican

Major Caucus: Mainstreet Partnership

 

Age: 51, b: 4/23/1965 (0 Points)

Sexuality: Straight, Married, 3 Kids (0 Points)

• Wife: Lauralee Lynn Whitaker (nee Cosgrove) (b: 1966 m. 1985)
• Child #1: William V (b: 1988)
• Child #2: Jackson   (b: 1990)
• Child #3: Anna-Lynn (b. 1991)

Race/Ancestry: White, Ulster-Scott, (0 Points)

Socioeconomic History: Middle Class (0 Points)

 

Religion: Southern Baptist (0 Points)

 

Educational History

Kentucky State University (0 Points)
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture & Natural Resources (1983-1987)

University of Georgia (20 Points)
- Master of Business Administration (1987-1989)

 

Professional Career

Employee of Whitaker Farms (10 Points)

- Farmhand at Whitaker Farms (1983-2000)

- Overseer/Lead Farmhand at Whitaker Farms (2000-2006)

- Owner at Whitaker Farms (2006-Present)

 

Political Career
Member of the United States House of Representatives (9 Points)

- Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District (1995-2003)

United States Senator from the State of Kentucky (2015-Present) (0 Points)

 

TOTAL POINTS: 44/100 Points

 

Presidential Support

1976: Ronald Reagan (Primary) | Gerald Ford/Bob Dole (R) (General)
1980: Ronald Reagan (Primary) | Ronald Reagan/George H. W. Bush (R) (General)
1984: Ronald Reagan (Primary) | Ronald Reagan/George H. W. Bush (R) (General)
1988: Bob Dole (Primary) | George H.W. Bush/Dan Quayle (R) (General)
1992: Pat Buchanan (Primary) | Ross Perot/James Stockdale (I) (General)
1996: Bob Dole (Primary) | Bob Dole/Jack Kemp (R) (General)
2000: George W. Bush (Primary) | George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) (General)
2004: George W. Bush (Primary) | George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) (General)
2008: Fred Thompson (Primary) | John McCain/Sarah Palin (R) (General)
2012: Buddy Roemer (Primary) | Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan (R) (General)
2016: Katherine McCord (Primary) | Katherine McCord/Charles Walker (R) (General)

 

Key Votes

 

House of Representatives

104th Congress 1995-1997:
Republicans: Helms–Burton Act- YEA
105th Congress 1997-1999:
Republicans: Balanced Budget Act of 199- NAY
106th Congress 1999-2001:
Republicans: Legal Immigration Family Equity Act- NAY
107th Congress 2001-2003: 
Republicans: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act- YEA

 

United States Senate

113th Congress 2013-2015

Both: Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization- YEA

Both: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013- NAY

114th Congress 2015-2017

Both: Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015- YEA

 

Election History

1994 United States House of Representatives, Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, General Election

William J. Whitaker (R)- 59.8%

David Adkisson (D)- 40.2%

 

1996 United States House of Representatives, Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, General Election

William J. Whitaker (R)(i)- 58.09%

Joseph Wright (D)- 41.91%

1998 United States House of Representatives, Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, General Election

William J. Whitaker (R)(i)- 63.7%

Robert Evans (D)- 35.3%

Jim Ketchel (REF)- 1.0%

 

2000 United States House of Representatives, Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, General Election

William J. Whitaker (R)(i)- 66.0%

Brian Pedigo (D)- 44.0%

 

2014 United States Senate, State of Kentucky, Republican Primary
William J. Whitaker- 85.25%

Matthew Bevin- 35.42%

Shawna Sterling- 2.03%

Chris Payne- 1.51%

Brad Copas- 0.85%

 

 

2014 United States Senate, State of Tennessee, General Election

William J. Whitaker (R)- 56.19%

Alison Lundergan Grimes (D)- 40.72%

David M Patterson (L)- 3.08%

Write-Ins- 0.01%

 

Political Stances

 

• Limited Government: Senator Whitaker believes in reducing the size and scope of the federal government, advocating for limited government intervention in the lives of citizens. He supports lower taxes, fewer regulations, and opposes government overreach into personal liberties and individual freedoms.

• Fiscal Responsibility: Senator Whitaker is a staunch advocate for fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets. He believes in cutting wasteful government spending and prioritizing efficiency in public expenditures. He supports measures to reduce the national debt and believes in empowering states and local governments to manage their finances responsibly.

• Free Market Economics: Senator Whitaker champions free market principles and believes in the power of competition to drive innovation, economic growth, and prosperity. He supports deregulation in industries to promote competition, entrepreneurship, and job creation. He opposes government subsidies and bailouts that distort market forces.

• Individual Liberties: Senator Whitaker is a strong defender of individual liberties and constitutional rights. He opposes government infringement on personal freedoms, including the right to free speech, gun ownership, and privacy. He advocates for the protection of civil liberties and limited government surveillance.

• Criminal Justice Reform: Senator Whitaker supports criminal justice reform efforts aimed at reducing mass incarceration and addressing systemic issues within the justice system. He advocates for alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, rehabilitation programs, and measures to address racial disparities in sentencing.

• Foreign Policy: Senator Whitaker believes in a non-interventionist foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy and national sovereignty. He advocates for reducing military interventions abroad, bringing troops home, and reevaluating foreign aid. He supports a strong national defense but believes in avoiding unnecessary conflicts and entanglements.

• Environmental Policy: Senator Whitaker supports a balanced approach to environmental policy that emphasizes conservation, innovation, and private sector solutions. He believes in protecting natural resources while also promoting economic growth and energy independence. He opposes overly burdensome regulations that stifle economic development.

• Healthcare Reform: Senator Whitaker advocates for healthcare reform that increases competition, reduces costs, and expands access to quality care. He supports market-based solutions such as health savings accounts, price transparency, and allowing insurance to be sold across state lines. He opposes government-controlled healthcare systems and supports empowering individuals to make their own healthcare decisions.

• Education Reform: Senator Whitaker supports education reform efforts that prioritize school choice, competition, and parental empowerment. He believes in expanding alternatives to traditional public schools, such as charter schools, vouchers, and homeschooling. He advocates for policies that increase accountability and improve educational outcomes for all students.

• Immigration: Senator Whitaker supports immigration reform that secures the border, enforces existing laws, and promotes legal immigration. He believes in streamlining the immigration process, including a merit-based system for skilled workers, while also addressing the status of undocumented immigrants already living in the United States through a fair and compassionate approach. He opposes blanket amnesty and sanctuary city policies.

 

Biography

William J. Whitaker, IV

William J. Whitaker, IV (born April 23, 1965) is an American politician and businessman who currently serves as the Senior United States Senator from Kentucky. A member of the Republican Party, Whitaker has represented the state of Kentucky in the Senate since 2015.

Early Life and Education

William Whitaker was born on April 23, 1965, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Farmer William Whitaker III and School Teacher Lorraine Carson. At the age of four, his family relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. After graduating from high school at the age of 18, Whitaker began working as a farmhand on his father's farm.

 

Despite his responsibilities on the farm, Whitaker pursued higher education at Kentucky State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1987. Following his undergraduate studies, he furthered his education at the University of Georgia, where he obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

Career

Upon completing his education, William Whitaker returned to his family's farm, where he assumed the role of Overseer and Lead Farmhand. In 2006, following his father's decision to retire from farming, Whitaker assumed ownership of the farm, which he renamed Whitaker Farms. Under his leadership, Whitaker Farms has become a successful agricultural enterprise.

 

Whitaker's involvement in politics began in 1995 when he successfully ran for the United States House of Representatives, representing Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District. He was re-elected three more times, serving in Congress until 2003. Following his tenure in the House of Representatives, Whitaker returned to his farm on a full-time basis.

 

In 2014, at the urging of the Kentucky Republican Party, Whitaker entered the race for the United States Senate and emerged victorious. He has since served as a Senator, advocating for policies that promote agriculture, economic growth, and conservative values.

Personal Life

William Whitaker resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with his high school sweetheart, Lauralee Cosgrove. The couple has three beagles named Max, Daisy, and Barny. They are active members of Greenwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green.

Edited April 9 by micgat23

[Xiomara]

Sad to lose you but looking forward to working with you on the other side!

[Jack]

APPROVED

[Jack]

I made a mistake. Gamerboy signed in first for this seat. 

[micgat23]

Okay Ill edit

[micgat23]

@Jack Edited

[micgat23]

@jakeakins Changing Avatar to Todd Young

Edited March 31 by micgat23

[micgat23]

Signing out

[jakeakins]

24 hours.

[micgat23]

After consideration and convincing, I retract my statement and will stayed signed back in. @jakeakins

[micgat23]

I will be fully back active by Wednesday also I am finally starting to feel better from my URI

[micgat23]

@jakeakins Switch to Mainstreet Partnership aswell

[micgat23]

Signing out Whitaker, new character coming, last change