Bob Casey Jr.

Bob Casey Jr. is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania, a seat he has held since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Pennsylvania Auditor General and Pennsylvania Treasurer. The son of former Governor Bob Casey Sr., he is known for his advocacy on economic issues, healthcare, and a generally centrist political profile.

Early life and education

Robert Patrick Casey Jr. was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the eldest son of Ellen Casey and former Governor of Pennsylvania Bob Casey Sr.. He was raised in Scranton and later Hazleton, where his father served as the Luzerne County Prosecutor. He attended Scranton Preparatory School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Following his undergraduate studies, he received a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. Before entering public office, he practiced law in Scranton.

Political career

Casey began his political career with an unsuccessful run for Auditor General in 1996, but he won the office in a subsequent election, serving from 1997 to 2005. In this role, he conducted audits of state agencies and programs, including the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. He was elected Pennsylvania Treasurer in 2004, serving from 2005 until his resignation upon election to the U.S. Senate. His tenure as Treasurer included oversight of the state's finances and the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program.

U.S. Senate

Elected to the United States Senate in 2006, he defeated incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum. He was sworn into the 110th United States Congress and has since been reelected in 2012, 2018, and 2024. In the Senate, he chairs the Senate Special Committee on Aging and serves on the Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. He played a key role in crafting the CHIPS and Science Act and has been a leading voice on issues related to Medicare, Social Security, and manufacturing policy.

Political positions

Casey is considered a centrist or conservative Democrat, often aligning with his party on economic and social safety net issues while occasionally breaking on cultural matters. He is a staunch supporter of labor unions, the Affordable Care Act, and protecting Medicaid expansion. He has advocated for stricter gun control measures, including universal background checks. While personally opposed to abortion due to his Catholic faith, he generally votes to uphold abortion rights and supported the Women's Health Protection Act. He has been a critic of certain free trade agreements and has focused legislative efforts on combating child poverty, including through the expansion of the Child Tax Credit.

Electoral history

In his initial Senate race in 2006, he defeated Rick Santorum by a margin of nearly 18 percentage points. He won reelection in 2012 against Tom Smith and again in 2018 against Lou Barletta. In the 2024 election, he secured a fourth term by defeating David McCormick. His victories have often been part of larger Democratic successes in Pennsylvania, including the presidential wins of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the gubernatorial elections of Ed Rendell, Tom Wolf, and Josh Shapiro.

Category:1960 births Category:American politicians Category:United States senators from Pennsylvania