Michael Huffington

Michael Huffington
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Name	Michael Huffington
Birth name	Michael Huffington
Birth date	3 October 1947
Birth place	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Education	Harvard University (BA), Stanford University (MBA)
Party	Republican
Office	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 22nd congressional district
Term start	January 3, 1993
Term end	January 3, 1995
Predecessor	Carlos Moorhead
Successor	Walter Capps

Michael Huffington is an American former politician, businessman, and film producer. A member of the Republican Party, he served a single term in the United States House of Representatives from California's 22nd congressional district. He is also known for his significant personal wealth derived from the oil industry, his high-profile political campaigns, and his later involvement in philanthropy and documentary filmmaking.

Early life and education

Michael Huffington was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Roy Michael Huffington, a prominent and wealthy independent oil producer. He attended the prestigious St. Mark's School of Texas before enrolling at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, further preparing for a career in business and finance.

Business career

After completing his MBA, Huffington initially worked in the financial sector in New York City before joining his father's company, Roy M. Huffington, Inc., an independent oil and gas exploration firm. He held various executive positions within the company, which had extensive international operations, including significant projects in Indonesia. Following the sale of the company to the Taiwanese state-owned oil company Chinese Petroleum Corporation in 1990, he amassed a considerable personal fortune, which would later fund his political ambitions.

Political career

Huffington's political career began with his appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy in the Pentagon under the George H. W. Bush administration. In 1992, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing a district in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. His single term was noted for his conservative voting record. In 1994, he launched an expensive campaign for the United States Senate against the incumbent Democrat, Dianne Feinstein. The race, one of the most costly in U.S. Senate history at the time, ended in a narrow defeat for Huffington. His campaign was later marred by controversy when it was revealed he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a nanny.

Personal life

Huffington was married to author and commentator Arianna Stassinopoulos (now known as Arianna Huffington) from 1986 until their divorce in 1997; they have two daughters. In 1999, he married actress Patricia Arquette; they divorced in 2001. In 1998, he publicly discussed his bisexuality in an interview with The New Yorker, becoming one of the few prominent American politicians to do so at the time. His personal life and relationships have often been the subject of media attention.

Later activities and philanthropy

Following his political career, Huffington shifted his focus to film production and philanthropy. He served as a senior advisor for the Huffington Post and was a producer on several documentary films, including the Academy Award-nominated short "The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner." His philanthropic efforts have included support for LGBT rights organizations, mental health advocacy, and various arts and educational institutions. He has also been involved with the American Film Institute and has served on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Category:American film producers Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:1947 births