Mike Crapo

Mike Crapo is the senior United States Senator from Idaho, serving since 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served three terms in the United States House of Representatives and in the Idaho Senate. Crapo is known as a staunch fiscal conservative and has held influential positions on committees including the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Banking Committee.

Early life and education

Michael Dean Crapo was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to George and JoAnn Crapo. He was raised in a family with deep roots in the state and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended local schools before enrolling at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He then earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1977, where he was a classmate of future Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

U.S. House of Representatives

Crapo began his federal political career by winning election to the United States House of Representatives from Idaho's 2nd congressional district in 1992, succeeding Democrat Richard H. Stallings. He was reelected in 1994 and 1996, aligning with the Republican Revolution and the Contract with America. During his tenure, he served on the House Resources Committee and the House Science Committee, focusing on issues important to Idaho such as nuclear energy, public lands management, and agriculture.

U.S. Senate

In 1998, Crapo was elected to the United States Senate, filling the seat vacated by Dirk Kempthorne, who became Governor of Idaho. He has since been reelected in 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022, often by wide margins. In the Senate, he has risen to prominent roles, including Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee from 2017 to 2021. He also serves on the powerful Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Budget Committee. A key legislative achievement was his work on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and efforts to reform the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Political positions

Crapo maintains a consistently conservative voting record, as scored by organizations like the American Conservative Union and the Americans for Prosperity. He is a strong advocate for limited government, federal deficit reduction, and a balanced budget amendment. On social issues, he opposes abortion and has supported the confirmation of conservative judges. He is a proponent of Second Amendment rights and has worked on legislation related to wildfire management and water rights in the Western United States. While generally supportive of free trade, he has expressed concerns about specific trade agreements impacting Idaho industries like lumber and dairy.

Personal life

Crapo married Susan Diane Hasleton in 1974, and they have five children. The family resides in Idaho Falls. He is an avid runner and has completed several marathons. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Alexandria, Virginia, an incident for which he publicly apologized. He remains active in his church and various civic organizations within Idaho.

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:American Mormons Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Idaho Republicans Category:Members of the Idaho Senate Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Idaho Category:Republican Party United States senators Category:United States senators from Idaho