Russ Feingold

Russ Feingold
Russ for Wisconsin from United States · CC0 · source
Name	Russell Dana Feingold
Birth date	March 2, 1953
Birth place	Janesville, Wisconsin, United States
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Stanford University; University of Wisconsin Law School
Offices	United States Senator from Wisconsin (1993–2011)

Russ Feingold

Russ Feingold is an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1993 to 2011, later running for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2016. Known for advocacy on campaign finance reform, civil liberties, and human rights, Feingold co-authored landmark legislation and took high-profile solitary positions on issues including Iraq War authorization and surveillance policy. His career spans roles in state politics, federal service, academia, and international election observation with ties to multiple civic and policy organizations.

Early life and education

Feingold was born in Janesville, Wisconsin and raised in a family active in local civic life, attending public schools in Rock County, Wisconsin. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in government, where he studied alongside students involved in Vietnam War era debates and engaged with campus organizations linked to public policy and law. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, participating in clinical programs and legal clinics connected to civil rights and environmental litigation, and clerked in matters that intersected with state-level institutions such as the Wisconsin Supreme Court. His educational path connected him with alumni networks at Harvard University and Yale University through conferences, and with professional associations including the American Bar Association.

Legal and early political career

After law school Feingold worked as a prosecutor in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, handling cases that brought him before judges affiliated with regional legal institutions and courts tied to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He later served in the Wisconsin State Senate, where he worked on legislation interacting with agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. During his early political trajectory he campaigned for offices against opponents linked to the Republican Party, coordinating with labor organizations like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and civic groups such as the League of Women Voters. His legal background intersected with cases and coalitions that included practitioners from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

U.S. Senate (1993–2011)

Elected to the United States Senate in 1992, Feingold took office amid national debates involving the Bill Clinton administration, the Gulf War aftermath, and post-Cold War foreign policy realignments. He co-sponsored and helped craft the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (commonly known as McCain–Feingold) with John McCain and worked with legislative committees including the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Feingold was an outspoken critic of the USA PATRIOT Act and registered dissenting votes on authorizations related to the Iraq War, opposing positions held by figures such as George W. Bush and some members of the Republican Senate leadership. He chaired or served on oversight panels that engaged with departments like the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and agencies involved in surveillance such as the National Security Agency. Internationally, Feingold participated in delegations to regions affected by conflicts including Kosovo War, Bosnian War, and diplomatic missions interacting with governments of Russia, Ukraine, and nations in Central America.

Post-Senate activities and 2016 presidential campaign

After his 2010 reelection defeat to Ron Johnson, Feingold joined academic and nonprofit institutions, teaching at universities connected to public policy programs and working with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Open Society Foundations, and election observation groups aligned with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. He served as an international election observer in elections in regions including the Baltic states and countries formerly part of the Soviet Union. Feingold launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in 2015–2016, emphasizing campaign finance reform and civil liberties, and competed in primaries against candidates like Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley before ending his bid and endorsing priorities advanced by progressive coalitions such as MoveOn.org.

Political positions and legislative record

Feingold's legislative record highlights co-authorship of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, efforts to curtail political spending tied to groups such as Americans for Prosperity, and votes opposing the 2002 Iraq resolution. He opposed provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and supported amendments to surveillance statutes affecting the National Security Agency and agencies within the Intelligence Community, often aligning with civil liberties groups including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union. On trade and economic policy he engaged with debates around the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and on human rights he championed measures related to sanctions against regimes such as Myanmar and Sudan. Feingold also supported legislation addressing campaign finance transparency, voting rights tied to institutions like the Federal Election Commission, and judicial nominations that reached the United States Supreme Court.

Personal life and honors

Feingold is married and has family ties to the Janesville, Wisconsin community; his biography includes connections to civic institutions such as local Rotary International chapters and regional philanthropic organizations. He has received honors from entities including civil liberties groups, law schools such as the University of Wisconsin Law School and policy institutes like the Brennan Center for Justice. Post-Senate awards and recognitions have come from human rights organizations, legal societies, and international observer networks tied to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and other transnational institutions.

Category:United States senators from Wisconsin Category:1953 births Category:Living people