John Kasich

John Kasich is an American politician who served as the 69th Governor of Ohio from 2011 to 2019. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 12th congressional district from 1983 to 2001, and served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee. During his tenure, he worked with Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey to pass the Contract with America. Kasich also collaborated with Bill Clinton on the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Early life and education

Kasich was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a family of Croatian American and Czech American descent. He grew up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Ohio, where he attended Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. During his college years, Kasich was influenced by the ideas of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. After graduating, he worked as an aide to Ohio State Senator Buz Lukens and later as a staffer for Senator Robert A. Taft Jr..

Political career

Kasich's political career began when he was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1978, where he served until 1982. He then ran for the United States House of Representatives and was elected to represent Ohio's 12th congressional district in 1982, defeating Bob Shamansky. During his time in Congress, Kasich served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee, working with Dick Cheney and Colin Powell on defense issues. He also collaborated with Bill Bradley and Paul Tsongas on budget and economic matters. In 2010, Kasich ran for Governor of Ohio and defeated Ted Strickland in the general election, with the support of Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty.

2016 presidential campaign

In 2016, Kasich launched a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, competing against Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Jeb Bush. During the campaign, Kasich focused on his experience as a governor and his record of balancing the budget in Ohio. He also emphasized his support for Medicaid expansion and his opposition to Obamacare repeal. Although he won only one primary, the Ohio primary, Kasich remained in the race until the Republican National Convention, where he refused to endorse Donald Trump. Instead, he supported John McCain and Lindsey Graham in their efforts to stop Trump's nomination.

Post-political career

After leaving office as governor in 2019, Kasich joined CNN as a contributor, providing analysis on politics and policy issues. He has also written several books, including Every Other Monday and Two Paths: America Divided or United. In addition, Kasich has been involved in various initiatives, such as the National Governors Association and the Bipartisan Policy Center, working with Michael Bloomberg and Olympia Snowe to promote bipartisan solutions. Kasich has also taught at Ohio State University and Harvard University, where he has worked with Larry Summers and Niall Ferguson.

Political positions

Kasich has been a moderate Republican throughout his career, supporting fiscal conservatism and social conservatism. He has been a strong advocate for Medicaid expansion and has opposed Obamacare repeal. Kasich has also supported immigration reform and climate change mitigation, working with Barack Obama and Joe Biden on these issues. Additionally, he has been a proponent of free trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the North American Free Trade Agreement, which were negotiated by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Personal life

Kasich is married to Karen Kasich and has two daughters, Emma Kasich and Reese Kasich. He is a practicing Christian and has been involved in various charitable organizations, including the United Way and the American Red Cross. Kasich has also been a supporter of Ohio State University athletics, particularly the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, and has worked with Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel to promote the team. In his free time, Kasich enjoys hiking and biking in Ohio's state parks, such as Hocking Hills State Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.