Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American politician serving as the
U.S. representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from since 2023. A member of the
Republican Party, he previously represented the from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2023.
Early life, education, and early career
Walberg was born and raised in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, Illinois, the son of Alice Ann and John A. Walberg. His paternal grandparents were Swedish. Walberg graduated from
Thornton Fractional North High School
Thornton Fractional North High School (T.F. North, TF North, TFN; formerly Thornton Fractional Township High School) is a Public Secondary school in Calumet City, Illinois. It first opened its doors in March 1926.
The school serves Calumet C ...
in 1969.
Michigan legislature
Walberg was a member of the
Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998. He also spent time as a pastor and as a division manager for the
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college founded in the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois, US by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have i ...
in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
while continuing to live in Michigan.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
;2004
After six years out of politics, Walberg ran in a field of six candidates in the 2004 Republican primary for the 7th District after six-term incumbent
Nick Smith retired. Walberg finished third in the primary.
State Senator Joe Schwarz won the primary and the general election.
;2006
Walberg defeated Schwarz in the Republican primary. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Sharon Renier, 50%–46%.
In 2007, there was a failed recall effort against Walberg.
;2008
Entering the 2008 race, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman
Chris Van Hollen
Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (born January 10, 1959) is an American attorney and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Maryland since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Van Hollen served as the U.S. representative for ...
identified Walberg as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Congress. On August 23, 2007, State Senate Minority Leader
Mark Schauer
Mark Hamilton Schauer (born October 2, 1961) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011.
Schauer was previously a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and a member of the Mi ...
announced he would challenge Walberg. The previous occupant of the seat,
Joe Schwarz, who lost to Walberg in the 2006 Republican primary, declined to run but on September 30 endorsed Schauer.
Schauer narrowly defeated Walberg in the November election, 49% to 47%. Between the two candidates, around $3.5 million was spent on the campaign, making it one of the most expensive House races in the 2008 election. Schauer outspent Walberg by nearly $300,000.
;2010
On July 14, 2009, Walberg announced that he would challenge incumbent
Mark Schauer
Mark Hamilton Schauer (born October 2, 1961) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011.
Schauer was previously a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and a member of the Mi ...
. He defeated Marvin Carlson and Brian Rooney in the Republican primary.
Polling showed the race as a dead heat. Walberg defeated Schauer, 50%–45%.
;2012
Wahlberg defeated Democratic nominee Kurt Haskell, 53%–43%.
;2014
Walberg defeated former Democratic State Representative
Pam Byrnes
Pam Byrnes (born June 25, 1947) is a former Democratic State Representative in the Michigan State House of Representatives, representing the 52nd District, which covers parts of Washtenaw County. On July 18, 2013, Pam Byrnes announced that sh ...
with 54% of the vote.
;2016
Walberg defeated Doug North in the August 2 Republican primary and Democratic nominee State Representative
Gretchen Driskell
Gretchen Demarest Driskell (born October 1, 1958) is an American politician, accountant, and real estate agent from the state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 5 ...
in the general election, with 55% of the vote.
;2018
Walberg defeated Driskell again, with 53.8% of the vote.
;2020
Walberg defeated Driskell a third time, with 58.7% of the vote.
Committee assignments
*
Committee on Education and the Workforce
The Committee on Education and Labor is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. There are 50 members in this committee. Since 2019, the chair of the Education and Labor committee is Robert Cortez Scott of Virginia.
Hi ...
**
Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (Ranking Member)
*
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...
**
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
**
Subcommittee on Energy
Caucus memberships
*
Republican Study Committee
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is a study group of conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives. As of 2021, the Chairman of the RSC is Representative Jim Banks of Indiana.
Although the prim ...
*
House Baltic Caucus
*
Congressional Constitution Caucus
The Congressional Constitution Caucus is a congressional caucus made up of 41 members of the United States Congress. The caucus was founded in 2005; it had 37 members the first year it was founded.
The group was founded and formerly led by Repu ...
Political positions
Environment
Walberg rejects the
scientific consensus on climate change.
On the subject, he said in May 2017, "I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I’m confident that, if there’s a real problem, he can take care of it."
Healthcare
Walberg has repeatedly voted to repeal the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Presi ...
. Walberg shares an office with
Jackson Right to Life, which was vandalized by
abortion rights activists in June 2022, just before the ''
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
''Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization'', , is a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion. The court's decision overruled both ''R ...
'' decision.
Fox News
The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...
attributed the attack to the group
Jane's Revenge
Jane's Revenge is the name of a militant, extremist, abortion rights group that encourages and claims responsibility for acts of firebombing, vandalism, and arson in the United States, targeting crisis pregnancy centers, a church, and a Congress ...
.
Marriage
In 2015, Walberg cosponsored a resolution to
amend the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Walberg also cosponsored a resolution disagreeing with the Supreme Court decision in
Obergefell v. Hodges
''Obergefell v. Hodges'', ( ), is a landmark LGBT rights case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protect ...
, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.
Walberg voted against the "
Respect for Marriage Act
The Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA; ) is a landmark United States federal law passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden. It repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), requires the U.S. federal gover ...
" codifying
Loving v. Virginia and
Obergefell v. Hodges
''Obergefell v. Hodges'', ( ), is a landmark LGBT rights case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protect ...
, recognizing marriages across state lines regardless of "sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals."
2008 presidential election
Walberg has repeatedly invoked
birther conspiracy theories about President
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
, arguing that Obama should have been impeached over his birth certificate.
2020 presidential election
In December 2020, Walberg was one of 126 Republican members of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
to sign an
amicus brief
An ''amicus curiae'' (; ) is an individual or organization who is not a party to a legal case, but who is permitted to assist a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case. The decision on ...
in support of ''
Texas v. Pennsylvania'', a lawsuit filed at the
United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
contesting the results of the
2020 presidential election
This national electoral calendar for 2020 lists the national/federal elections held in 2020 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included.
January
*5 January:
**C ...
, in which
Joe Biden defeated incumbent
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked
standing
Standing, also referred to as orthostasis, is a position in which the body is held in an ''erect'' ("orthostatic") position and supported only by the feet. Although seemingly static, the body rocks slightly back and forth from the ankle in the s ...
under
Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.
Electoral history
;2004 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
*
Joe Schwarz (R), 28%
* Brad Smith (R), 22%
* Tim Walberg (R), 18%
*
Clark Bisbee (R), 14%
* Gene DeRossett (R), 11%
* Paul DeWeese (R), 7%
;2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District Republican primary
* Tim Walberg (R), 33,144, 53%
*
Joe Schwarz (R) (inc.), 29,349, 47%
;2006 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
* Tim Walberg (R), 49.93%
* Sharon Renier (D), 45.98%
* Robert Hutchinson (L), 1.55%
* David Horn (UST), 1.47%
*
Joe Schwarz (write-in), 1.07%
;2008 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
* Mark Schauer (D), 48.79%
* Tim Walberg (R), 46.49%
* Lynn Meadows (G), 2.96%
* Ken Proctor (L), 1.76%
;2010 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
* Tim Walberg (R), 50.1%
* Mark Schauer (D), 45.4%
* Other, 4.5%
;2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
* Tim Walberg (R), 55.4%
* Kurt Haskell (D), 44.6%
Personal life
Walberg is an ordained pastor. Ordained as a
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
, he currently identifies as
nondenominational
A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination.
Overview
The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...
and attends a church affiliated with the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination with churches in 17 countries. It is Protestant, with an episcopal structure and Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communiti ...
.
Tim Walberg Becomes Second UB Congressman
/ref>
References
External links
Congressman Tim Walberg
official U.S. House website
Campaign website
*
*
*
, -
, -
, -
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walberg, Tim
1951 births
20th-century American politicians
21st-century American politicians
American people of German descent
American people of Norwegian descent
American people of Swedish descent
Christians from Michigan
Living people
Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Moody Bible Institute alumni
People from Lenawee County, Michigan
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan
Taylor University alumni
Tea Party movement activists
Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni