Greg Walden
Encyclopedia
Gregory Paul Walden is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
The district covers more than two-thirds of the state (generally, east of the Cascades). He is the son of Paul E. Walden, three-term Oregon state representative.
degree at the University of Oregon
in 1981. Before being elected to Congress, Walden owned and ran radio stations.
from 1981 to 1987. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
in 1988 and served in the House until 1995, when he was appointed to the Oregon State Senate
to fill a vacancy. Walden rose to the position of assistant majority leader in the Senate and was considering a bid for Oregon Governor in 1994. However, upon discovering that the son he and his wife were expecting had a heart defect, Walden decided to not run for Governor and to not seek re-election to the state Senate. Their son died soon after birth.
In 1996, Walden announced he was running for the 2nd District as an independent. The district's freshman Republican incumbent, Wes Cooley
, whose 1994 campaign Walden had managed, had been caught in several lies about his military service. Cooley's reelection chances were already in serious jeopardy, but it was generally believed that an independent bid by Walden would allow the Democrats
to sneak up the middle and win a seat they hadn't held since 1981. Ultimately, the Republicans persuaded Cooley's predecessor, Robert F. Smith, to come out of retirement.
Smith didn't run for reelection in 1998, and endorsed Walden as his successor. Walden easily won the Republican primary and breezed to election in November and has been reelected five times. Though his district contains some liberal-leaning communities such as Ashland
, most of the district leans heavily Republican, and Walden has always been reelected easily. In 2002, he defeated Democrat
Peter Buckley, who later became a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
. In 2006
, Walden defeated Democratic candidate Carol Voisin
, and in 2008
he won a sixth term with 70% of the vote over Democrat Noah Lemas and Pacific Green
Tristin Mock. Following the defeat of Senator Gordon Smith in the 2008 elections, Walden became the only Republican to represent Oregon in the United States Congress.
to be chairman of the House Majority Transition Committee. He served as chairman of the House Republican Leadership through most of 2010.
From 2010 to 2011, Walden gave up his seat on the Committee on Energy and Commerce
, at Republican leadership request so that Parker Griffith
, who had recently switched parties, could take his spot on that committee.
Walden founded the Small Brewers Caucus (see Alcohol in Oregon
) and the Digital Television Caucus; as of 2007, he was a member of 39 congressional caucus
es:
Walden is also a member of the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership
.
with their son Anthony.
They are members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and participate in local civic groups such as the Rotary Club
and the Chamber of Commerce
.
On October 20, 2009, it was reported that Walden was the first Member of Congress to contract the H1N1-A (Swine Flu) Virus.
Walden is a former member of the Boy Scouts of America
Board of Directors, the Columbia Bancorp Board of Directors, the Hood River Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and the Oregon Health & Sciences Foundation
Board of Trustees.
, to Bicoastal Columbia River LLC in order to avoid any conflict of interest that might arise with his congressional duties.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
The district covers more than two-thirds of the state (generally, east of the Cascades). He is the son of Paul E. Walden, three-term Oregon state representative.
Early life, education and career
Walden earned a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1981. Before being elected to Congress, Walden owned and ran radio stations.
Political career
Walden served as Press Secretary and Chief of Staff to Congressman Denny SmithDenny Smith
Dennis Alan "Denny" Smith is a businessman and former United States congressman from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he served in the Air Force before working in the airline industry and taking over the family's newspaper business. A Republican, he served ten years in Congress from...
from 1981 to 1987. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in 1988 and served in the House until 1995, when he was appointed to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
to fill a vacancy. Walden rose to the position of assistant majority leader in the Senate and was considering a bid for Oregon Governor in 1994. However, upon discovering that the son he and his wife were expecting had a heart defect, Walden decided to not run for Governor and to not seek re-election to the state Senate. Their son died soon after birth.
In 1996, Walden announced he was running for the 2nd District as an independent. The district's freshman Republican incumbent, Wes Cooley
Wes Cooley
Wester Shadric "Wes" Cooley was a Republican politician and rancher from Oregon. He was a U.S. Representative from for the 1995–1997 term.-Early life:...
, whose 1994 campaign Walden had managed, had been caught in several lies about his military service. Cooley's reelection chances were already in serious jeopardy, but it was generally believed that an independent bid by Walden would allow the Democrats
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
to sneak up the middle and win a seat they hadn't held since 1981. Ultimately, the Republicans persuaded Cooley's predecessor, Robert F. Smith, to come out of retirement.
Smith didn't run for reelection in 1998, and endorsed Walden as his successor. Walden easily won the Republican primary and breezed to election in November and has been reelected five times. Though his district contains some liberal-leaning communities such as Ashland
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other...
, most of the district leans heavily Republican, and Walden has always been reelected easily. In 2002, he defeated Democrat
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
Peter Buckley, who later became a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. In 2006
United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2006
The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2006 were held on November 7, 2006 to select Oregon's representatives to the United States House of Representatives. All five seats were up for election in 2006, as they are every two years...
, Walden defeated Democratic candidate Carol Voisin
Carol Voisin
Carol Voisin is a member of the faculty at Southern Oregon University, where she teaches ethics, critical thinking, and writing. A peace activist in the Vietnam War era, she has long been active in Democratic Party politics....
, and in 2008
United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008
The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008 were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Oregon in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections...
he won a sixth term with 70% of the vote over Democrat Noah Lemas and Pacific Green
Pacific Green Party
The Pacific Green Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is a member of the Green Party of the United States.The party first gained widespread public attention during Ralph Nader's presidential campaign in 2000....
Tristin Mock. Following the defeat of Senator Gordon Smith in the 2008 elections, Walden became the only Republican to represent Oregon in the United States Congress.
Party leadership
Walden has been chosen by Speaker John BoehnerJohn Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
to be chairman of the House Majority Transition Committee. He served as chairman of the House Republican Leadership through most of 2010.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Energy and Power
From 2010 to 2011, Walden gave up his seat on the Committee on Energy and Commerce
United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
, at Republican leadership request so that Parker Griffith
Parker Griffith
Parker Griffith, M.D. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party, having switched from the Democratic Party on December 22, 2009, but lost the Republican primary and his term ended in January 2011.-Early life, education and...
, who had recently switched parties, could take his spot on that committee.
Walden founded the Small Brewers Caucus (see Alcohol in Oregon
Alcohol in Oregon
The U.S. state of Oregon has an extensive history of laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, dating back to 1844. It has been an alcoholic beverage control state, with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission holding a monopoly over the sale of all distilled beverages, since...
) and the Digital Television Caucus; as of 2007, he was a member of 39 congressional caucus
Congressional caucus
A congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives. Formally, caucuses are formed as congressional member organizations through the United States House of Representatives and governed under the rules of that chamber...
es:
Walden is also a member of the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership
Republican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
.
Personal life
Walden and his wife, Mylene, live in Hood RiverHood River, Oregon
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,831...
with their son Anthony.
They are members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and participate in local civic groups such as the Rotary Club
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
and the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
On October 20, 2009, it was reported that Walden was the first Member of Congress to contract the H1N1-A (Swine Flu) Virus.
Civic involvement
- Hood River Elks ClubBenevolent and Protective Order of ElksThe Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
- Hood River Rotary InternationalRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
- National Student Leadership Foundation, Honorary Board of Advisors
Walden is a former member of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Board of Directors, the Columbia Bancorp Board of Directors, the Hood River Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and the Oregon Health & Sciences Foundation
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
Board of Trustees.
Business interests
On January 31, 2007, Walden sold Columbia Gorge Broadcasting, which runs five stations in the eastern Columbia River GorgeColumbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to deep, the canyon stretches for over as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south...
, to Bicoastal Columbia River LLC in order to avoid any conflict of interest that might arise with his congressional duties.
Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | Libertarian | Votes | Pct | Socialist | Votes | Pct | Constitution | Votes | Pct | Pacific Green | Votes | Pct | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2010 The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2010 were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent the state of Oregon in the United States House of Representatives. Oregon has five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. All... |
Joyce B. Segers | 72,173 | 25.86% | Greg Walden | 206,245 | 73.91% | No candidate | No candidate | No Candidate | No Candidate | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008 The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008 were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Oregon in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections... |
Noah Lemas | 87,649 | 25.75% | Greg Walden | 236,560 | 69.49% | No candidate | No candidate | Richard D. Hake | 5,817 | 1.70% | Tristin Mock | 9,668 | 2.84% | ||||||||||
| 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2006 The United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2006 were held on November 7, 2006 to select Oregon's representatives to the United States House of Representatives. All five seats were up for election in 2006, as they are every two years... |
Carol Voisin Carol Voisin Carol Voisin is a member of the faculty at Southern Oregon University, where she teaches ethics, critical thinking, and writing. A peace activist in the Vietnam War era, she has long been active in Democratic Party politics.... |
82,484 | 30.35% | Greg Walden | 181,529 | 66.80% | No candidate | No candidate | Jack Allen Brown Jr. | 7,193 | 2.64% | No candidate | ||||||||||||
| 2004 | John C. McColgan | 88,914 | 25.63% | Greg Walden | 248,461 | 71.64% | Jim Lindsay | 4,792 | 1.38% | No candidate | Jack Allen Brown Jr. | 4,060 | 1.17% | No candidate | ||||||||||
| 2002 | Peter Buckley | 64,991 | 25.76% | Greg Walden | 181,295 | 71.86% | Mike Wood | 5,681 | 2.25% | No candidate | No candidate | No candidate | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | Walter Ponsford | 78,101 | 26.12% | Greg Walden | 220,086 | 73.63% | No candidate | No candidate | No candidate | No candidate | ||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Kevin M. Campbell | 74,924 | 34.81% | Greg Walden | 132,316 | 61.48% | Lindsey Bradshaw | 4,729 | 2.19% | Rohn Webb | 2,773 | 1.28% | No candidate | No candidate |
External links
- U.S. Congressman Greg Walden official U.S. House website
- Greg Walden for Congress official campaign website
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...