Jason Rae
Encyclopedia
Jason Rae is a Democratic National Committee
(DNC) member from the state of Wisconsin. Rae is the youngest person ever elected to the DNC.
, to John and Lori Rae. He was a student at Marquette University
and graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. He now works as an Associate at Nation Consulting
.
While in high school, Rae was appointed by Senator Herb Kohl
to serve as a United States Senate Page
. He was also the high school class president, yearbook editor, and was in the school band and a member of the National Honor Society.
Student Government to provide domestic partner benefits to faculty.
At Marquette, Rae received the 2006 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Service and in 2007 got the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Governance and Organizational Leadership. Rae is also on the Board of Directors for the Rice Lake Boys & Girls Club.
's re-election steering committee.
Rae was elected to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in June 2004. At the time of his election to his leadership role within the party, he was 17. The party election garnered much press coverage, as a state legislator and the president of the state's firefighters' union were among the losing candidates for the position.
Rae's election to the DNC was unexpected.
Rae attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a special guest of the Wisconsin delegation. He is a superdelegate
for the 2008 convention in Denver. Additionally, Rae is chair of the DNC's Youth Council. In this position, he has been active in increasing youth involvement in politics and working to see that candidates address issues of importance to young people. He has spoken at DNC meetings to members of Kids for Democracy, as well as other interested groups, such as Y-Press.
In spring 2007, Governor Jim Doyle
(D-WI) appointed Rae as the youth representative to the Governor's Commission on the United Nations. From June 23–30, 2007, Rae participated in a delegation of 10 DNC members to Taiwan
, where they met with various elected officials in the Taiwanese government to better understand the present situation with China.
Rae worked on the Allen Thomell campaign for the Georgia State House and the Herb Kohl
for United States Senate campaign. He has also interned at People for the American Way
. In the summer of 2006 he interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. He came out
as gay
to members of the DNC in February 2007, which he discussed in an interview in The Advocate
in February 2008.
On 21 February 2008 Rae announced his support of Senator Barack Obama
for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Rae's ultimate goal in politics is to become President himself.
As a super-delegate for the 2008 Democratic convention, Rae has been courted by both campaigns and has appeared on television news shows including MSNBC
's Live with Dan Abrams and CNN
's Anderson Cooper 360°
, on radio, and in news reports about his experiences. He recounted meeting with Michelle Obama, having breakfast with Chelsea Clinton, and receiving calls from Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Madeleine Albright, and others. BBC
TV's North America editor briefly interviewed Rae in a report on the 2008 Democratic Party primaries on 10 O'clock News on 21 April 2008. Jason Jones interviewed Rae on The Daily Show
.
Rae is included on a list of openly gay politicians in The Advocate
' s "Forty under 40" issue of June/July 2009.
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
(DNC) member from the state of Wisconsin. Rae is the youngest person ever elected to the DNC.
Early life and education
Jason Rae was born in Rice Lake, WisconsinRice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,320. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake.-Geography:Rice Lake is located at ....
, to John and Lori Rae. He was a student at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
and graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. He now works as an Associate at Nation Consulting
Nation Consulting
Nation Consulting is a consulting firm based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that offers services to business, non-profit and political clients. The firm's services include strategic consulting and planning, media relations and governmental relations....
.
While in high school, Rae was appointed by Senator Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
to serve as a United States Senate Page
United States Senate Page
A United States Senate Page is a non-partisan federal employee serving the United States Senate in Washington, DC. Despite the non-partisan affiliation, Pages are typically divided to serve the party that appointed them.-Selection:In order to become a US Senate Page, one must first be nominated...
. He was also the high school class president, yearbook editor, and was in the school band and a member of the National Honor Society.
College activism
Rae was the chair of the Marquette University chapter of College Democrats and was elected Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin in 2008. Within Marquette University Student Government (MUSG), he was Legislative Vice President, in which he formed of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Funding of Student Activities. He previously served in the MUSG Senate as Senator, student representative to the Faculty Academic Senate, College of Arts & Sciences Committee chair, and Parliamentarian. Rae was the author of a bill passed by the Marquette UniversityMarquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
Student Government to provide domestic partner benefits to faculty.
At Marquette, Rae received the 2006 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Service and in 2007 got the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Governance and Organizational Leadership. Rae is also on the Board of Directors for the Rice Lake Boys & Girls Club.
Political involvement
In 2004, Rae was vice chair of the Barron County Democratic Party and was appointed to Senator Russ FeingoldRuss Feingold
Russell Dana "Russ" Feingold is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as a Democratic party member of the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011. From 1983 to 1993, Feingold was a Wisconsin State Senator representing the 27th District.He is a recipient of the John F...
's re-election steering committee.
Rae was elected to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in June 2004. At the time of his election to his leadership role within the party, he was 17. The party election garnered much press coverage, as a state legislator and the president of the state's firefighters' union were among the losing candidates for the position.
Rae's election to the DNC was unexpected.
Rae attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a special guest of the Wisconsin delegation. He is a superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
for the 2008 convention in Denver. Additionally, Rae is chair of the DNC's Youth Council. In this position, he has been active in increasing youth involvement in politics and working to see that candidates address issues of importance to young people. He has spoken at DNC meetings to members of Kids for Democracy, as well as other interested groups, such as Y-Press.
In spring 2007, Governor Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
(D-WI) appointed Rae as the youth representative to the Governor's Commission on the United Nations. From June 23–30, 2007, Rae participated in a delegation of 10 DNC members to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, where they met with various elected officials in the Taiwanese government to better understand the present situation with China.
Rae worked on the Allen Thomell campaign for the Georgia State House and the Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
for United States Senate campaign. He has also interned at People for the American Way
People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Under U.S. tax code, People For the American Way is organized as a tax-exempt 501 non-profit organization.-Purpose:...
. In the summer of 2006 he interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. He came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
to members of the DNC in February 2007, which he discussed in an interview in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
in February 2008.
On 21 February 2008 Rae announced his support of Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Rae's ultimate goal in politics is to become President himself.
Media appearances
Rae has appeared as a commentator on CNN, FoxNews, ABC News Radio, and other small network channels. He is often sought after as an expert in youth voting and politics. Before the 2006 midterm elections, Rae contributed to FoxNews' analysis of youth voter trends.As a super-delegate for the 2008 Democratic convention, Rae has been courted by both campaigns and has appeared on television news shows including MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's Live with Dan Abrams and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper 360° is a one-hour television news show on CNN, hosted by the American journalist Anderson Cooper. It is also broadcast around the world on CNN International....
, on radio, and in news reports about his experiences. He recounted meeting with Michelle Obama, having breakfast with Chelsea Clinton, and receiving calls from Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Madeleine Albright, and others. BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV's North America editor briefly interviewed Rae in a report on the 2008 Democratic Party primaries on 10 O'clock News on 21 April 2008. Jason Jones interviewed Rae on The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
.
Rae is included on a list of openly gay politicians in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...