Curt Clawson

Curtis Jay Clawson (born September 28, 1959) is an American politician who was the United States Representative for Florida's 19th congressional district from 2014 to 2017. He is the former chief executive of Hayes Lemmerz, a Michigan-based automobile wheel and brakes supplier.[1][2]

Curt Clawson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th district
In office
June 25, 2014 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byTrey Radel
Succeeded byFrancis Rooney
Personal details
Born
Curtis Jay Clawson

(1959-09-28) September 28, 1959
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceBonita Springs, Florida
Alma materPurdue University
Harvard Business School
WebsiteHouse website

Education and career

Clawson attended Batesville High School in Batesville, Indiana. A high school basketball star, he was recruited by Gene Keady.[3] After attending the University of Utah for one year and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clawson transferred to Purdue University.[4] At Purdue, he was a 2x All-Academic Big Ten selection (1982–83 and 1983–84). He was a team captain for the 1983–84 Big Ten Champions, was a member of 2x NCAA teams (1982–83 and 1983–84) and an NIT Finalist team (1981–82).[5] He graduated in 1984 with a BA in Spanish and a BS from the Krannert School of Management.[3] He was named a "Purdue Old Master" in 2010 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014[3]

In 1990, he earned an MBA from Harvard University.[3]

Before his election to Congress, Clawson spent a quarter-century as an executive with several industrial firms, working at AlliedSignal, American National Can and Hayes Lemmerz.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
2014 special
Main article: 2014 Florida's 19th congressional district special election

Clawson was the Republican Party nominee in a special election to fill the seat being vacated by Trey Radel.[6] and won the election on June 24, 2014. In the April 22, 2014 Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—Clawson defeated State Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto and former State Representative Paige Kreegel with 38% of the vote to Benacquisto's 26% and Kreegel's 25%.[6] Clawson was endorsed in the primary by the Tea Party Express.[5] He spent $2 million on advertising and in one of his ads he challenged U.S. President Barack Obama to a game of one on one basketball.[5]

2014 general
Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 19

Clawson won a full term in November 2014 with 64 percent of the vote.

Tenure

Clawson delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union Address in 2015.[7][8]

In May 2016, Clawson announced that he would not seek re-election that year, citing his desire to support his father in the aftermath of his mother's death the previous year.[9]

Clawson was a member of the Congressional Constitution Caucus.[10]

Electoral history

2014 (special)
Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curt Clawson 26,857 38
Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto 18,032 26
Republican Paige Kreegel 17,762 25
Republican Michael Dreikorn 7,560 11
Total votes 70,211 100
Florida's 19th Congressional District special election, 2014[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curt Clawson 66,922 66.9
Democratic April Freeman 29,314 29.3
Libertarian Ray Netherwood 3,729 3.7
Write-in Timothy J. Rossano 24 0.0
Total votes 99,989 100.0

2014
Florida's 19th Congressional District Election (2014)[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curt Clawson* 159,354 64.6
Democratic April Freeman 80,824 32.7
Libertarian Ray Netherwood 6,671 2.7
Write-in Timothy J. Rossano 12 0.0
Total votes 246,861 100.0

References
  1. "NDN exclusive: Curt Clawson touts business acumen, but record is marred". Naples Daily News. March 12, 2014. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  2. "Ex-C.E.O. Wins Florida Primary for House Seat". New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  3. Curtis J. Clawson : College of Liberal Arts : Purdue University Archived April 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Curt Clawson: Businessman's life has been series of turnarounds". News-press.com. March 29, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  5. Leary, Alex (April 22, 2014). "Tea party candidate Curt Clawson wins Republican primary to replace former Rep. Trey Radel". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa: Times Publishing Company. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  6. Sullivan, Sean. Curt Clawson wins Republican nomination in Florida special election, Washington Post, April 23, 2014.
  7. Topaz, Jonathan (January 20, 2015) – "Tea Party Response to Obama Hits Soft Tones". POLITICO. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  8. Bondioli, Sara (January 20, 2015). "Curt Clawson Pushes Personal Liberty, Teamwork In Tea Party Response To State Of The Union". HuffPost. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  9. King, Ledyard (May 20, 2016). "U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson won't seek re-election". The News-Press. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  10. "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  11. "Florida – County Vote Results". Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  12. "Florida Department of State – Election Results: June 24, 2014 Special General Congressional 19". Florida Department of State Department of Elections. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  13. "Florida Department of State – Election Results: November 4, 2014 General Election". Florida Department of State Department of Elections. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Trey Radel		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th congressional district
2014–2017		 Succeeded by
Francis Rooney
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