Almanac of American Politics: on Principles & Values


Asa Hutchinson: Parents operated a Christian radio station and school

Asa Hutchinson grew up on a farm with his brother Tim who later became a senator. Their parents also operated a Christian radio station in school. After graduating from Bob Jones University, Asa Hutchinson attended the University of Arkansas law school at the same time that Bill Clinton started teaching there. He became US attorney in western Arkansas and prosecuted Clinton's half brother, Roger, for cocaine possession.

Hutchinson easily won election as Governor in 1996 to succeed his brother, who moved to the Senate. He combined a conservative voting record with a pleasant demeanor to become an important player in a short time.

Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Oct 5, 2015

Doug Ducey: Entrepreneur and "conservative ice cream guy"

Republican Doug Ducey Is the self-professed "conservative ice cream guy." As governor, Ducey has largely conformed to that description, especially when it comes to state spending and taxes, but he has also avoided confrontation on some social issues.

After graduating with a degree in finance in 1986, Ducey joined up with the founder of Cold Stone Creamery And helped turn a shop into a global brand with more than 1,400 stores. He eventually became CEO. In 2007, at the age of 43, Ducey helped engineer a merger with another Arizona franchising heavyweight, Kahala Corp. He got very rich in the process, but that corporate marriage didn't work out, an experience Ducey described to Bloomberg Business as "incredibly frustrating and disappointing, but equally liberating all at once". Ducey took some time off, refocused, and became the lead investor and chairman of the board of iMemories, a friend's technology start up in Scottsdale, which helps people digitize their home movies and share them online.

Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2022 Arizona Governor race Oct 5, 2015

Kyrsten Sinema: Took oath of office on Constitution, not Bible

Even as they ran negative ads, [Sinema and her opponent] each promised to be the more bipartisan lawmaker. The Arizona Republic endorsed Sinema, saying that her nonpartisan style was a better fit. "For Sinema, it's always about the issue, not the personalities," the newspaper wrote.

In the House, Sinema took the oath of office on a copy on the Constitution, not the Bible. She said that she was not affiliated with a religion.

She has joined the organizations of moderate Democrats, occasionally has criticized Obama, and has worked across the aisle with House Republicans. She co-founded the United States Caucus, a bipartisan group of house freshmen working on solutions for both parties, "I'm just doing my thing," she told Roll Call in February 2015. "I know my thing's a little bit different than other people, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all. And you know what? I don't mind if some people like it or don't like it. That's OK."

Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2022 Arizona Senate race Oct 5, 2015

Ruben Gallego: Changed name in 2008 to add mother's surname

An opponent's supporter challenged Gallego's nominating petitions for not using his legal name. The suit was withdrawn when Gallego explained had changed his name in 2008 from Ruben Marinelarena (his father's name), to Ruben Marinelarena Gallego to honor the mother who raised him. He combined social media presence with aggressive door-to-door campaigning, and out-raised his opponent by $300,000.
Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2020 AZ-7 House race Oct 5, 2015

Tim Hutchinson: Parents operated a Christian radio station and school

Asa Hutchinson grew up on a farm with his brother Tim who later became a senator. Their parents also operated a Christian radio station in school. After graduating from Bob Jones University, Asa Hutchinson attended the University of Arkansas law school at the same time that Bill Clinton started teaching there. He became US attorney in western Arkansas and prosecuted Clinton's half brother, Roger, for cocaine possession.

Hutchinson easily won election as Governor in 1996 to succeed his brother, who moved to the Senate. He combined a conservative voting record with a pleasant demeanor to become an important player in a short time.

Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2002 Arkansas Senate race Oct 5, 2015

Joseph Lieberman: Senate status: influential & non-partisan

Lieberman has come to occupy a unique place in the Senate, exerting influence out of proportion to his seniority, an influence that comes from respect for his independence of mind, civility of spirit and fidelity to causes in which he believes. In a bitterly partisan time he is one of the least partisan Democrats on Capitol Hill, one of the very few Democrats not to engage in lockstep White House defense in the Clinton scandals. Yet Lieberman is anything but a political innocent.
Source: Almanac of American Politics 2000 (Barone & Ujifusa) Jan 1, 2000

Joseph Lieberman: Rebuked Clinton for Monica; but against impeachment

Lieberman was dismayed by Clinton’s lying about the Lewinsky affair. He said, “Such behavior is wrong and unacceptable and should be followed by some measure of public rebuke and accountablity.” But he was persuaded not to call for censure, and he stopped well short of backing impeachment. The speech clearly changed the tenor of the public dialogue. Clinton accepted this rebuke, and it may have helped him, by showing other Democrats how to criticize his conduct while still not calling for removal.
Source: Almanac of American Politics 2000 (Barone & Ujifusa) Jan 1, 2000

George Ryan: Instinct for centrism

Ryan has an instinct for centrism and a disinclination to be pinned down. When a reporter asked him if he would ever back a tobacco or liquor tax increase, he said, “Ever is for a long time.” When he went on TV in July, an ad showed him striding down the center aisle of the legislature and quoted him as saying he could always work with people on both sides of the aisle.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Nov 11, 1999

  • The above quotations are from Almanac of American Politics, by Grant Ujifusa and Michael Barone.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Principles & Values:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2021