He earned a veterinary degree from the University of Illinois, and, soon after, moved to Oregon with his wife Martha. An organic farmer, he also owns and manages Clackamas County Veterinary Clinic in Oregon City.

In 1982, years after opening the animal hospital, the Schraders purchased a 60-acre farm in Canby, where they grew strawberries, apples, potatoes and squash for the local co-op and farmers' markets.

Political Start

In 1981, Schrader became a member of the Canby, Ore. planning commission, where he helped design the city's land-use plan.

In 1994, Schrader ran for the state House, losing the seat by 38 votes. His political breakthrough came two years later, when he was elected to the chamber and considered a deficit hawk. In 2003, he moved to the Senate side, where he focused on public education and further burnished his conservative credentials, opposing Democratic measures like a minimum wage hike. He became the co-chairman of the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

2008 House Race

Shortly after then-Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) announced she wouldn't seek a 7th term in 2008 to represent Oregon's 5th district, Schrader quickly announced he would seek the seat that his wife, a Clackamas County commissioner, opted against running for.

Schrader easily won his party's primary for a chance to face Mike Erickson (R), the GOP's 2006 candidate and a shipping businessman. Erickson emerged from a bruising primary against former state Rep. Kevin Mannix, highlighted by public allegations that Erickson impregnated a woman and paid for her abortion. Erickson, who is anti-abortio righn, acknowledged parts of the story, including giving the woman money and a ride to the doctor, but said he didn't know he was taking her to an abortion clinic.

Erickson outspent Schrader two-to-one on that campaign, including nearly $1.7 million from his own pockets. The Republican attacked Schrader for failing to pay property taxes on 17 occasions, but the abortion issue dogged Erickson throughout the campaign. The haOregonian also reported that Erickson went to Cuba in 2004 for a pleasure trip instead of a humanitarian mission as he had originally claimed.

Schrader benefitted from a surge in Democratic registrations in his district, even as he avoided attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver four years after President George W. Bush carried the district, 50 to 49 percent, over Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Schrader ultimately defeated Erickson 54 to 38 percent.

Following the election, Schrader's wife took his state Senate seat after she stepped down from the board of commissioners that appointed her unanimously.

Schrader sits on three House committees: Agriculture, Small Business and Budget.

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