WhoRunsGov

Steve Stivers (R-Ohio)

U.S. Representative (since January 2011)

(Campaign web site)

Why He Matters

Just seven months after conceding defeat to Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio) in the 2008 House race, Stivers announced he would challenge her again in 2010. The second time was the charm.

Stivers lost the 2008 election by just 2,312 votes, foiled both by presidential candidate Barack Obama's presence on the ballot as well the loss of support to a third party candidate supported by anti-abortion voters. Stivers prospects looked rosier in 2010 with a battered economy in the tossup district where voters have soured on Democratic policies such as health-care reform that Kilroy favored.

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At a Glance

  • Career History: State Senator (January 2003-December 2008); Vice President of Government Relations, Bank One; Licensed trader, Ohio Company
  • Birthday: March 24, 1965
  • Hometown: Ripley, Ohio
  • Alma Mater: Ohio State University, B.A., 1989; Ohio State, M.B.A., 1996
  • Spouse: Karen
  • DC Office: 1007 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 T (202) 225-2015 F (202) 225-3529
 

Path To Power

Stivers was born in 1965 in Ripley, Ohio, a small town abutting the Ohio River.

While in college at Ohio State University, Stivers worked for trading and banking companies while serving in the Ohio Army National Guard. Stivers graduated with a bachelor's in economics and international relations in 1989. He earned an MBA from the school in 1996.

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The Issues

While Stivers still considers himself a moderate Republican, he ran on a more conservative platform in 2010 than he did in 2008, shifting his position on some key issues. "I'm trying to reach out to folks from 70 degrees of each side, and the folks on both extremes probably are going to do what they're going to do," said Stivers early in the 2010 campaign.

Climate Change

Though he supported cap-and-trade measures to address climate change during the 2008 House race, Stivers came out against them in 2010. His opponent, Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio), voted in June 2009 to approve such measures. Stivers said such policies would increase energy costs and would be a "big wealth transfer" from coal-powered states such as Ohio to other states with multiple energy sources.

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The Network

Financial Services

As a lobbyist for Bank One, Stivers lobbied successfully for a 2002 Ohio bill that blocked Ohio cities from enacting local ordinances intended to stop predatory mortgage lending.

As a state senator, Stivers was one of four lawmakers to opose a 2006 bill that gave consumer protections against mortgage lenders. His spokesman during the 2008 House campaign said the bill "was nowhere near tough enough."

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Additional Resources

  1. Wehrman, Jessica, "Kilroy relieved race is finally over" Dayton Daily News, Dec. 9, 2008
  2. "Biography"
  3. Nash, James, "Stivers holds 321-vote lead in hotly contested race" The Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 5, 2008
  4. Blake, Aaron, "In Ohio, Stivers (R) expected to attempt second run at Kilroy" The Hill, June 16, 2009
  5. Rothenberg, Stuart, "For Some Incumbents, Vulnerability Is Already a Fact of Life" Roll Call, Sept. 21, 2009
  6. Holt, Mytheos, "Exclusive Interview with Steve Stivers, Challenger of OH-15" National Review, Sept. 9, 2010
  7. "Democrat Kilroy wins Ohio congressional race" The Associated Press, Dec. 8, 2008
  8. "Biography"
  9. Burns, Alexander, "Arnold to raise for Stivers" Politico, March 1, 2010
  10. Wehrman, Jessica, "Stivers will seek retiring Pryce's seat in the House" Dayton Daily News, Nov. 6, 2007
  11. McCarthy, John, "PERSPECTIVE: Lobbyist in Senate must put past behind" The Associated Press, Jan. 10, 2003
  12. Nash, James and Jonathan Riskind, "Wall Street law weighs on Kilroy and Stivers" The Columbus Dispatch, Aug. 16, 2010
  13. Washington Post Live 2010 Election Results
  14. Toeplitz, Shira, "In a Coup for Boehner, Stivers to Run for House" Roll Call, Nov. 6, 2007
  15. Carr Smyth, Julie, "Lawmaker prepares for duty in Persian Gulf" Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 9, 2004
  16. Reed, Matt, "Ohio candidates focus on predatory lending" The Associated Press, Oct. 24, 2008
  17. "Stivers to Kilroy: Do Your Job!" June 22, 2010
  18. Wogan, Cathy, "Stivers declares bid for Congress in Union County" ThisWeek Community Newspapers, July 10, 2009
  19. O'Connell, Brian, "Republicans Aim to Turn the Buckeye Seat Red" The American Spectator, April 30, 2010
  20. Blake, Aaron, "Stivers tries to make inroads with right for rematch with freshman Rep. Kilroy" The Hill, Jan. 11, 2010
  21. "9-12 Project Survey Responses" (PDF)
  22. Nash, James, "Kilroy, Brown cheered for health-care changes" The Columbus Dispatch, April 2, 2010
  23. Nash, James, "Stivers gets pro-life support but not endorsement" The Columbus Dispatch, May 17, 2010
  24. Nash, James, "Kilroy, Stivers at odds on health-care overhaul" The Columbus Dispatch, Sept. 13, 2010
  25. "Steve Stivers (R) Candidate Profile" The Washington Post
  26. Nash, James, "Kilroy-Stivers rematch is classic left-vs.-right fight in 15th Congressional District" The Columbus Dispatch, Sept. 12, 2010
  27. "Lawmakers on Active Duty Stay in Touch" The Associated Press, June 7, 2005
  28. Kraushaar, Josh, "Business vs. populism in Ohio race" Politico, June 9, 2008