Biography:

Philip Crane was born in Chicago, and resides in Wauconda, Ill. He received his bachelor's degree at Hillsdale College and also attended DePauw University, the University of Michigan and the University of Vienna. He received master's and doctorate degrees from Indiana University.

He served in the Army, 1954-56. He was advertising manager for Hopkins Syndicate, Inc., and taught at Indiana University and Bradley University. He was also director of schools for Westminster Academy in Northbrook, Ill., 1967-68.

Crane was head of the American Conservative Union, 1977-79. He was elected to the U.S. House in a special election in 1969 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of then-Republican Rep. Donald Rumsfeld, who accepted a post in the Nixon administration.

Crane is currently the longest-serving Republican member of the House. He unsuccessfully sought the 1980 Republican presidential nomination.

Crane has written three books: "The Democrat's Dilemma" (1964); "Surrender in Panama: The Case Against the Treaty" (1978); and "The Sum of Good Government" 1976).

Crane and his wife, Arlene, have seven children. A daughter, Rachel, died the day after Christmas in 1997.

Crane had heart-bypass surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., on April 19, 2002. He was released four days later and quickly resumed his congressional duties.

Two months earlier, on Feb. 22, a car in which Crane was a passenger was involved in a crash with a pickup truck that sent him to the hospital for a few hours. Crane had complained of chest pains after the accident.

In another incident, on Oct. 30, 2001, Crane's car struck a pedestrian near the Washington Monument. He passed a sobriety test given to him after the accident. Crane was given a blood test by U.S. Park Police and it showed no trace of alcohol or drugs, according to police. Crane was not injured in the accident and no ticket was issued.

Crane, a recovering alcoholic, completed a month-long stay at a rehabilitation center in April 2000.

Past Campaigns:

Philip Crane was elected to the U.S. House in a special election in November 1969 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican Rep. Donald Rumsfeld, who left the House to become director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

Crane was re-elected in 1970, with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Edward A. Warman and other candidates. Crane was re-elected to 11 more terms, facing no Democratic opposition in 1990 and defeating Democrat Shelia Smith with 58 percent of the vote in 1992. He faced a tough primary in 1994 against three opponents, including a former aide, and won the GOP nomination by 40 percent. He was re-elected in the general election, defeating Democrat Robert Walberg with 65 percent of the vote.

In 1996, Crane was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote against Democrat Elizabeth Hull. Crane was re-elected in 1998, defeating Democrat Mike Rothman with 69 percent of the vote.

In 2000, Crane defeated Democrat Lance Pressl with 61 percent of the vote.

He defeated Democrat Melissa L. Bean, a business consultant, in the 2002 general election with 57 percent of the vote.

In the 2004 Republican primary, Crane defeated Crystal Lake attorney David W. Phelps with 68 percent of the vote.

Crane ran unsuccessfully for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination.

Election Information by State: Select a State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Mass. Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hamp. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming -------------------------   Candidate Search Find candidate running for federal and state offices. Candidate Last Name State (Optional) All Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Mass. Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hamp. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ------------------------- Office Type (Optional) All President U.S. Senate U.S. House Governor State Office Local Office