John Kasich has worked in politics most of his life, with one short-lived stab at becoming president already on his record.
The Ohio governor appears to have his sights set on the White House again. As he considers a 2016 run, here are eight facts about Kasich’s political background.
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1. Kasich studied political science at Ohio State University. After college he worked from 1975 to 1977 as an administrative assistant for Sen. Donald Lukens and shortly after would pursue an elected office of his own.
2. In 1978, 26-year-old Kasich took on the incumbent candidate in a run for the Ohio state Senate. Kasich won and became the youngest person to serve on the legislature.
3. Kasich was elected to Congress in 1982, serving eight consecutive terms. Much of his tenure was focused on balancing the budget and keeping taxes low. As chair of the House Budget Committee, he played a significant role in the GOP’s repeated standoff with the Clinton administration. Kasich also steadily supported defense programs and military buildup.
4. Kasich made himself a noted voice for conservative, faith-based values.
He served as a commentator on Fox News and hosted a weekly program. Kasich is also a lecturer and has authored three books: “Courage is Contagious,” “Stand for Something,” and “Every Other Monday.”
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5. After a stint as a banker until Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008, Kasich turned his attention back to public office. The husband and father of twin daughters was narrowly elected governor of Ohio in 2010 on a platform of improving the state’s economy. He was re-elected in 2014 with more than 63 percent of the vote.
6. Kasich has become known for his aggressive, sometimes unique approach to balancing budgets.
As governor, Kasich closed an $8 million budget shortfall and cut taxes by $3 billion. Recently, he’s pushed for a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to pass a balanced budget.
7. Throughout his career, Kasich has taken
a strong conservative stance on some controversial issues. He drafted a law to restrict access to abortions, for example. He’s also been particularly focused on limiting the bargaining power of Ohio’s teacher unions, with voters rejecting his plan in 2011. However, he also expanded Medicaid in Ohio, supports Common Core standards, and supported a ban on assault weapons.
8. Kasich has circled the White House since 1996, when he was rumored to be on the GOP’s
shortlist for vice president alongside Bob Dole. Before the 2000 election, he formed an exploratory committee to run for president. In July 1999, he dropped out of the race and lent his support to former president George W. Bush. Now he’s touring the country promoting his budget plan.
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