Tom O'Halleran

Thomas Charles O'Halleran (/oʊˈhælərən/; born January 24, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 1st congressional district since 2017. Beginning his political career as a Republican, he was the Arizona State Senator from the 1st district from 2007 to 2009. In 2015, he became a member of the Democratic Party.

Tom O'Halleran
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byAnn Kirkpatrick
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 8, 2007 – January 5, 2009
Preceded byKen Bennett
Succeeded bySteve Pierce
Personal details
Born (1946-01-24) January 24, 1946
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2015–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (before 2014)
Independent (2014–2015)
Spouse(s)Pat
WebsiteHouse website

Early life and education

O'Halleran was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Providence St. Mel School. He attended Lewis University for one year before joining the Chicago Police Department. O'Halleran later attended DePaul University for one year.[1]

Early career

O'Halleran served with the Chicago Police Department from 1966 to 1975. He then became a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, operating his own futures trading business with a focus in futures contracts on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes.[2][3]

Arizona Legislature

O'Halleran, then a Republican, served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. He then served in the Arizona State Senate, representing the 1st District from 2007 to 2009. In a 2008 primary election, he was unseated by Steve Pierce.

After leaving the Arizona State Legislature, O'Halleran hosted a radio show on KAZM in Sedona.[4]

In 2014 he left the Republican Party, citing its policies on education, water, and child welfare as reasons for his resignation. He then ran for the 6th District State Senate seat as an Independent, losing by 3%.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

2016 campaign
Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 1

On August 6, 2015, O'Halleran announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Arizona's 1st congressional district.[6]

He explained his switch of party affiliation as a result of his positive attitude toward government, and, in particular, of his support for government regulations that would increase the use of wind and solar energy.[7]

In May 2016, O'Halleran was named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue list, indicating that his race was a priority for the group.[8]

On August 30, 2016, O'Halleran beat Miguel Olivas in the Democratic primary.[9] He faced Republican Paul Babeu and Green Party candidate Ray Parrish[10] in the general election on November 8, 2016.[11] O'Halleran won, receiving 51% of the vote to Babeu's 44%.[12]

He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.[13]

2018 campaign
O'Halleran at the 2018 Arizona Manufacturing Summit in Phoenix, Arizona
Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 1

O'Halleran ran unopposed in the 2018 Democratic primary.[14] In the November 2018 general election, he defeated Republican Wendy Rogers with 54% of the vote.[15]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Abortion

According to On the Issues, in 2016 both the Christian Coalition Voter Guide and Vote Smart inferred that O'Halleran would support pro-choice legislation.[18]

Energy and oil

According to On the Issues, in 2008 O'Halleran introduced HB 2613, an act which would add property tax incentives for businesses using renewable energy.[19] In July 2020, he tweeted his opposition to uranium mining in and near the Grand Canyon.[20] Also in July 2020, he tweeted his sponsorship of the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020.[21]

A June 2020 tweet from O'Halleran said that he "asked former Dept. of Energy Secretary Moniz about incorporating former coal workers into the clean energy sector."[22]

Foreign policy

According to On the Issues, in 2017 O'Halleran "signed two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank."[23]

Government reform

According to On the Issues, O'Halleran's 2016 campaign website stated that he wanted to "reform campaign finance" and "ban luxury trips paid for by special interests."[24]

Government spending

In March 2018, O'Halleran criticized the Trump administration for seeking to cut funding for such agencies and programs as the Economic Development Administration, the Rural Business and Cooperative Service, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Community Development Block Grants, Rural Water and Wastewater Grants, Indian Community Development Block Grant, the Rural Economic Development Program, Essential Air Service, and Native American Housing Block Grants.[25]

Gun policy

After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, O'Halleran, who had long supported expanded background checks but opposed an assault-weapon ban, suggested he might shift toward a stronger position on gun control. “At times you have to look at yourself in the mirror and do the right thing and say forget about the political consequences," he said, but admitted he was concerned about those consequences.[26]

Health care

According to On the Issues, O'Halleran's 2016 campaign website said that he would "protect Social Security and Medicare from those who support dangerous schemes to privatize the programs, hand them over the Wall Street or turn them into 'vouchers.'" The 2016 Christian Coalition Vote Guide inferred that he would oppose repealing mandated health insurance.[27]

Homeland security and veterans

According to On the Issues, O'Halleran's 2016 campaign website said that "In many cases, the VA lacks the medical specialists to care for all the vets who need treatment. In these cases, veterans should be able to get the care they need outside the VA system, on the VA's dime."[28]

Immigration

When President Donald Trump ordered a travel ban on visitors and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim nations in January 2017, O'Halleran said that the order "does not represent our nation's values" and that it violated the Constitution and "the bedrock ideals of our democracy."[29]

In April 2017, O'Halleran criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions's tougher new guidelines on expelling illegal immigrants who belong to criminal gangs. "I have no problem with getting the felons out of the country," O'Halleran said. "But some of these people that they're taking out of the country, they have children that are Americans, and they have not had a violent felony conviction. Here we are, taking mothers away from their children."[30]

O'Halleran was part of a group of Arizona Democrats who, in an August 2017 letter to President Trump, urged him not to pardon former Maricopa County chief Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted in a federal court of racially profiling Latinos as part of border patrols.[31][32]

O'Halleran meeting with the Navajo Nation Housing Authority in 2020.

Jobs

According to On the Issues, O'Halleran's 2016 campaign website said that he supported "increasing the minimum wage to a level that allows for a livable wage" and "Men and women should earn equal pay for equal work, period."[33]

Taxes

According to On the Issues, O'Halleran's 2016 campaign website said that "Millionaires and billionaires shouldn't be able to exploit tax loopholes."[34]

Personal life

O'Halleran and his wife, Pat, live in unincorporated Yavapai County (with a Sedona address), and have three grown children and four grandchildren.[3][35]

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References
  1. "Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details". bioguideretro.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  2. Crawford, Jr., William (June 6, 1988). "'Open outcry' chaos part of trading art: A tradition that works". Chicago Tribune. p. D1.
  3. "Meet Tom - Tom O'Halleran for Congress". www.tomohalleran.com. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  4. Bell, David (August 7, 2015). "Former state Rep. O'Halleran joins CD1 candidate field". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  5. "Tom O'Halleran". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  6. "O'Halleran announces candidacy in 1st Congressional District". Arizona Capitol Times. Associated Press. August 5, 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. Sanders, Rebekah L. "Tom O'Halleran running for Congress as Democrat". azCentral. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. "Red to Blue - DCCC". Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  9. Reagan, Kevin (August 3, 2016). "Bennett joins Babeu in pledging to term limits". Arizona City Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  10. "Ray Parrish | azvoterguide.com". 2016.azvoterguide.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  11. "It's Republican Paul Babeu And Democrat Tom O'Halleran In Monstrous CD-1 Race". 31 August 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. "Democrat Tom O'Halleran defeats Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu in CD-1". ABC 15. November 8, 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  13. "Members". Blue dog coalition. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  14. "Tom O'Halleran". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  15. "Arizona Election Results: First House District". New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  16. "O'Halleran Chosen as Co-Chair of Blue Dog Coalition". Congressman Tom O´Halleran. 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  17. "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. "Tom O`Halleran on Abortion". On the Issues. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  19. "Tom O`Halleran on Energy & Oil". On the Issues. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  20. "Today, I voted to pass the FY21 NDAA to 💵 give #AZ01 troops a raise 🪖 strengthen our national defense 🚫 permanently ban uranium mining in & near the Grand Canyon ✈️ protect the A-10 Warthog & the KC-135 🏥 expand compensation for downwinders & more!". Twitter. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  21. "ICYMI: Rural electric utility & telecomm providers are working around the clock to keep #AZ01 families connected to telehealth, education & loved ones during these difficult times. I intro'd bipartisan legislation to strengthen the services they provide". Twitter. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  22. "Today, in an @EnergyCommerce Energy Subcommittee hearing I asked former Dept. of Energy Secretary Moniz about incorporating former coal workers into the clean energy sector– an investment that could play a key role in the reinvigoration of our #AZ01 economy. WATCH:". Twitter. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  23. "Tom O`Halleran on Foreign Policy". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  24. "Tom O`Halleran on Government Reform". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  25. Singleton, Laura. "O'Halleran concerned about rural programs on the Trump administration's chopping block". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  26. BADE, RACHAEL; EVERETT, Burgess. "Could gun control flip the House to Democrats?". Politico. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  27. "Tom O`Halleran on Health Care". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  28. "Tom O`Halleran on Homeland Security". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  29. FARZAN, ANTONIA NOORI. "Here's Where Arizona's Top Elected Officials Stand on Trump's Border Wall". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  30. Nintzel, Jim. "Congressman Raul Grijalva sues Trump administration over border wall plans". The Skinny - Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  31. Cross, Jim. "Arizona members of US Congress ask president not to pardon Arpaio". KTAR News. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  32. HANSEN, RONALD J.; WINGETT SANCHEZ, YVONNE. "Some in Arizona who sought Joe Arpaio's support mum on possible pardon". The Republic - az Central. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  33. "Tom O`Halleran on Jobs". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  34. "Tom O`Halleran on Tax Reform". On the Issues. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  35. Official list of congressmen for 115th Congress, on which O'Halleran is listed as "D-Sedona")
Arizona Senate
Preceded by
Ken Bennett		 Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 1st district
2007–2009		 Succeeded by
Steve Pierce
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ann Kirkpatrick		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Dan Lipinski		 Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Policy
2019–present
Served alongside: Stephanie Murphy (Administration), Lou Correa (Communications)		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Stephanie Murphy		 United States Representatives by seniority
320th		 Succeeded by
Jimmy Panetta
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