Mike Carey (politician)
Michael Todd Whitaker Carey[1][2] (born March 13, 1971) is an American politician and former coal lobbyist serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 15th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Carey was first elected in a 2021 special election.[3]
Mike Carey | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th district | |
Assumed office November 4, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Steve Stivers |
Personal details | |
Born | Sabina, Ohio, U.S. | March 13, 1971
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Meghan Carey |
Children | 3 |
Education | Marion Military Institute (AA) Ohio State University (BA) |
Website | House website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1989–1999 |
Unit | Army National Guard |
Early life and education
Carey was raised in Sabina, Ohio.[4] After attending East Clinton High School, he earned an Associate of Arts degree in economics from the Marion Military Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Ohio State University.[5]
Career

Carey served in the Army National Guard from 1989 to 1999.[6] As a college student, he worked as an aide to State Senator Merle G. Kearns.[7] He has since worked as the vice president of government affairs for American Consolidated Natural Resources, a coal company. He is also chairman of the board of the Ohio Coal Association.[8] During the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, Carey developed negative campaign ads against Democratic candidates John Kerry and Barack Obama.[9]
U.S. House of Representatives
2021 special congressional election
Carey was the Republican nominee in the 2021 Ohio's 15th congressional district special election. During his campaign, Carey was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.[10][11][12][13]
Carey received the most financial contributions out of all 11 candidates in the Republican primary, including from out-of-state donors and individuals in the coal and mining industries.[14] The race has been described by political commentators and journalists as a test of Trump's influence over Republican politics.[15][16][17] Carey won the special election on November 2.[18]
Committee assignments
Electoral history
2021 special election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Carey | 18,805 | 36.3 | |
Republican | Jeff LaRe | 6,776 | 13.1 | |
Republican | Ron Hood | 6,676 | 12.9 | |
Republican | Bob Peterson | 6,407 | 12.4 | |
Republican | Ruth Edmonds | 5,090 | 9.8 | |
Republican | Thomas Hwang | 2,499 | 4.8 | |
Republican | Stephanie Kunze | 2,363 | 4.6 | |
Republican | Thad Cooperrider | 1,076 | 2.1 | |
Republican | Omar Tarazi | 907 | 1.7 | |
Republican | John Adams | 173 | 0.3 | |
Republican | Eric M. Clark | 83 | 0.2 | |
Total votes | 51,855 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Carey | 94,501 | 58.3 | |
Democratic | Allison Russo | 67,588 | 41.7 | |
Total votes | 162,089 | 100.0 |
References
- "Michael T. W. Carey". Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- "Michael Carey". Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- "In Ohio House special elections, progressives take a loss, Trump scores a win". Los Angeles Times. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Mike Carey". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- "Know your candidates Republican Primary for OH-15: Mike Carey". Circleville Herald. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- Reutter, Justin. "Trump-backed Republican aims to promote "America-First agenda" in 15th District run". Chillicothe Gazette. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- "Congressional candidate Mike Carey on growing up in Clinton County - Wilmington News Journal". www.wnewsj.com. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- Rawnsley, Jackie Kucinich,Adam (July 8, 2021). "Trump Pick in Ohio Slammed as 'Swampiest Swamp Creature'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- Samuelsohn, Darren. "Coal lobbyist mines anti-green vibe". POLITICO. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- July 28, Matthew Kassel; 2021 (July 28, 2021). "An early test of Trump's clout in Ohio special election". Jewish Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Bischoff, Laura A. "Trump ally stumps for Mike Carey in 15th Congressional District race". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- "Trump's sway tested in race for open mid-Ohio US House seat". AP NEWS. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- "Next test of Trump's influence on the Republican Party: A crowded GOP primary fight for an Ohio House seat". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- BeMiller, Haley. "Trump-backed coal lobbyist Mike Carey leads fundraising in 15th Congressional District". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- Peters, Jeremy W. (August 2, 2021). "2 House Races in Ohio Will Test Democratic Divisions and Trump's Sway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- "Opinion | Yet another Trump-endorsed candidate may lose. That could be a huge blow to the former president". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- Dan Merica and Michael Warren. "Trump faces another primary test in Ohio House race". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- Foran, Clare. "Mike Carey wins special election in Ohio's 15th Congressional District, CNN projects". CNN.
- "JasperReports - /Election Summary - Includes Overlaps" (PDF). Franklin County Board of Elections. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
External links
- Congressman Mike Carey official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Appearances on C-SPAN