Mike Blouin
Encyclopedia
Michael Thomas Blouin American politician, was a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1975 to 1979, representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district
. He was a candidate in the 2006 race for Governor of Iowa
but lost in the primary to Chet Culver
.
and attended school in Miami Shores, Florida
and Chicago, Illinois. In 1966 he received a B.A. in political science from Loras College
in Dubuque, Iowa
. He remained in Dubuque to teach elementary school. Two years later, he won a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives
, where he served from 1969 to 1973. Blouin then won election to the Iowa Senate
, serving from 1973 to 1974.
In 1974 Blouin ran for the U.S. House seat in the Second District being vacated by fellow Democrat John C. Culver, who was running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Harold Hughes
. Blouin defeated Republican Tom Riley, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa attorney, in the general election. Blouin became one of many freshman Democrats in the largest
Democratic majority in the House since 1965-67, providing a mathematical two-thirds majority in that chamber. For the only time since 1857, Iowa's congressional delegation
included only one Republican.
Blouin won re-election in 1976, defeating Riley in a closer rematch
. Besides shifting control of the White House to the Democrats, the 1976 elections expanded
the Democratic majority in the House by one seat. It was the last time
the Democrats would hold a two-thirds majority.
Blouin was defeated
by Tom Tauke
in 1978, as part of a mid-term election that was the first phase of a conservative backlash, particularly in the Midwest.
Blouin was director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development from January 2003 to July 2005 and became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor
in 2006. He was also a chamber of commerce
executive.
primary
for Iowa governor, running against a field which included Iowa Secretary of State
Chet Culver
(the primary winner) and seven-term state representative Ed Fallon
.
Blouin had received the endorsement of more than 80% of the state's Democratic legislators and most of the state's labor unions, including the Teamsters
and AFSCME. Mr. Blouin has a pro-life
perspective on abortion but had stated that he will not sign any legislation limiting the right to an abortion, even if Roe v. Wade
is overturned. He selected pro-choice business executive Dr. Andrea McGuire as his pick to be Lt. Governor. The selection of McGuire was initially questioned by the media and Blouin's opponents because she was registered as a Republican as recently as 2004 and has made past contributions to Republicans including Congressman Jim Nussle
, the presumptive 2006 Republican nominee for governor. McGuire also made significant contributions to Democratic candidates within the same time span, and supported Howard Dean's 2004 presidential bid.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1975 to 1979, representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. He was a candidate in the 2006 race for Governor of Iowa
Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006
The Iowa gubernatorial election of 2006 took place November 7, 2006. The incumbent governor, Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, had served two terms and decided not to seek a third term. In the election, Culver defeated Nussle to win the governorship, by a margin of 54.4 percent to 44.1 percent...
but lost in the primary to Chet Culver
Chet Culver
Chester John "Chet" Culver was the 41st Governor of Iowa, from 2007 to 2011. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.-Early life and education:Culver was born in...
.
Political career
Blouin was born on a Naval Air Base in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and attended school in Miami Shores, Florida
Miami Shores, Florida
Miami Shores is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,380 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,040....
and Chicago, Illinois. In 1966 he received a B.A. in political science from Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. He remained in Dubuque to teach elementary school. Two years later, he won a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
, where he served from 1969 to 1973. Blouin then won election to the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
, serving from 1973 to 1974.
In 1974 Blouin ran for the U.S. House seat in the Second District being vacated by fellow Democrat John C. Culver, who was running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Harold Hughes
Harold Hughes
Harold Everett Hughes was the 36th Governor of Iowa from 1963 until 1969; he had been a Republican earlier in his life. He also served as a Democratic United States Senator from 1969 until 1975.-Background:...
. Blouin defeated Republican Tom Riley, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa attorney, in the general election. Blouin became one of many freshman Democrats in the largest
Party divisions of United States Congresses
The following table lists the party divisions for each United States Congress. Numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time, while italicized numbers signify a Congress in which the majority party changed mid-Congress....
Democratic majority in the House since 1965-67, providing a mathematical two-thirds majority in that chamber. For the only time since 1857, Iowa's congressional delegation
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
included only one Republican.
Blouin won re-election in 1976, defeating Riley in a closer rematch
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. Besides shifting control of the White House to the Democrats, the 1976 elections expanded
Party divisions of United States Congresses
The following table lists the party divisions for each United States Congress. Numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time, while italicized numbers signify a Congress in which the majority party changed mid-Congress....
the Democratic majority in the House by one seat. It was the last time
Party divisions of United States Congresses
The following table lists the party divisions for each United States Congress. Numbers in boldface denote the majority party at that particular time, while italicized numbers signify a Congress in which the majority party changed mid-Congress....
the Democrats would hold a two-thirds majority.
Blouin was defeated
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
by Tom Tauke
Tom Tauke
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Tauke is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Tauke represented the northeast corner of the state of Iowa as a Republican from 1979 to 1991, entering Congress as one of the youngest members. Tauke left active politics in 1991 following an unsuccessful bid to...
in 1978, as part of a mid-term election that was the first phase of a conservative backlash, particularly in the Midwest.
Blouin was director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development from January 2003 to July 2005 and became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor
Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006
The Iowa gubernatorial election of 2006 took place November 7, 2006. The incumbent governor, Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, had served two terms and decided not to seek a third term. In the election, Culver defeated Nussle to win the governorship, by a margin of 54.4 percent to 44.1 percent...
in 2006. He was also a chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
executive.
Gubernatorial bid
Blouin lost a 2006 Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Iowa governor, running against a field which included Iowa Secretary of State
Iowa Secretary of State
The Iowa Secretary of State is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Iowa and is elected every four years. The Office of the Secretary of State is divided into four divisions: Elections and Voter Registration, Business Services, Administrative Services, and Communications and Publications...
Chet Culver
Chet Culver
Chester John "Chet" Culver was the 41st Governor of Iowa, from 2007 to 2011. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.-Early life and education:Culver was born in...
(the primary winner) and seven-term state representative Ed Fallon
Ed Fallon
Ed Fallon is an American politician from the U.S. state of Iowa. A Democrat, he was a candidate for Governor of Iowa and U.S. Congress and served as a member of the Iowa General Assembly from 1993 to 2006.-Early life:The son of a member of the U.S...
.
Blouin had received the endorsement of more than 80% of the state's Democratic legislators and most of the state's labor unions, including the Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
and AFSCME. Mr. Blouin has a pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
perspective on abortion but had stated that he will not sign any legislation limiting the right to an abortion, even if Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade, , was a controversial landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. The Court decided that a right to privacy under the due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion,...
is overturned. He selected pro-choice business executive Dr. Andrea McGuire as his pick to be Lt. Governor. The selection of McGuire was initially questioned by the media and Blouin's opponents because she was registered as a Republican as recently as 2004 and has made past contributions to Republicans including Congressman Jim Nussle
Jim Nussle
James Allen "Jim" Nussle is an American politician and was the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Nussle was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007...
, the presumptive 2006 Republican nominee for governor. McGuire also made significant contributions to Democratic candidates within the same time span, and supported Howard Dean's 2004 presidential bid.