Mike Turzai
Encyclopedia
Mike Turzai is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. Turzai has represented the 28th legislative district since 2001 and is a member of the Republican Party
. He currently serves as the House Majority Leader
.
. He served on the borough council of Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania as Vice President of that body. He ran for Congress in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
against incumbent Democrat Ron Klink
in 1998, losing 64% to 36%.
Turzai was elected in a special election on June 26, 2001 to replace Jane Orie
who was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
. He won election to a full term in 2002 and has won re-election in 2004 and 2006.
In 2006
, Turzai was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor
. He initially supported Bill Scranton
for Governor. After Scranton withdrew from the Governor's race and it became clear that Jim Matthews would win the party endorsement for Lieutenant Governor, Turzai withdrew and sought re-election to his House seat.
After the 2008 elections
, Turzai was elected as Minority Whip. Following the 2010 elections
, which saw Republicans regain their House majority, Turzai was elected Majority Leader
.
His signature issues are tort reform
and welfare reform
.
and the Duke University School of Law
. He and his wife reside in Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania with their three sons.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. Turzai has represented the 28th legislative district since 2001 and is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He currently serves as the House Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
.
Career
Prior to his House service, Turzai was an attorney in private practice and an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County, PennsylvaniaAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
. He served on the borough council of Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania as Vice President of that body. He ran for Congress in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
Pennsylvania's fourth district is located in western Pennsylvania and includes suburbs of Pittsburgh as well as Beaver County, Lawrence County, and Mercer County....
against incumbent Democrat Ron Klink
Ron Klink
Ronald "Ron" Klink is a Democratic politician and former United States Representative from Pennsylvania.Klink was born in Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Meyersdale High School in Pennsylvania in 1969. Klink originally worked behind the scenes at WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pennsylvania...
in 1998, losing 64% to 36%.
Turzai was elected in a special election on June 26, 2001 to replace Jane Orie
Jane Orie
Jane Clare Orie is an American politician who currently serves in the Pennsylvania State Senate. She represents the 40th senate district, including portions of Allegheny County and Butler County. She is a Republican...
who was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
. He won election to a full term in 2002 and has won re-election in 2004 and 2006.
In 2006
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2006
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006, and included the races for the Governor of Pennsylvania and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.Incumbent Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, ran for re-election...
, Turzai was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
. He initially supported Bill Scranton
William Scranton, III
William Worthington Scranton, III served as the Republican lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987 in the administration of Governor Richard Thornburgh...
for Governor. After Scranton withdrew from the Governor's race and it became clear that Jim Matthews would win the party endorsement for Lieutenant Governor, Turzai withdrew and sought re-election to his House seat.
After the 2008 elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2008
The 2008 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 4, 2008, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from January 6, 2009 until November 2010...
, Turzai was elected as Minority Whip. Following the 2010 elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2010, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 will run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2012...
, which saw Republicans regain their House majority, Turzai was elected Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
.
His signature issues are tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
and welfare reform
Welfare reform
Welfare reform refers to the process of reforming the framework of social security and welfare provisions, but what is considered reform is a matter of opinion. The term was used in the United States to support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act...
.
Personal
Turzai is a graduate of University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and the Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
. He and his wife reside in Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania with their three sons.
External links
- State Representative Mike Turzai official caucus website
- Mike Turzai (R) official PA House website