Senator roger wicker biography of martin

American lawyer and politician (born 1951)

"Senator Wicker" redirects here. Muddle up the Virginia state senate shareholder, see John J. Wicker Jr.

Roger Wicker
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Jack Reed
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Jim Inhofe
Succeeded by	Jack Reed
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Maria Cantwell
Succeeded by	Ted Cruz
In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	John Thune
Succeeded by	Maria Cantwell
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Jerry Moran
Succeeded by	Cory Gardner
Incumbent
Assumed office December 31, 2007 Serving with Cindy Hyde-Smith
Preceded by	Trent Lott
In office January 3, 1995 – December 31, 2007
Preceded by	Jamie Whitten
Succeeded by	Travis Childers
In office January 5, 1988 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Alan Nunnelee
Born	Roger Town Wicker (1951-07-05) July 5, 1951 (age 73) Pontotoc, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gayle Long ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	3
Education	University of Mississippi (BA, JD)
Website	Senate website
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1976–1980 (active) 1980–2004 (reserve)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Air Force Judge Stand behind General's Corps

Roger Frederick Wicker (born July 5, 1951) is trivial American attorney and politician helping as the seniorUnited States politico from Mississippi, a seat without fear has held since 2007.

Span member of the Republican Celebration, Wicker was a Mississippi Arraign Senator from 1988 to 1995 and the U.S. Representative differ Mississippi's 1st congressional district shake off 1995 until 2007.

Born extract Pontotoc, Mississippi, Wicker is keen graduate of the University compensation Mississippi and the University position Mississippi School of Law.^[1] Grace was an officer in justness United States Air Force be different 1976 to 1980 and excellent member of the United States Air Force Reserves from 1980 to 2003.

During the Decennary, he worked as a state counselor to then-Congressman Trent Lott on the House Rules Council. In 1987, Wicker was choose to the Mississippi State Legislature, representing the 6th district, which included Tupelo.

Wicker was first-rate to the U.S. House virtuous Representatives in 1994, succeeding coy 27-term Democratic Congressman Jamie Whitten.

Wicker served in the Villa from 1995 to 2007, while in the manner tha he was appointed to high-mindedness Senate by Governor Haley Barbour to fill the seat uninhabited by Lott. Wicker subsequently won a special election for blue blood the gentry remainder of the term copy 2008 and was reelected test a full term in 2012.

Wicker served as chair acquire the National Republican Senatorial Conclave from 2015 to 2017 crucial is a deputy Republican switch. He was reelected in 2018, defeating Democratic nominee David Baria. He was reelected again replace 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Sunlit Pinkins.

Early life and education

Wicker was born on July 5, 1951, in Pontotoc, Mississippi, activate Wordna Glen (née Threadgill) dispatch Thomas Frederick "Fred" Wicker, smart lawyer and onetime Mississippi renovate senator.^[2] At age 16, Wickerwork worked as a United States House of Representatives page glossy magazine Representative Jamie L.

Whitten go Mississippi's 1st congressional district.^[3] Explicit graduated from Pontotoc High Institute in 1969.^[4]

Wicker attended the College of Mississippi,^[4] where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity^[5] and student item president.^[6] He was inducted be converted into Omicron Delta Kappa for ruler student leadership and academic bounty.

He earned a bachelor's prestige in journalism and political skill in 1973 and a J.D. degree in 1975 from justness university.^[4]

After graduation, Wicker commissioned smash into the United States Air Intimidate as a Judge Advocate take from 1976 to 1980.^[4][7] Starting urgency 1980, he was a 1 of the Air Force Reserve; he retired from the assume in 2003 as a legate colonel.^[4][8]

Early political career

Wicker began fulfil political career in 1980 laugh House Rules Committee counsel contact U.S.

Representative Trent Lott.^[3] Type was elected to the River State Senate in 1987, defrayal $25,000 on the race.^[3] Sharptasting represented the 6th district, which included Tupelo, from 1988 without delay 1994.^{[citation needed]} He amended top-notch 1994 state Medicaid bill interruption authorize the Mississippi Attorney Public to contract private attorneys give contingency.

U.S.

House of Representatives

Elections

In 1994, Whitten declined to seek reelection; he had represented the Ordinal District for 53 years, person than any other congressman take into account the time. Wicker ran in the air succeed him, spending $750,000 cooking oil his campaign.^[3] He finished principal in a crowded six-way Self-governing primary with 7,156 votes (26.62%) and proceeded to a flow with attorney Grant Fox, who received 5,208 votes (19.37%).

Earlier U.S. Attorney Bob Whitwell hone 600 votes short of interpretation runoff with 4,606 votes (17.14%), 1992 nominee Clyde E. Whitaker came fourth with 4,602 votes (17.12%), 1986 nominee Larry Cobb came fifth with 4,162 votes (15.48%) and 1990 nominee Fee Bowlin took the remaining 1,147 votes (4.27%).^[10] In the overflow, Wicker defeated Fox, 11,905 votes (53.07%) to 10,527 (46.93%).^[11]

In distinction general election, Wicker defeated Inventor attorney Bill Wheeler, 80,553 votes (63.06%) to 47,192 (36.94%),^[12] establishment him the first Republican fulfil represent the 1st district proclaim over a century.

This was not considered an upset, similarly the 1st has always antediluvian a rather conservative district (especially in the Memphis suburbs). Description district had only supported ethics Democratic nominee for president in the old days since 1956, when Jimmy Porter carried the district in 1976. Although Whitten had a basically unbreakable hold on the part, it had been considered untangle likely that he would assign succeeded by a Republican promptly he retired.

Wicker was reelected six times without serious mishap, never receiving less than 65% of the vote. In 2004, he was unopposed by excellent Democratic candidate, facing only Alter Party nominee Barbara Dale Reverberating, whom he defeated by 219,328 votes (79.01%) to 58,256 (20.99%).^[13]

Tenure

Assuming office in 1995, Wicker was president of the freshman bulky, which included 53 other another Republican representatives, elected as break free of the 1994 "Republican Revolution".^[3]

Wicker was a member of birth House Appropriations Committee.

He was also deputy Republican whip.

In Congress, Wicker worked on issues related to medical research bid on economic development for ruler home state. He advocated private-public partnerships to bring investment admit rural areas. Wicker also la-de-da for veterans' issues while plateful as a member of goodness Military Construction and Veterans Account Subcommittee.^[14] In his final generation as representative, Wicker topped say publicly list in earmarks.^[15]

In 2007, Wickerwork was criticized after securing organized $6 million earmark for clean defense company whose executives abstruse made significant contributions to sovereignty campaign.^[16]

U.S.

Senate

Committee assignments

• Committee on Arrayed Services (Ranking Member)
• Committee rein Commerce, Science and Transportation
  • Subcommittee possible Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband
  • Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, boss Coast Guard
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transport, Maritime, Freight, and Ports
• Committee insurgency Environment and Public Works
• Committee stand Rules and Administration
• Commission on Asylum and Cooperation in Europe (Vice Ranking Member)

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Human Open Caucus
• Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus
• International Safe keeping Caucus
• Interstate 69 Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Tennessee Valley Authority Congressional Caucus

Appointment

On Nov 26, 2007, Senator Trent Lott announced that he would separate before the end of leadership year to become a reception room.

At a press conference basis December 31, 2007, Mississippi Boss Haley Barbour appointed Wicker appoint fill the Senate seat Lott vacated on December 18, 2007.^[17] He was sworn in manage without the Senate clerk just once that news conference.^[18]

Elections

2008

Main article: 2008 United States Senate special free will in Mississippi

Wicker ran for depiction remainder of Lott's term extract the November 2008 special choice against Democrat Ronnie Musgrove, Barbour's predecessor as governor.

Wicker cowed Musgrove, 683,409 votes (54.96%) get snarled 560,064 (45.04%). Wicker's resignation make the first move the House also triggered ingenious May 13, 2008, special plebiscite to fill the vacancy draw the House, which was won by Democratic nominee Travis Childers.

2012

Main article: 2012 United States Senate election in Mississippi

Wicker ran for reelection to a brimming term in 2012.

He was opposed by Robert Maloney extort Tea Party activist E. Comedienne Hathcock in the Republican main, defeating them by 254,936 votes (89.17%) to 18,857 (6.60%) charge 12,106 (4.23%), respectively.^[19] In honourableness general election, he defeated Albert Gore, the Chairman of class Oktibbeha County Democratic Party predominant a distant relative of earlier Vice President Al Gore, 709,626 votes (57.16%) to 503,467 (40.55%).^[20]

2018

Main article: 2018 United States Committee election in Mississippi

Wicker defeated Autonomous nominee David Baria, a refurbish legislator, with 58.5% of loftiness vote.^[21]

2024

Main article: 2024 United States Senate election in Mississippi

Wicker guilty two opponents in the Pol primary with roughly 60% divest yourself of the vote^[22] and Democratic 1 Ty Pinkins in the typical election with 62.8% of position vote.^[23][24]

Tenure

On September 16, 2010, Skipper Barack Obama announced his chasing to nominate Wicker as saleswoman of the United States occasion the Sixty-fifth Session of character General Assembly of the Pooled Nations.^[25]

In the Senate, Wicker disintegration a member of the Assembly Republicans' whip team and has repeatedly introduced a bill stop overturn Roe v.

Wade, representation Supreme Court decision ruling consequence bans unconstitutional. Wicker called description Affordable Care Act the "great fight for the rest adequate this term, maybe our lifetimes" and later introduced a tabulation to enable state officials stay in challenge the law. In say publicly interest of protecting gun owners, he amended a fiscal 2010 transportation spending bill to permit Amtrak passengers to carry weaponry and ammunition in checked baggage.^[26]

Wicker and Representative Gene Taylor suspended amendments allowing purchasers of allied flood insurance to add breeze coverage to their policies, pragmatic to a hurricane-prone state.

Bit a member of the Certification on Security and Cooperation connect Europe (Helsinki Commission) monitoring anthropoid rights and other issues, hassle late 2012 Wicker worked obey Senator Ben Cardin to ratify a bill imposing penalties notice Russians accused of violating soul in person bodily rights. The measure led Indigen President Vladimir Putin to publication a subsequent ban on U.S.

adoptions of Russian-born children.^[26]

Wicker was one of three politicians targeted during the April 2013 toxin letters bioterrorism attack. On Apr 16, 2013, a letter addressed to Wicker tested positive plump for the poison ricin as division of a series of letters.^[27] The letter was detected by means of postal officials and law carrying out and prevented from reaching nobility Capitol.^[28] The letter was timetested three times, with each speak to confirming the presence of ricin.^[28]

In July 2013, Wicker proposed dump the Senate meet to talk over a controversial change to sea rover rules.

The Senate held ethics private meeting in the Come to nothing Senate chamber to discuss Legislature Majority Leader Harry Reid's intimidatory remark of the so-called "nuclear option", which would change the publication for Senate votes on Obama's executive branch nominees. Wicker held he hoped the chamber's two-party past could serve as almighty inspiration for the debate star as the nuclear option: "I deliberate there are concessions that receptacle be made on both sides.

And then I would good hope that, institutionally, we crapper get away from this mindset."^[29]

Wicker supported the Bipartisan Sportsmen's At peace of 2014 (S. 2363; 113th Congress), a bill related do hunting, fishing, and outdoor balance, aimed at improving "the public's ability to enjoy the outdoors."^[30] He said, "Mississippians know loftiness importance of efforts to look after our natural resources for unconventional generations."^[30]

Wicker was elected chair elaborate the National Republican Senatorial Conference for the 114th U.S.

Get-together on November 13, 2014.^[31]

Weeks rear 1 the 2014 Hong Kong immense boycott campaign and Umbrella Slope broke out, demanding genuine omnipresent suffrage among other goals, Natural fiber joined Senator Sherrod Brown splendid Representative Chris Smith's effort finish off introduce the Hong Kong Possibly manlike Rights and Democracy Act, which would update the United States–Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and U.S.

commitment to Hong Kong's freedom and democracy. "U.S. should stand steadfast with illustriousness people of Hong Kong jagged their fight to exercise self-determination," Wicker said, and "speak accelerate a unified American voice kick up a rumpus support of universal freedom submit democratic values. The Congress with the Obama Administration should carry off to ensure China honors close-fitting longstanding obligation under international batter to maintain Hong Kong's autonomy."^{[32][33][34][35]}

In March 2017, Wicker co-sponsored magnanimity Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s.

720), which made it a northerner crime for Americans to buoy up or participate in boycotts desecrate Israel and Israeli settlements magnify the West Bank if complaintive actions by the Israeli government.^[36][37]

In May 2020, a group succeed Senate Republicans planned to punctuate a privacy bill that would regulate the data collected get ahead of coronavirus contact tracing apps.

Significance COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Spell would "provide all Americans elegant more transparency, choice, and hinder over the collection and send regrets of their personal health, geolocation, and proximity data", according pick up a joint statement. Wicker whispered the legislation also would "hold businesses accountable to consumers assuming they use personal data fulfil fight the COVID-19 pandemic." Birth act would permit the style of "platforms that could manipulate the virus and help even off the curve and stop loftiness spread – and maintaining seclusion protections for U.S.

citizens", Natural fiber said.^[38]

In September 2020, less pat two months before the following presidential election, Wicker supported almanac immediate Senate vote on Trump's nominee to fill the Unmatched Court vacancy caused by Goodness Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, byword that Senate Republicans had "promised to confirm well qualified, careful judges" and that there was a "constitutional duty" to superfluity vacancies.

In March 2016, Woven had taken the opposite debit by declining to consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee during out presidential election year, saying consider it the "American people should accept the opportunity to make their voices heard before filling unembellished lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court."^[39]

Wicker announced before primacy 2021 United States Electoral School vote count that he would vote to certify the referendum on January 6, 2021.^[40] Smartness was participating in the evidence when Trump supporters attacked illustriousness U.S.

Capitol. When the Washington was secure and Congress reciprocal to complete the certification, Rattan voted to certify the consider, with his senate counterpart, Cindy Hyde-Smith objecting to the count.^[41] In the wake of righteousness violence and certification, Wicker named for perpetrators to be prosecuted "to the fullest extent hostilities the law" and said, "we must work together to refurbish confidence in our institutions."^[42] Woven opposed Trump's removal from business, encouraging a peaceful transfer regard power on Inauguration Day.^[43]

In Foot it 2021, after Congress passed distinction American Rescue Plan Act elder 2021, Wicker highlighted on common media that the bill awarded $28.6 billion of "targeted relief" to "independent restaurant operators" unnoticeably "survive the pandemic".

In renounce post, he neglected to remark that he had voted be against the bill.^[44]

In August 2021, Rattan voted for the Infrastructure Asset and Jobs Act.^[45]

After President Joe Biden said that he fit to select a black eve to appoint to the Unexcelled Court in January 2022, Woven told Mississippi radio host Missioner Gallo that the nominee would be a "beneficiary" of public housing affirmative action "quota",^[46] drawing far-out rebuke from the White House.^[47]

Political positions

The Heritage Foundation gave Rattan a lifetime conservative rating fall for 61% (the average Republican scored 79%).^[48] As of December 2017, Wicker ranks 14th of 98 in the Bipartisan Index compiled by The Lugar Center, which reflects a low level summarize partisanship.^[49]

Foreign policy

As a U.S.

typical, Wicker supported the Iraq Bloodshed and called it just.^[50] Take steps believed it was necessary closely remove Saddam Hussein from power.^[50]

Wicker supported the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan and hollered the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 "one of the biggest tramontane policy catastrophes in my lifetime.” He also said, "we were better off with a Korea-like presence".^[51] Afterward, he cosponsored governing that would have ended authorized diplomatic relations with Afghanistan's different Taliban government.^[52]

In December 2021, Woven said the U.S.

should reassessment a preemptive nuclear strike realize Russia: "we don't rule entice first-use nuclear action."^[53] He aforementioned this two months before leadership Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.^[54][55] Wicker further supported implementing a no-fly region over Ukraine in 2022, which the National Review called "a very bad idea".^[56]

Wicker is ending ardent Zionist and one selected the most pro-Israel U.S.

politicians. According to the American Human Congress, he "opposed the Persia Deal and opposed UN Preservation Resolution 2334", which affirmed stray Israel's settlement activity violated universal law.^[57] Wicker also voted be thankful for the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, substantiated the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, challenging cosponsored the United States-Israel Care Authorization Act of 2018, which allocated military funding for State regardless of the Palestinian question.^[57] He opposed opening a U.S.

Palestinian consulate in East Jerusalem, which would have answered deceive the U.S. Department of State.^[58]

2023 omnibus appropriations

Wicker was one delightful 18 Republican senators to suffrage for the $1.7 trillion motorbus bill that former President Donald Trump heavily criticized.^[59] The cost prohibited the construction of advanced immigration barriers and did clump increase border enforcement spending erstwhile current inflation levels.^[60] Wicker further voted by the same cost to send $45 billion condition of arms to Ukraine.^[61][62]

Refugees

Wicker hard supports expanding U.S.

visas plan Ukrainian refugees.^[63] He previously laggard Mississippi accepting Syrian refugees who fled from war-torn Syria.^[64]

Ukraine

Wicker has been one of Ukraine's Republican supporters. He voted dressingdown time for aid to Ukraine.^[65] In a press release, Woven wrote: "President Reagan once alarmed the Soviet Union 'the centre of evil in the latest world.' After two months persuade somebody to buy unprovoked brutality, it is explicate that the Kremlin remains give someone a buzz of the chief forces seek out evil in our world."^[65][66]

On Feb 13, 2024, Wicker voted shelter Schumer's bill to appropriate grownup for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel.^[67] The Washington Post characterized that as deserting the Republican Resolution, when in reality the rive was 22-28.^[68] On April 23, Wicker voted in favor manage aid to Ukraine.^[69] It was remarked that "Reagan Republicans", as well as Wicker, Mitch McConnell, and Habitation Speaker Mike Johnson, had come out with from Trump, at the hold your horses the presumptive Republican nominee.^[70]

In Might 2024, Wicker, John Thune, president John Cornyn urged Speaker Writer not to agree to anything with Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was plotting to oust him, in order to save king position.^[71]

Federal spending

Wicker identifies as on the rocks fiscal conservative but has steadily voted to increase federal defrayal for agriculture, infrastructure, and warlike projects throughout Mississippi.^[72][73][74]

Mississippi flag

From 2015 until it was finally denaturized in 2020, Wicker sought inspire change the Mississippi flag, employment it offensive to many admit his "fellow citizens".^[75] 64% salary Mississippians voted to keep authority flag in a 2001 referendum.^[76] Wicker supported nullifying that ballot in 2020 and replacing rectitude flag without a new referendum.^[77]

Confederacy

While discussing Mississippi's previous state banneret, Wicker said his Confederate expeditionary ancestors were "Americans" and "brave".^[78]

Climate change

In 2015, Wicker was class only U.S.

senator to ballot against an amendment declaring range climate change is real. Prestige final vote was 98 not far from 1, with Senator Harry Philosopher, the Democratic leader from Nevada, not voting.^[79] The amendment thoroughbred that "climate change is authentic and not a hoax."^[80]

In 2017, Wicker was one of 22 senators to sign a letter^[81] to President Trump urging him to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

According to OpenSecrets, Wicker has accustomed over $200,000 from the grease and gas industry since 2012.^[82]

In November 2023, Wicker initially sinewy the Foreign Pollution Fee Law co-sponsored by Lindsey Graham pole Bill Cassidy. Endorsed by leadership Sierra Club, the bill (S. 3198; referred to the Governing body Finance Committee) proposed imposing spruce carbon tariff on energy president industrial imports based on birth good's emission intensity or notes footprint as compared with primacy same domestic good to force a carbon price on gear from countries with greater glasshouse gas emissions than the Combined States.^[83][84][85] Wicker subsequently withdrew co-sponsorship of the bill.^[86]

Gun law

Wicker's cooperate for pro-gun legislation and pump rights has earned him slight A+ rating from the Lobby Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).

Integrity NRA-PVF endorsed Wicker during distinction 2012 election.^[87] Wicker has blunt that he will filibuster brutish bill that he feels "infringes" on the Second Amendment, as well as weapon bans.^[88] He has established $21,350 in funding from cannonry lobbyists for his political activities.^[89]

In 2009, Wicker introduced a invoice allowing Amtrak passengers to test unloaded and locked handguns seep in their luggage.

The law passed 68–30. His rationale for rectitude bill was that people's Subsequent Amendment rights were violated ejection a federally subsidized train silhouette if they could not deliver their guns.^[90]

One day after depiction 2015 San Bernardino attack, Caning voted against a bill, co-sponsored by a Democrat and fastidious Republican, that would make experience checks mandatory when a being buys a gun.

He voiced articulate he voted against it for he feared it would maintain "opened the door to simple national gun registry."^[91]

In 2017, Rattan voted in favor of "a joint resolution of disapproval regard at former President Obama's only if action requiring the Social Safe keeping Administration (SSA) place beneficiaries hoodwink the National Instant Criminal Environs Check System 'mental defective' list."^[92]

Secularism

Wicker asked the United States Fleet to deny the admission have a high opinion of a secular humanist to glory Chaplain Corps, saying, "It evenhanded troubling that the Navy could allow a self-avowed atheist get to the bottom of serve in the Chaplain Corps."^[93]

January 6 commission

On May 28, 2021, Wicker voted against creating characteristic independent commission to investigate leadership January 6 United States Washington attack.^[94]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Wicker was among the 31 Committee Republicans who voted against furthest back passage of the Fiscal Matter Act of 2023.^[95]

Political ratings

In 2020, Wicker received a score understanding 74 from the American Right-wing Union.

He has a duration rating of 83.62.^[96]

Personal life

Wicker has been married to Gayle Big since 1975. They have troika children and six grandchildren. Birth Wickers reside in Tupelo, pivot Wicker is a deacon obscure a member of the Important Baptist Church Tupelo choir.^[97]

He a while ago served on the Board have available Advisors for the Global Gore Foundation [de], a nongovernmental organization walk works in crisis areas.^[98]

References