Rush D. Holt Jr.

This article is about the congressman from New Jersey. For his father, a former senator from West Virginia, see Rush D. Holt Sr.
Rush D. Holt Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 12th district
In office
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by Michael Pappas
Succeeded by Bonnie Watson Coleman
Personal details
Born Rush Dew Holt Jr.
(1948-10-15) October 15, 1948
Weston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Margaret Lancefield
Children Michael
Dejan
Rachel
Residence Hopewell Twp, New Jersey
Alma mater Carleton College
New York University
Religion Quaker
Signature
Website AAAS website

Rush Dew Holt Jr. (born October 15, 1948) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district from 1999 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party and son of former Senator Rush D. Holt Sr. He worked as a professor of public policy and physics, and during his tenure in Congress he was one of two physicists and the only Quaker there.[1]

Holt sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the 2013 special primary election to fill the seat of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died in office on June 3, 2013. He lost the nomination to Newark Mayor Cory Booker.[2] Holt announced on February 18, 2014 that he would not seek re-election in 2014.[3]

Holt is chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.

Early life and education

Holt was born to Rush D. Holt Sr. (1905–1955), who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia (1935–1941), and his wife, Helen Louise Froelich Holt (1913–2015), the first woman to be appointed Secretary of State of West Virginia (1957–1959).[4] Holt Sr. was the youngest person ever to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate, at age 29. He died of cancer when Rush was six years old.

Holt graduated from the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1966, then later graduated with a B.A. in physics from Carleton College in 1970, and later received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from New York University in 1981. The title of his doctoral dissertation was "Calcium absorption lines and solar activity: a systematic program of observations."[5]

Academic career

Holt was a faculty member at Swarthmore College from 1980 to 1988 where he taught physics, public policy, and religion courses. During that time, he also worked as a Congressional Science Fellow for U.S. Representative Bob Edgar of Pennsylvania. From 1987 until 1989, Holt headed the Nuclear and Scientific Division of the Office of Strategic Forces at the U.S. Department of State. Holt was the Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University, the University's largest research facility and the largest center for energy research in New Jersey.

Scientific journal articles

Patent

U.S. House of Representatives (1999–2015)

A Rush Holt yard sign along Route 520 in Marlboro Township, New Jersey during his successful 2008 re-election campaign.

Elections

1996

Holt first ran for Congress in 1996 in New Jersey's 12th congressional district after incumbent Republican congressman Dick Zimmer decided to run for the U.S. Senate. On June 4, 1996, Holt lost the Democratic party primary, receiving 24% of the vote and finishing last of the three candidates. Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio won the primary with 45% of the vote and Carl Mayer finished second with 31% of the vote. Holt received the most votes in Mercer County, while losing the other four counties in the district to DelVecchio and Mayer: DelVecchio won Monmouth, Hunterdon, and Somerset Counties while Mayer won Middlesex County.[6] DelVecchio went on to lose the general election to Republican Michael Pappas.[7]

1998

Holt decided to run again in 1998. On June 2, 1998, Holt won the Democratic primary, defeating Carl Mayer 64% to 36%.[8][9] Holt challenged one-term Congressman Michael Pappas. The incumbent's campaign experienced a setback after he read a poem, set to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", praising Kenneth Starr on the floor of the House of Representatives. Holt defeated Pappas by 4 percentage points, 51% to 47%, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district in two decades. Holt won Mercer (61%) and Middlesex (60%) while losing Monmouth (48%), Hunterdon (37%), and Somerset (40%).[9][10][11]

2000

Holt was challenged by former Republican Congressman Dick Zimmer in the 2000 election. Holt's prior win was thought by Republicans to be a fluke, and the race attracted considerable money and advertising. The election was hotly contested and the winner was not known on election day. Zimmer was ahead on election night by just a few votes, but Holt was ahead the next day. Ten days after the election, Holt declared himself the winner by 481 votes. Zimmer challenged the results, but conceded after the count began to go against him.[12][13] Holt ultimately won the election by a margin of 651 votes: 146,162 votes for Holt (48.730%) compared to Zimmer's 145,511 (48.513%), making it the only general election where Holt has not received a majority of the votes in the election. Holt won Mercer (61%) and Middlesex (56%) while losing Monmouth (48%), Hunterdon (35%), and Somerset (37%).[14][15]

2002

After redistricting, Holt's district became much safer, in part by adding much of Trenton. While Holt faced a fairly well-funded challenge from Secretary of State of New Jersey Buster Soaries, a Republican. He defeated Soaries 61% to 38%. He won all five counties: Mercer (68%), Middlesex (63%), Somerset (54%), Hunterdon (54%), and Monmouth (52%).[16][17]

2004

Holt won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican Bill Spadea 59% to 40%. He won four of five counties: Mercer (72%), Somerset (62%), Middlesex (59%), and Hunterdon (52%). He lost Monmouth (48%).[18]

2006

He won re-election to a fifth term, defeating former Helmetta, New Jersey Council President Joseph Sinagra, 66% to 34%. He won all five counties: Mercer (77%), Somerset (67%), Middlesex (65%), Hunterdon (61%), and Monmouth (56%).[19][20]

2008

He won re-election to a sixth term, defeating Holmdel, New Jersey Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman, 63% to 35%. He won all five counties: Mercer (77%), Somerset (66%), Middlesex (64%), Hunterdon (55%), and Monmouth (50%).[19][21]

2010

Holt raised $2,229,432 in the 2010 election cycle and spent $1,891,463. 72% came from individual donations, and 26% from PAC donations. Holt’s former employer, Princeton University, was his single biggest donor, giving $56,863. Holt’s opponent, Scott Sipprelle, raised $1,541,776 and spent $1,327,946. 65% of Sipprelle’s funds came from self-financing. Independent Kenneth Cody refused to accept any donations.[22] He won re-election to a seventh term, defeating Sipprelle, 53% to 46%. He won three of five counties: Mercer (70%), Somerset (60%), and Middlesex (52%). He lost Hunterdon (43%) and Monmouth (38%).[23][24]

2012

After redistricting in 2011, the 12th District became considerably more Democratic. All of the Republican-leaning portions of Hunterdon County and Monmouth County were taken out of the 12th district while the Democratic-leaning towns of Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Middlesex, Dunellen, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Manville, East Windsor Township, and Hightstown were added to the 12th district. Additionally, sections of Trenton, Franklin Township & Old Bridge Township which were formerly located in the 4th and 6th Congressional districts, respectively, were also added to the 12th district. Only four counties remained: Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, and now Union.

Holt won re-election to an 8th term, defeating Republican businessman Eric Beck 69% to 29%. He won all four counties Mercer (77%), Union (73%), Somerset (69%), and Middlesex (62%).[25] On February 18, 2014, Rush Holt announced that he will not be running for re-election to the House of Representatives in 2014.

Tenure

Holt was also only the second research physicist to be elected to Congress, and the first physicist to be elected as a Democrat;[26] he joined Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and was later joined by Bill Foster (D-IL). Foster is currently the only research physicist in the U.S. House of Representatives with the retirement of Ehlers, and Foster defeating Judy Biggert in 2012 to reenter the House.[27] Holt's supporters have produced green bumper stickers reading "My Congressman IS a rocket scientist!", reflecting his scientific background.[28]

Holt is one of two members of Congress to have participated on the American television game show Jeopardy!, the other being Senator John McCain of Arizona. Both appeared on the Fleming era of the television series with Holt winning five games.[29][30] Holt's official Congressional website mentioned his being a five-time winner,[31] as did some of his campaign materials.[32] On February 28, 2011, Holt participated in a non-televised exhibition Jeopardy! match against the IBM computer Watson along with four other members of Congress (Jim Himes, Nan Hayworth, Jared Polis and Bill Cassidy).[33] Holt bested the computer $8,600 to $6,200 in a single-round match.[34][35][36]

Holt at an event with a USDA official and youth of his district.

As a Congressman, Holt maintained liberal viewpoints on several major issues, and consistently voted accordingly. For example, he supported abortion rights, opposed the privatization of Social Security, and supported a public health care option. Several of his legislative priorities included tax credits for small businesses, increasing access to a college education for middle-class families, maintaining Medicare and Social Security, and preserving the environment.

In 2009, the National Journal rated him as one of the eight most liberal members of the House of Representatives.[37] Holt’s rankings released by various interest groups reflect his liberal views. Since 2009, he has been rated 100 percent in accordance with the interests of the following interest groups, among others: American Public Health Association, Americans for Democratic America, and NARAL Pro-Choice America.[38]

Holt was a member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. In the 113th Congress, he served as co-chair of the Energy Task Force in the New Democrat Coalition. He received a grade of 100% on the progressive Drum Major Institute's 2005 and 2007 Congressional Scorecards on middle-class issues, and he was consistently scored well by that organization.[39][40]

Environment

As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Holt supported legislation to clean up the environment and cap greenhouse gas emissions, and he promoted the development and use of alternative energy sources. He reintroduced the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act in 2011, co-sponsored the No New Drilling Act in 2012 to prevent new oil drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf, co-sponsored the Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 21), founded the Children's Environmental Health Caucus to raise awareness about environmental issues pertaining to children's health, and secured funding to preserve open space and recreation areas.[41][42]

On September 21, 2012, Holt voted against the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 (H.R. 3409), a bill passed in the House (233 - 175). On July 30, 2010, he voted for the Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill (H.R. 3534), which passed in the House. On June 26, 2009, Holt voted for the Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") Bill (H.R. 2454), which passed in the House by a narrow margin of 219 to 212. He also voted for the Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits Bill (H.R. 7060) to extend energy efficiency tax credits, as well as various individual and business tax credits.[43]

Holt maintained a 100 percent lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters since 1999, in addition to a 100 percent rating by Environment America in 2008, 2009, and 2011, and a 100 percent rating by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund from 2003 to 2008. On November 12, 2012, the New Jersey Sierra Club awarded Holt the Outstanding Achievement Award for his environmental conservation efforts.[44]

A September 2012 Nature article featured Holt and his rare background as a research scientist: "[Holt] thinks what is equally important is having more scientific thinking, even among the non-scientists in government...[Holt states], 'I'm more interested in the way that scientists are trained to deal with uncertainty, to deal with evidence and statistical reasoning, things that are lacking in the political debate.' When it comes to global warming, for instance, Representative Holt says we don't need people in Congress who understand atmospheric pressure, or glaciation. We simply need them to be open to the idea that evidence might disprove what they think they know. And that, he says, is thinking like a scientist."[45]

Education

While co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus, a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and serving on the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, Holt worked on crafting several comprehensive education policies. He helped write the College Cost Reduction Act - the largest college aid expansion bill since the GI bill - which drastically reduced student loan interest rates and included Holt's provision to provide upfront tuition assistance for math, science, and foreign language teachers.[46] He also helped establish the "American Opportunity" tax credit to alleviate the burden of college tuition for low- and moderate-income students. Furthermore, Holt helped enact the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which provides states with funding to reduce budget shortfalls and keep teachers in their classrooms.

For his significant legislative work on and support for all education initiatives, but also for legislation to strengthen national security through expansion and improvement of foreign language study, and to increase foreign language capacity in the U.S. intelligence community and throughout the federal government by expanding education in critical need foreign languages, Holt received the Foreign Language Advocacy Award from the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in 2005.[47]

On May 28, 2010, Holt voted in support of the Science and Technology Funding Bill (H.R. 5116), a bill passed in the House that provided funding for science and technology research and development purposes.[43]

Formerly the Assistant Director at Princeton University's Plasma Physics Research Department, Holt sought to promote involvement in programs of STEM fields. He successfully defended funding for the Department of Education’s Mathematics and Science Partnerships programs. As a result of his efforts, he was repeatedly given an "A" rating by the National Education Association after 2007, along with a 100 percent approval rating by the National Association for College Admission Counseling in 2006 and 2009-2011.

On January 22, 2013, Holt introduced a resolution designating February 12, 2013 (Charles Darwin's 204th birthday), as "Darwin Day" in order to recognize "the importance of sciences in the betterment of humanity".[48]

Social issues

On his website, Holt stated, "Since coming to Congress, I have fought for fairness in health care coverage, worked to protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, supported equal pay for equal work, and sought gender equity in schools."[49] While a Congressman, he strongly believed in women's right to make decisions about their health care, without interference by the government, and uphelds Roe v. Wade.

Holt successfully opposed legislation that would have prevented access to birth control, eliminated funding for Title X (the national family planning program), and denied federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association consistently issued an approval rating of 100 percent for Holt beginning in 1995, while the NARAL Pro-Choice America rated Holt 100 percent beginning in 1999.

Holt also sponsored the Helping Seniors Choose their Medicare Drug Plan Act (H.R. 3152), which increased the access that low-income healthcare recipients have to prescription drugs under Medicare and Medicaid. With the Protection Against Wrongful Voter Purges Act (H.R. 3835), Holt attempted to regulate the removal of voters' names from eligibility lists to ensure the validity of those lists. With the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act of 2009 (H.R. 4005), Holt increased limits on governmental power with respect to counterterrorism efforts.[50]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

2013 U.S. Senate election

On June 6, 2013, Holt became the first Democrat to become a candidate in the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Frank Lautenberg.[51] He lost the August 13, 2013, primary to Cory Booker.[2] Booker was subsequently elected to the Senate in 2013, and re-elected in 2014.[52]

Post-Congressional career

As Holt's final term in Congress was ending, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced that he would become its chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals, succeeding Alan I. Leshner.[53] Upon accepting the position, Holt praised the AAAS mission statement and said, "Fostering science and public engagement and advancing science in international affairs is what I’ve been doing for decades in one way or another."[54]

References

  1. ↑ Hamm, Thomas D (2003). The Quakers in America. Columbia University Press. p. 160.
  2. 1 2 AP (August 13, 2014). "Newark Mayor Cory Booker wins Democratic primary for U.S. Senate seat". CBS News.
  3. ↑ Zernike, Kate (February 18, 2014). "Representative Rush Holt, of New Jersey, Will Not Seek Re-election". New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Mrs. Holt Takes Secretary Post: Resigns College Office". Charleston Gazette. 1957-12-05.
  5. ↑ Holt's doctoral dissertation is available from University Microfilms International as document number 8127915
  6. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/1996-primary-election-results-house.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=375284
  8. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=375285
  9. 1 2 http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/1998-pri-elect-results-us-house.pdf
  10. ↑ "Twinkle, twinkle Kenneth Starr: how physicist Rush Holt used the Clinton scandal to oust a Republican congressman", Campaigns & Elections, May 1999
  11. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=27173
  12. ↑ CNN.com — Zimmer concedes congressional race in N.J. after 22 days, November 29, 2000
  13. ↑ The Daily Princetonian — Page 3, September 25, 2002
  14. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2000-general-elect-house-candidate-tallies.pdf
  15. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=565
  16. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2002gen-elect-us-house-candidate_tally.pdf
  17. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1221
  18. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-official_2004_gen_elect_congressional_results.pdf
  19. 1 2 http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2006_official-house-of-reps_tallies.pdf
  20. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=207005
  21. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=351216
  22. ↑ opensecrets.org, Campaign finance data on Rush Holt and Scott Sipprelle, retrieved 11/23/10.
  23. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2010-official-gen-elect-tallies-house-112910-1st-rev.pdf
  24. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=496874
  25. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-official-general-results-house-of-representatives-1212.pdf
  26. ↑ Cornelia Dean (2008-07-10). "Physicists in Congress Calculate Their Influence". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  27. ↑ Street, Clout (2012-11-06). "Foster headed back to Congress". Chicago Tribune.
  28. ↑ Krugman, Paul (2008-06-10). "My Congressman IS a rocket scientist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  29. ↑ rschmac12 (2005-12-07). "What Being a 5x'er Can Do For Your Career". Sony Pictures Television. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  30. ↑ Symons, Michael (2011-02-28). "Rep. Rush Holt beats IBM's Watson in 'Jeopardy!'". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  31. ↑ "Representative Rush Holt: Biography". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  32. ↑ "Rush Holt for Congress: Biography". RushHolt.com. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-08-14.
  33. ↑ Cohn, Alicia M. (2011-02-28). "Congressman to face off against "Jeopardy!" supercomputer". The Hill. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  34. ↑ McCarthy, Caroline (2011-03-01). "N.J. Congressman: I beat Watson". cnet News. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  35. ↑ Davis, Lia (2011-03-01). "Watson shows Congress technology is more than just fun and games". A Smarter Planet Blog. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  36. ↑ Friedman, Matt (2011-03-01). "Rep. Rush Holt takes down IBM supercomputer 'Watson' in round of Jeopardy!". Retrieved 2011-03-05. In a battle of wits between man and machine at a Capitol Hill hotel Monday night, Holt (D-12th Dist.) triumphed over 'Watson' in one round of an exhibition match sponsored by IBM. Holt finished the round with 8,600 points to the computer's 6,200.
  37. ↑ National Journal's Vote Rankings: The Top 10 - Hotline On Call. Hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.
  38. ↑ votesmart.org, Data on interest group ratings, voting record, and issue positions, retrieved 11/23/10.
  39. ↑ "Rush Holt (D - NJ)". Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record. The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. 2005. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  40. ↑ "Rush Holt (D-NJ)". The Middle Class.org. The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  41. ↑ 21: "Bill Summary and Status for H.R.21" Check |url= value (help). The Library of Congress. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  42. ↑ "Legislative Tracking System". Municipal Association of South Carolina. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  43. 1 2 "Key Votes". Vote Smart. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  44. ↑ "Sierra Club Celebrates Enviro Leaders and Volunteers". Sierra Club: New Jersey Chapter. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  45. ↑ Holt, Rush. "Thinking Like a Scientist: Solution to Politics?". Congressman Rush Holt. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  46. ↑ Holt, Rush. "Biography". Representative Rush Holt. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  47. ↑ "The James W. Dodge Foreign Language Advocate Award". Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  48. ↑ Oppenheimer, Mark (1 February 2013). "Seeing Darwin Through Christian Eyes? It All Depends on the Christian". New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  49. ↑ Holt, Rush. "Issues - Women's Issues". Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  50. ↑ "Representative Rush Holt". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  51. ↑ Jaffe, Alexandra. "Rep. Rush Holt enters NJ Senate race". TheHill.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  52. ↑ "New Jersey Election Results". The New York Times. December 17, 2014.
  53. ↑ Pinholster, Ginger (November 18, 2014). "Retiring U.S. Congressman Rush D. Holt, Ph.D., a Scientist and Teacher, to Lead AAAS, the World's Largest General Scientific Society—Publisher of the Science Family of Journals". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  54. ↑ Maron, Dina Fine (November 18, 2014). "Congress's 'Rocket Scientist' to Take Helm of World's Largest Science Organization". Scientific American. Retrieved 2014-11-19.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Michael Pappas		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 12th congressional district
1999–2015 		Succeeded by
Bonnie Watson Coleman
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