- Duncan D. Hunter
-
Duncan D. Hunter Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 52nd districtIncumbent Assumed office
January 3, 2009Preceded by Duncan L. Hunter Personal details Born December 7, 1976
San Diego, CaliforniaPolitical party Republican Spouse(s) Margaret Hunter Residence Lakeside, California Alma mater San Diego State University Profession politician, military officer, businessman Religion Baptist Military service Service/branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 2001-2007 Rank Captain Battles/wars Afghanistan, Iraq Duncan Duane Hunter (born December 7, 1976) is the U.S. Representative for California's 52nd congressional district, serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter. Hunter's district is located in northern and eastern San Diego County and includes El Cajon, La Mesa, and a portion of eastern San Diego.
Hunter is a United States Marine and veteran of both the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. He is one of seven members of the U.S. Congress who haved served in either Iraq or Afghanistan[1] and was the first combat veteran of either conflict to serve in the Congress.[2]
Contents
Early life
Hunter was born in San Diego, California, and graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, California. He attended San Diego State University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration. Hunter started a web design company in college to help pay for tuition. Upon graduation from San Diego State, he worked full time in San Diego as an information technology business analyst.[3]
Military career
The day after the September 11 attacks, Hunter quit his job and joined the Marine Corps. He attended Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Upon graduation in March 2002, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He subsequently served as a field artillery officer in the 1st Marine Division after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and completed a second tour in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004, serving in Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. During his second tour, he participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve. In September 2005, Hunter was honorably discharged from active duty but remained in the Marine Corps Reserve. He then started a residential development company. In 2007, he was recalled to active duty and deployed to Afghanistan in support of the War in Afghanistan; this was his third tour of duty during the War on Terrorism. Hunter was honorably discharged from active duty in December 2007 but continues to serve part-time as a Captain in the Marine Corps Reserve.[4]
- Hunter's awards include
U.S. House of Representatives
2008 election
Hunter won the Congressional Republican primary election on June 3, 2008, after receiving 72 percent of the vote[5][dead link] and defeating three opponents. Combined with his name recognition, he went into the general election a strong favorite in his heavily Republican district.
On November 4, 2008, Hunter received 57 percent of the vote to defeat his Democratic opponent Mike Lumpkin.[6] Hunter thus replaced his father, Congressman Duncan L. Hunter (R-Calif.), who retired from Congress after fourteen terms.[7]
Tenure
Like his father, Hunter's voting record has been decidedly conservative. In a 2009 interview with KPBS, Hunter expressed support for "overriding" the Endangered Species Act to reduce unemployment in California. Hunter also opposed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, saying that it would "take away" the doctor-patient relationship, the right for people to choose "what type of operations they have," and that it would allow a "government bureaucrat" to make health care decisions for people. In the KPBS interview, Hunter said, "Things that you have problems with now would be exacerbated if you had government run healthcare."[8]
At an April 2010 Tea Party movement rally in Ramona, California, Hunter advocated for the deportation of United States citizens who are the children of illegal immigrants.[9] At the rally, Hunter said, "It's a complex issue and...you could look and say, 'You're a mean guy. That's a mean thing to do. That's not a humanitarian thing to do.' " Hunter added, "We simply cannot afford what we're doing right now. We just can't afford it. California's going under." Hunter confirmed the comments to San Diego County's North County Times, telling the newspaper that he also supported House Resolution 1868, a measure that called for the elimination of birthright citizenship in the United States. Hunter has also expressed support for the controversial 2010 Arizona immigration law, calling it a national security issue and "a fantastic starting point."[10][11]
Hunter opposed the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and advocated for delaying the repeal after it was ratified by President Barack Obama. In 2011, Hunter introduced legislation to require that all "four military service chiefs certify that the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell won't negatively affect their combat units."[12] Like his father was, Hunter is a member of the Republican Study Committee.
Dan Murtaugh has suggested that Hunter's call to rebid the Littoral combat ship program is an attempt to get federal funds for a shipyard in his district.[13]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
Personal life
Hunter, his wife Margaret, and their three children have lived in Lakeside, California since 2007; he has previously lived in Oklahoma, Virginia and Idaho.[8][14]
References
- ^ Hegseth, Pete (November 4, 2010). "The New Victory Caucus in Congress". National Review. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/252476/new-victory-caucus-congress-pete-hegseth. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Duncan D. Hunter for Congress". Hunterforcongress.com. http://www.hunterforcongress.com/bio/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- ^ Kitto, Kris (2009-03-04). "The ‘normal’ life of Duncan D. Hunter". TheHill.com. http://thehill.com/capital-living/24151-the-normal-life-of-duncan-d-hunter. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- ^ Maze, Rick (Jan 24, 2009). "Former Marine in Congress vows to help troops". Marine Corps Times. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/01/marine_hunter_012409w/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Primary Election. Registrar of Voters (June 3, 2008).
- ^ Shane, Leo, III (November 6, 2008). "Six recent combat veterans win congressional races". Stars and Stripes. http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58659.
- ^ Clock, Michele (June 4, 2008). "Hunter takes GOP primary". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080604-9999-1n4cong.html.
- ^ a b Crook, Hank; Doug Myrland (June 11, 2009). "Rep. Duncan D. Hunter Discusses First Year in Office, Economy, Health Care". KPBS. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/jun/11/rep-duncan-d-hunter-discusses-first-year-office-ec/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Calif. congressman wants to deport children of illegal immigrants". USA Today. April 28, 2010. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/04/lawmaker-from-calif-wants-to-deport-children-of-illegal-immigrants/1.
- ^ “” (2010-04-27). "Hunter-.mp4". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVn0koLQX38. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- ^ Ponting, Bob (April 29, 2010). "Congressman's call to deport children of illegals sparks firestorm". Fox 5 San Diego. http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-hunter-calls-for-deportation,0,1239838.story. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ PENNER, GLORIA (January 21, 2011). "SD Congressman Challenges Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal". KPBS. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/21/sd-congressman-challenges-dont-ask-dont-tell-repea/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Murtaugh, Dan. "Congressman asks for LCS program review, possible rebidding." Press-Register, 7 July 2011.
- ^ Rothstein, Betsy (March 20, 2007). "Congressman Duncan Hunter will not seek reelection". The Hill. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rep.-duncan-hunter-will-not-seek-reelection-2007-03-20.html.
External links
- U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter
- Campaign Website
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Congressional profile at GovTrack
- Congressional profile at OpenCongress
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Profile at SourceWatch
United States House of Representatives Preceded by
Duncan L. HunterMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 52nd congressional district
2009–presentIncumbent United States order of precedence Preceded by
Jim Himes
D-ConnecticutUnited States Representatives by seniority
311thSucceeded by
Lynn Jenkins
R-KansasCategories:- 1976 births
- Living people
- People from San Diego, California
- Baptists from the United States
- California Republicans
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- American military personnel of the Iraq War
- American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- United States Marine Corps officers
- United States Marine Corps reservists
- San Diego State University alumni
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