Daniel Webster (Florida politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Webster
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Grayson |
| Constituency | 8th district (2011–2013) 10th district (2013–2017) 11th district (2017–present) |
| Majority Leader of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 2006 – November 4, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | J. Alex Villalobos |
| Succeeded by | Alex Díaz de la Portilla |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 3, 1998 – November 4, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | John Ostalkiewicz |
| Succeeded by | Andy Gardiner |
| Constituency | 12th district (1998–2002) 9th district (2002–2008) |
| 89th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 19, 1996 – November 17, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Wallace |
| Succeeded by | John Thrasher |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 4, 1980 – November 3, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | John Mica |
| Succeeded by | Randy Johnson |
| Constituency | 39th district (1980–1982) 41st district (1982–1998) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Alan Webster
April 27, 1949 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sandra Jordan
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Georgia Institute of Technology (BS) |
Daniel Alan Webster (born April 27, 1949) is an American politician and businessman. He is currently a U.S. Representative for Florida's 11th congressional district. He has held this role since 2017. Before joining Congress in 2011, he served for 28 years in the Florida state government. He was the first Republican Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives since the time after the Civil War.
Webster earned an engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then joined his family's air conditioning and heating business, which he now owns. He has lived in Florida since he was seven years old and lives in Clermont. Webster is known for being the longest-serving legislator in Florida's history. He was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1980 and the Florida Senate in 1998. He also served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (1996–1998) and Florida Senate Majority Leader (2006–2008). He left the state legislature because of term limits.
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Daniel Webster's Early Life and Career
Daniel Webster was born in Charleston, West Virginia. His family moved to Orlando, Florida, when he was seven years old. This move was suggested by a doctor to help with his sinus problems.
He went to the Georgia Institute of Technology. There, he studied electrical engineering and graduated in 1971. After college, he started working in his family's air conditioning and heating business. He still owns and runs this business today. Webster lives in Winter Garden, Florida.
Serving in the Florida Legislature
Starting in the Florida House of Representatives
Webster first ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 1979 when he was 30. He decided to run because he felt there was an unfair situation with local government decisions. He wanted to make a difference.
He won his first election in 1980 by a very close margin. After that, he was reelected several times. After 1984, he often ran without anyone opposing him. This shows how much support he had in his district.
Key Roles and Laws in Florida
Webster became a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 1980. He held important roles like Minority Floor Leader. In 1996, when Republicans gained control, Webster became the first Republican Speaker of the Florida House in 122 years. He served as Speaker until 1998. He had to leave because of term limits, which means there's a limit to how long someone can serve in a particular office.
One of the most important laws he helped pass was the 1985 Home Education Program Act. This law made homeschooling legal in Florida. Webster himself homeschooled his six children and is a strong supporter of homeschooling.
Moving to the Florida Senate
After his time in the House, Webster ran for the Florida Senate in 1998. He often ran unopposed for his Senate seat. He served in the Senate until 2008, when he again reached his term limit.
From 2006 to 2008, he was the Senate Majority Leader. This meant he was a key leader for his party in the Florida Senate. Several places in Florida have been named in his honor, including a building and a section of a highway.
Daniel Webster in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Member of Congress
In 2010, Daniel Webster decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. He won the election and became a U.S. Representative for Florida's 8th congressional district. He later represented the 10th and then the 11th districts due to changes in district boundaries.
He has run for Speaker of the House three times. This is a very important leadership role in the U.S. House. While he didn't win, he received votes from other members of his party.
His Work in Congress
As a U.S. Representative, Webster focuses on several key areas. His main goals include making government smaller and more efficient, cutting spending, and lowering taxes. He believes these actions help the country's economy.
He serves on several important committees in the House:
- The Committee on Natural Resources: This committee deals with issues like national parks, energy, and wildlife.
- The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: This committee handles topics related to science, space exploration, and new technologies.
- The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: This committee works on roads, bridges, airports, and other transportation systems. He is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Important Elections and Re-elections
Webster has been re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives multiple times. In 2012, he won a close race against Val Demings, who was the former Chief of Police in Orlando. In 2016, he changed districts and won the election for Florida's 11th congressional district. He has continued to win re-election in 2018, 2020, and 2022, showing continued support from voters in his area.
Daniel Webster's Political Views
On Education and Gun Laws
Webster is a strong supporter of homeschooling. He believes families should have the choice to educate their children at home.
Regarding gun laws, Webster supports the right of gun owners to carry concealed firearms across state lines where it is legal. He has received high ratings from gun rights organizations, showing his support for gun ownership rights.
On Taxes and Other Issues
Webster voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He believes that the tax system should be simpler and allow people to keep more of their earnings. He thinks this helps families and businesses.
He is known as a committed conservative. He generally supports policies that aim to reduce government spending and promote individual freedoms.
Personal Life
Daniel Webster is a Southern Baptist and attends First Baptist Church of Central Florida. He is married to Sandra E. "Sandy" Webster, and they have six children and 17 grandchildren. The Websters homeschooled their children.
