Dennis Kucinich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Kucinich
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Official portrait, 2010
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 10th district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Hoke |
| Succeeded by | Marcy Kaptur (redistricting) |
| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 23rd district |
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| In office January 3, 1995 – January 2, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Anthony Sinagra |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Sweeney |
| 53rd Mayor of Cleveland | |
| In office November 14, 1977 – November 6, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph Perk |
| Succeeded by | George Voinovich |
| Member of the Cleveland City Council from Ward 12 |
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| In office August 9, 1983 – December 31, 1985 |
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| In office January 1, 1970 – December 31, 1973 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dennis John Kucinich
October 8, 1946 Cleveland, Ohio, US |
| Political party | Independent (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (until 2024) |
| Spouses |
Helen Kucinich
(divorced)Sandra Lee McCarthy
(m. 1977; div. 1986)Elizabeth Harper
(m. 2005) |
| Children | Jackie Kucinich |
| Education | Case Western Reserve University (BA, MA) |
Dennis John Kucinich (born October 8, 1946) is an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party for many years. Kucinich served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio from 1997 to 2013.
Before that, he was the mayor of Cleveland from 1977 to 1979. During his time as mayor, he worked to keep the city's public electric company. He later ran for president in the Democratic primaries in 2004 and 2008. He was known for his liberal political views. Since 2024, he has been an Independent.
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Early Life and Education
Dennis Kucinich was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the oldest of seven children. His father was a truck driver and his mother was a homemaker.
He went to St. John Cantius High School and graduated in 1965. Later, he studied at Cleveland State University. In 1973, he earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in speech and communication from Case Western Reserve University.
Early Political Career
Kucinich started his political journey in 1967. In 1969, at age 23, he was elected to the Cleveland City Council.
In 1975, Kucinich became the clerk of the municipal court in Cleveland. He held this job for two years.
Cleveland Mayor
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Kucinich became the mayor of Cleveland in 1977. He was 31 years old, making him the youngest mayor of a big city in the United States. People sometimes called him "the boy mayor of Cleveland."
One of his most important actions as mayor was refusing to sell Cleveland Public Power, the city's public electric company. This decision was very important for the city's future. In 1998, the Cleveland City Council honored him for his "courage and foresight" in protecting the utility.
After Being Mayor
After his time as mayor, Kucinich faced some tough times. He struggled to find work and moved to Los Angeles for a while. He worked as a radio talk-show host and lecturer.
In 1982, Kucinich returned to Cleveland. He was elected to the Cleveland city council again in 1983. In 1994, he won a seat in the Ohio State Senate.
Serving in Congress
In 1996, Kucinich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Ohio's 10th district. He was reelected seven times, serving until 2013.
He was a leader in the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 1999 to 2003. This group works for progressive policies in Congress.
Congressional Campaigns
Kucinich usually won his elections for Congress by large margins.
In 2012, the boundaries of congressional districts changed. This meant Kucinich had to run against another Democrat, Marcy Kaptur, in the new 9th district. Kaptur won the primary election, and Kucinich left Congress in 2013.
He later became a contributor on the Fox News Channel. In 2018, he ran for governor of Ohio but lost in the primary election. He also ran for mayor of Cleveland in 2021 but did not win. In 2024, he ran for Congress again as an independent candidate.
Presidential Campaigns
2004 Presidential Campaign
Dennis Kucinich ran for president in 2004. He was a strong opponent of the Iraq War. This gained him support from many anti-war activists.
He did not win any primary contests. However, he was the last candidate to drop out before John Kerry became the Democratic nominee. He ended his campaign in July 2004 and supported Kerry.
2008 Presidential Campaign
Kucinich ran for president again in 2008. He supported ideas like single-payer health care. This means the government would pay for everyone's healthcare. He also wanted to create a "Department of Peace" in the government.
He dropped out of the race early in 2008 after not doing well in the first few states. He later supported Barack Obama after Obama won the nomination.
He gave a speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Political Views
Kucinich is known for his left-leaning political views. He is often seen as one of the most liberal members of Congress.
Views on Presidents
In 2008, Kucinich tried to start a process to remove President George W. Bush from office. He believed Bush had misled the country into the war in Iraq.
He also criticized President Barack Obama's decision to use military force in Libya in 2011. Kucinich believed this action should have had Congress's approval first.
Kucinich has also spoken positively about President Donald Trump on TV. He said that some parts of the government were working against Trump.
Civil Liberties
Kucinich has always been against the Patriot Act. This law was passed after 9/11 and gives the government more power to investigate. He voted against it in 2001 and its renewal in 2006.
He supports LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage. He voted to expand laws against hate crimes.
Environment and Energy
Kucinich cares a lot about the environment. He has a perfect score from the League of Conservation Voters, which tracks pro-environment votes. He believes clean water is a basic human right.
As mayor, he supported Cleveland's public electric system. He also spoke out against building nuclear power plants. He has long supported renewable energy and using energy wisely.
Foreign Policy
Kucinich supports a non-interventionist foreign policy. This means he believes the U.S. should avoid getting involved in other countries' conflicts. He has called war a "profitable racket."
Iraq War
Kucinich voted against going to war in Iraq in 2002. He also consistently voted against funding the war. He believed the U.S. was illegally occupying Iraq.
Military Action in Libya
Kucinich was against the U.S. military action in Libya in 2011. He said President Obama's decision to approve air strikes was wrong without Congress's permission.
Syria
Kucinich visited Syria in 2007. He praised Syria for taking in many refugees from Iraq. He has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad several times. He believes that letting the Syrian people decide their leaders is important.
Healthcare
Kucinich believes that healthcare is a "right in a democratic society." He is critical of private health insurance and drug companies. He wants to make sure everyone in the United States has healthcare.
He supports a single-payer healthcare system. This means the government would manage healthcare for everyone. He believes this would save money by cutting out insurance company profits.
Trade
Kucinich has always been against free trade agreements. He believes they cause American jobs to be lost. He also thinks they can lead to unfair working conditions in other countries.
Youth Rights
Kucinich has supported lowering the voting age to 16. He also favored lowering the legal drinking age to 18.
Recognition
In 2003, Kucinich received the Gandhi Peace Award. This award recognizes people who work for peace. In 2010, he received the US Peace Prize for his leadership in preventing and ending wars.
When Kucinich left Congress, many people praised him. Representative Keith Ellison said Kucinich was a "transformative leader" who spoke passionately about peace.
Personal Life
Dennis Kucinich was raised as a Roman Catholic. He has a daughter named Jackie Kucinich from his second marriage.
He married his third wife, Elizabeth Harper, in 2005. They met through a shared interest in economic issues. Kucinich has been a vegan since 1995, meaning he does not eat meat or animal products. Elizabeth is also a vegan.
See also
- List of peace activists
