Evan McMullin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evan McMullin
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McMullin in 2019
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| Born |
David Evan McMullin
April 2, 1976 Provo, Utah, U.S.
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| Education | Brigham Young University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MBA) |
| Political party | Republican (before 2016) Independent (2016–present) |
| Spouse(s) |
Emily Norton
(m. 2021) |
David Evan McMullin (born April 2, 1976) is an American politician. He used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He ran for president in 2016 and for the U.S. Senate in Utah in 2022 as an independent candidate.
From 2001 to 2010, McMullin was a CIA officer. After that, he earned a business degree and worked as an investment banker. He also advised the U.S. House of Representatives on national security. In 2016, he left the Republican Party. This happened when Donald Trump was likely to become the party's presidential candidate.
McMullin ran for president in 2016 as an independent. He had support from some people who did not want Donald Trump to be president. In his home state of Utah, he received 21.5% of the votes. This placed him third behind Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Across the country, he received 0.5% of the total votes.
After the 2016 election, McMullin often spoke out against the Trump administration. He supported Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In 2022, McMullin ran for the U.S. Senate in Utah as an independent. He was supported by the Utah Democratic Party. He lost to the Republican candidate, Mike Lee, but it was a close election for Utah.
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Early Life and Education
Evan McMullin was born in Provo, Utah. He is the oldest of four children. When he was young, his family moved to a small town near Seattle, Washington. His father worked with computers, and his mother sold food from their garage.
After finishing high school in 1994, McMullin spent two years in Brazil. He was a Mormon missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When he came back, he worked on a fishing boat in Alaska for a summer.
In 1997, McMullin started college at Brigham Young University (BYU). Every summer during college, he interned with the CIA. He also lived in Israel and Jordan for a year. He volunteered to help refugees for the United Nations. In 2001, he graduated with a degree in international law and diplomacy. Then, he began his training to become a CIA officer. After working for the CIA, he went to the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his business degree (MBA) there in 2011.
Career Highlights
CIA Intelligence Officer
Soon after McMullin joined the CIA, the September 11 attacks happened. This led to faster training and deployment for him. For the next ten years, he worked overseas. He focused on counterterrorism and intelligence operations. He worked in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. He left the CIA in 2010.
Former CIA officers who worked with McMullin praised his work. They noted his skill in building trust with people. This helped him gather important information. Near the end of his CIA career, he worked undercover in Iraq. McMullin said his work involved meeting with business and government leaders. He also collected information from terrorist groups.
Business and Government Roles
After leaving the CIA, McMullin worked for Goldman Sachs. This is a large investment banking company. He worked there for about a year and a half. In 2012, he volunteered for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
In 2013, McMullin became a senior adviser. He worked on national security issues for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 2015, he became the chief policy director for the House Republican Conference. This is a group of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. He resigned from this role in August 2016. This was just before he announced his run for president.
Political Campaigns
2016 Presidential Campaign
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On ballot Write-in
No ballot access
On August 8, 2016, McMullin announced he would run for President of the United States. He ran as an independent candidate. He wanted to offer a conservative choice different from Donald Trump. His campaign was supported by some Republicans who did not support Trump.
McMullin criticized Donald Trump during his campaign. He said Trump's actions could harm national security. He also spoke out against Russian efforts to cause problems in the U.S. and Europe. Because he entered the race late, McMullin was only on the ballot in eleven states. He could be voted for as a "write-in" candidate in many other states.
On October 6, McMullin chose Mindy Finn as his running mate. She had worked as a digital strategist for political groups.
McMullin's support grew in Utah in October 2016. This happened after a recording of Donald Trump making inappropriate comments was released. Many Mormons in Utah, who usually support Republicans, turned away from Trump. McMullin hoped to win Utah, which would have been the first time since 1968 an independent candidate won a state.
In the end, McMullin's best result was in Utah. He came in third place, getting 21.5% of the votes. Donald Trump won Utah with 45.5%. Nationwide, McMullin received 0.5% of the popular vote. After the election, McMullin said he would continue to work for a "new conservative movement."
After the 2016 Campaign
After 2016, McMullin continued to criticize Trump. In January 2017, he helped start a group called Stand Up Republic. This group watches how the government works. It focuses on protecting democratic rules and the Constitution. McMullin said that "undermining truth" is a dangerous tactic.
In 2020, McMullin supported Joe Biden for president. He said it was important to put the country first. He also discussed forming a new political party with other former Republican officials. In May 2021, he helped release a political statement called "A Call for American Renewal."
2022 U.S. Senate Campaign
On October 5, 2021, McMullin announced he would run for the U.S. Senate in Utah. He ran as an independent against Senator Mike Lee. McMullin said he wanted to unite people and find solutions. He believed that extreme views and misinformation were threats to American democracy.
Several important Utah Democratic leaders supported McMullin. In April 2022, the Utah Democratic Party decided to support McMullin. They did not put forward their own candidate. McMullin promised that if he won, he would not join either the Democratic or Republican party.
The election was closer than usual for Utah, which is a very Republican state. McMullin lost to Mike Lee, getting 42.8% of the votes compared to Lee's 53.2%. However, this was the best result for a non-Republican candidate in Utah since 1976.
Political Views
McMullin has often spoken against extreme views in politics. He believes these extremes do not represent Utah or the country well. He has embraced being an independent politician.
Economic Policies
McMullin supports free trade. He believes it helps the economy. He has supported agreements like NAFTA. He also supports lowering taxes for companies and individuals. McMullin has suggested changes to programs like Social Security. These changes include checking how much money people make and raising the retirement age.
Environmental Issues
McMullin agrees that the climate is changing. He believes that human activities are contributing to it. He has said that if he were president, he would invest more in technologies. These technologies would help reduce carbon emissions.
Foreign Policy
On the Syrian Civil War, McMullin supported international action. He wanted to stop the violence against innocent Syrians. He also believed the U.S. should have supported moderate Syrian groups more. He supported creating a no-fly zone over Syria. This would stop bombings in populated areas.
McMullin is against the use of torture. However, he supports keeping the Guantanamo Bay detention camp open. He has criticized the international nuclear agreement with Iran. He believes in stronger sanctions on Iran. He also thinks military action should be an option if Iran does not follow the agreement.
McMullin has criticized Donald Trump's comments about Muslims. He said these comments made it harder for the U.S. to work with Muslim communities. This could hurt efforts against terrorism. He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to cause problems in other countries.
Social Issues
..... McMullin believes that supporting women and children more can lead to fewer .... .....
On same-sex marriage, McMullin believes in "traditional marriage." However, he respects the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. This decision made same-sex marriage legal across the U.S. He believes it is "time to move on" from this issue. McMullin's mother is in a same-sex marriage. He has said he loves her very much, even though they have different views on marriage.
Other Domestic Issues
During his 2016 campaign, McMullin said he would appoint judges who follow the original meaning of the Constitution. On immigration, he supports border security. However, he does not support deporting large numbers of people. He believes U.S. immigration policy should attract talented individuals. In 2016, McMullin supported parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This law stops health insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions. He also supports allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs.
Personal Life
McMullin is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In June 2021, he married Emily Norton. He has five stepchildren from his wife's previous marriage. The family lives in Highland, Utah.
