Jim Renacci facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Renacci
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 16th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	John Boccieri
Succeeded by	Anthony Gonzalez
Mayor of Wadsworth
In office July 15, 2004 – July 17, 2008
Preceded by	Caesar Carrino
Succeeded by	Robin Laubaugh
Personal details
Born	(1958-12-03) December 3, 1958 (age 66) Monongahela, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Tina Renacci
Children	3
Education	Indiana University of Pennsylvania (BS)

James B. Renacci (born December 3, 1958) is an American businessman and politician. He was a U.S. Representative for Ohio from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as a city council president and was the Mayor of Wadsworth, Ohio. In 2018, Renacci ran for the U.S. Senate but did not win. He also ran for governor of Ohio in 2022. Today, he leads the Republican Party in Medina County.

Early Life and Education

James Renacci was born on December 3, 1958, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. His mother, Anna Marie, was a nurse, and his father, Evo, worked for the railroad. Jim studied business at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After college, he became a Certified Public Accountant, which means he is an expert in managing money and taxes for people and businesses. He also worked as a financial advisor, helping people make smart money choices.

Business Career and Ventures

Jim Renacci has had a long career in business. In 2003, he started a company called LTC Companies. This company offered financial advice and owned parts of several businesses. These included three Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships in Columbus. His company also had a share in the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, a music venue in Columbus. He also owned part of a car dealership in Wadsworth.

Renacci has invested in many different types of businesses. These include real estate, car dealerships, and nursing homes. He was also involved with sports teams. He was a partner and board member for the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers. He also helped lead the AFL Executive Committee. Later, he became a partial owner of the Lancaster JetHawks, which is a minor league baseball team.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Jim Renacci served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 16th district. This means he was one of the people who voted on laws in the U.S. Congress.

Winning Elections

2010 Election Victory

On August 24, 2009, Jim Renacci announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He officially entered the race in January 2010. Renacci won against the Democratic leader, John Boccieri. He received 52% of the votes, while Boccieri received 41%.

2012 Election Challenge

In 2011, Ohio's voting districts were changed. This meant that Representative Betty Sutton was now in the same district as Renacci. They both decided to run for the same seat. The election was very close, but Renacci won again. He received 52% of the votes, and Sutton received 48%.

Time in Congress

Working Across the Aisle

During his time in Congress, Jim Renacci was known for working with members of both major political parties. He was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the U.S. House. This means he often worked with people from the opposite party on bills and ideas.

Supporting LGBT Rights

In 2015, Renacci was one of 60 Republicans who voted to support an order from President Barack Obama. This order stopped federal contractors from treating people unfairly based on their sexual orientation or gender identity when hiring. In 2016, he also voted for a change that would stop government money from going to contractors who treated LGBT employees unfairly.

Important Committee Work

While in Congress, Renacci was part of several important committees. These groups of lawmakers focus on specific topics.

• House Ways and Means Committee: This committee deals with taxes and other money matters.
  • Subcommittee on Tax Policy
  • Subcommittee on Social Security
• House Budget Committee: This committee works on the government's budget.

In his first term, he also served on the Committee on Financial Services. He was a vice chair of a subcommittee that looked at financial institutions.

Joining Congressional Groups

Renacci was also a member of several special groups in Congress called caucuses. These groups bring together lawmakers who share common interests.

• Republican Study Committee
• Congressional Coal Caucus
• Congressional Steel Caucus
• Congressional CPA Caucus
• NorthEast-MidWest Coalition
• General Aviation Caucus
• Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucus
• Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus

Running for Other Offices

2018 Ohio Governor Race

In 2017, Jim Renacci thought about running for Governor of Ohio. The governor is the leader of a state. On March 21, 2017, he announced he would try to become the Republican candidate for governor. However, he later decided to run for the U.S. Senate instead.

2018 U.S. Senate Campaign

In January 2018, Renacci announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. Senators represent their entire state in Congress. On May 8, 2018, he won the Republican primary election, becoming his party's choice for the Senate. He was supported by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

During his campaign, Renacci was known as Ohio's wealthiest member of Congress. He lost the election to the current Democratic Senator, Sherrod Brown. Brown received 53% of the votes, while Renacci received 47%.

After Congress

After leaving Congress, Jim Renacci continued to be involved in public life. In 2019, he started the Ohio's Future Foundation, a group focused on Ohio's future. In June 2020, he was chosen to be the Chairman of the Republican Party in Medina County.

2022 Ohio Governor Campaign

In 2021, Renacci decided to run for governor of Ohio again. He said he wanted to make changes in Ohio. He ran against the current governor, Mike DeWine, in the Republican primary election. Renacci received 28% of the votes, but Governor DeWine won the primary with 48%.

Personal Life

Jim Renacci is married to Tina Renacci, and they have three children. He is a Roman Catholic.

In 2012, he was listed as one of the richest members of Congress. His wealth was estimated at $36.67 million. By 2017, his estimated wealth had grown to $83.32 million.

In 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court made a decision about a tax dispute involving Renacci and his wife. The court ruled that the state of Ohio had to give them back $359,822. This money was from penalties they had paid on their 2000 taxes. The court said that the Renaccis had good reasons to believe they didn't owe those taxes at the time.

Election Results

Ohio Gubernatorial Primary 2021 Mike DeWine (R) 48% Jim Renacci (R) 28%