Joe Donnelly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Donnelly
Official portrait, 2022
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
In office April 11, 2022 – July 8, 2024
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Callista Gingrich
Succeeded by	Laura Hochla (as Chargé d'Affaires)
United States Senator from Indiana
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Richard Lugar
Succeeded by	Mike Braun
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Chris Chocola
Succeeded by	Jackie Walorski
Personal details
Born	Joseph Simon Donnelly (1955-09-29) September 29, 1955 (age 69) Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jill Donnelly ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	2
Education	University of Notre Dame (BA, JD)

Joseph Simon Donnelly Sr. (born September 29, 1955) is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013. After that, he was a U.S. Senator for Indiana from 2013 to 2019. More recently, he served as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2022 to 2024 under President Joe Biden.

Donnelly was born in Massapequa, New York. He went to the University of Notre Dame. Before becoming a national politician, he worked as a lawyer and was involved in local government in Indiana. He was also on the school board for Marian High School in Mishawaka.

He first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 but lost. He ran again in 2006 and won, representing Indiana's 2nd congressional district. He was re-elected twice. In 2011, Donnelly decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He won the election in 2012, defeating Richard Mourdock. He served one term as a Senator. In 2018, he ran for re-election but was defeated by Mike Braun.

In 2021, President Joe Biden chose Donnelly to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, which is the government of the Catholic Church. He started this role in April 2022 and finished in July 2024.

Early Life and Education

Donnelly grew up in Massapequa, New York. His mother passed away when he was 10 years old, and his father raised him. He studied government at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1977. He then earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 1981.

Early Career and Public Service

After law school, Donnelly worked as a lawyer. In 1996, he started his own company called Marking Solutions.

He also served on the Indiana Election Commission from 1988 to 1989. From 1997 to 2001, he was a member of the Mishawaka Marian School Board, serving as its president for one year.

Donnelly ran for Indiana Attorney General in 1988 and for the Indiana Senate in 1990, but he did not win either election. In 2004, he ran for the U.S. Congress from Indiana's 2nd congressional district but lost to the Republican candidate, Chris Chocola.

U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2013)

Becoming a Representative

Official Portrait of Donnelly as a freshman in the U.S. House

In 2006, Donnelly ran for Congress again, challenging Chris Chocola. This time, Donnelly won the election with 54% of the votes. He represented Indiana's 2nd district. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2010. In 2010, he won a close race against Jackie Walorski.

What He Did in the House

As a member of the House of Representatives, Donnelly served on important committees. These included the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. On the Veterans' Affairs Committee, he was the lead Democrat (Ranking Member) for the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

U.S. Senate (2013–2019)

Running for Senator

Senator Joe Donnelly, with former Senator Birch Bayh and his son, former Governor of Indiana and Senator Evan Bayh

In 2011, Joe Donnelly announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. In the 2012 election, he faced Richard Mourdock, who had won the Republican primary. Donnelly won the general election with 50% of the vote. .....

His Time as Senator

Donnelly was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2013. He was the first Democrat to hold his Senate seat from Indiana since 1977. He was known for working with members of both political parties. One group, The Lugar Center, even ranked him as one of the most bipartisan (meaning he worked well with both sides) Senators.

Senate Committees

During his time in the Senate, Donnelly was part of several key committees:

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
• Committee on Armed Services
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Special Committee on Aging

Re-election Campaign

In 2018, Donnelly ran for a second term as Senator. He was challenged by Republican Mike Braun. Braun won the election. After the election, Donnelly said that the way some Democrats handled the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh might have played a part in his defeat.

Political Views

Donnelly is considered a moderate Democrat. This means he sometimes agreed with his own party and sometimes with the Republican Party on different issues. For example, he supported progressive taxation (where wealthier people pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes) and organized labor (unions).

Economy and Taxes

Donnelly supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, which was a plan to boost the economy. He also voted to extend tax cuts for middle-class families. He believed in helping small businesses by allowing them tax deductions.

He supported efforts to make sure banks were regulated properly. He also worked to raise the federal minimum wage and supported laws that ensure fair pay for workers.

Health Care

Donnelly voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare). He also supported changes to the law, like defining full-time work as 40 hours a week instead of 30. He also wanted to remove a tax on medical devices.

Education

Donnelly did not support the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. He felt she lacked the necessary commitment to public education.

Foreign Policy

Donnelly with U.S. service members in Afghanistan

Donnelly voted on several important foreign policy issues. He supported military actions in Libya in 2011. He voted against increasing troops in Iraq in 2007 and supported a plan to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.

Donnelly with a service member of the United States Marine Corps

He generally opposed a quick withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. He also supported a Senate resolution that criticized a UN resolution about Israeli settlements.

National Security

Donnelly voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act, a law designed to prevent terrorism. He also supported requiring special warrants for wiretaps within the U.S.

Immigration

Donnelly voted against the DREAM Act in 2010, which would have provided a path to citizenship for some undocumented young people. In 2018, he supported different proposals for immigration reform, including some that would provide a path to citizenship and others that would fund a border wall.

Gun Laws

Donnelly has a mixed record on gun laws. He has supported the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) and has been praised by gun rights groups in the past. However, he also believes in finding "smart and responsible ways to reduce gun violence." He voted to support expanded background checks for gun purchases.

LGBT Rights

Donnelly's views on LGBT rights have changed over time. While he initially opposed same-sex marriage during his 2012 campaign, he announced his support for it in April 2013. He also voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a policy that prevented openly gay people from serving in the military.

After Politics

After leaving the Senate, Joe Donnelly joined a law firm in Washington, D.C., in March 2019. He also helped start an organization called One Country Project, which aims to help Democrats connect better with voters in rural areas.

Ambassador to the Holy See

On October 8, 2021, President Biden nominated Donnelly to be the ambassador to the Holy See. The Senate approved his nomination in January 2022. He officially started his role on April 11, 2022, when he presented his credentials to Pope Francis. He served in this position until July 8, 2024.

Personal Life

Donnelly with his wife and their two children

Joe Donnelly met his wife, Jill, at the University of Notre Dame. They got married in 1979 and have two children. They live in Granger. Donnelly is a practicing Roman Catholic.

Electoral History

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2018

See also

In Spanish: Joe Donnelly para niños