Joe Sestak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Sestak
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 7th district |
|
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Curt Weldon |
| Succeeded by | Pat Meehan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Ambrose Sestak Jr.
December 12, 1951 Secane, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Forward (2022–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (2006–2022) Independent (before 2006) |
| Spouse |
Susan Clark
(m. 1998) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPA, PhD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1974–2005 |
| Rank |  Vice admiral (Retired as a Rear Admiral) |
| Commands | Director of Navy Operations Group |
| Awards |  Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2) Joint Service Commendation Medal |
Joseph Ambrose Sestak Jr. (born in 1951) is an American politician and a retired officer from the United States Navy. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 7th district from 2007 to 2011. He was also the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in 2010.
As a three-star admiral, he was the highest-ranking military official ever elected to the United States Congress at the time. He also ran for president in the 2020 election.
Sestak graduated second in his class at the United States Naval Academy. He served in the Navy for over 31 years, rising to a high rank. He worked on the United States National Security Council staff under President Bill Clinton. He also led the USS George Washington carrier strike group during combat in the Persian Gulf in 2002.
In 2006, Sestak was elected to the House of Representatives. He won reelection in 2008 by a large margin. In 2010, he ran for the Senate and defeated the long-serving Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. However, he lost the main election to Republican Pat Toomey. Sestak tried again for the Senate in 2016 but lost the primary election.
In 2019, Sestak announced he was running for president. His campaign did not gain much support, and he dropped out later that year. In 2022, he joined the Forward Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joseph Sestak Jr. was born in Secane, Pennsylvania, in 1951. His father, Joseph Sr., also served in the United States Navy and fought in World War II. He became a captain.
Sestak went to Cardinal O'Hara High School. He was inspired by his father's strong will. He remembered his father fixing their car in the freezing cold, showing great determination.
After high school, Sestak followed his father's path. He was accepted into the United States Naval Academy during the Vietnam War. In 1974, he graduated second in his class. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, he earned two advanced degrees from Harvard University.
_patrols_the_waters_off_the_coast_of_Panama_during_PANAMAX_2007.jpg)
Sestak served as a surface warfare officer. He held various roles on ships like the USS Richard E. Byrd and the USS Hoel. In 1986, he became executive officer of the USS Underwood. This ship won important awards, including the Battenberg Cup.
In 1991, Sestak took command of the USS Samuel B. Roberts. This ship was named the best surface combatant in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1993.
From 1994 to 1997, he worked at the White House on the United States National Security Council staff. He helped shape national security plans for the Clinton Administration. After the September 11 attacks, he became the first director of the Navy Operations Group. This unit focused on anti-terrorism strategies.
In 2002, Sestak commanded the George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group. This group included 10 U.S. ships and 10,000 sailors. They worked with 20 allied ships and conducted combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sestak later became Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He worked to make the Navy more efficient and save money. He pushed for a new shipbuilding plan that would make the Navy stronger with fewer ships.
On September 11, 2001, Sestak was at the Pentagon. He left the building just before it was attacked.
In 2005, Sestak was moved from his high-ranking position. He then decided to retire from the Navy. This was because his young daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer.
There was some discussion about his departure. Some reports said he was removed because he challenged certain ideas within the Bush Administration. He had disagreed with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about military spending cuts.
Many officers and sailors who worked with Sestak supported him. They signed a letter saying he was a great leader. His former boss, Chief of Naval Operations Vern Clark, called Sestak "courageous" and a "patriot's patriot."
After Sestak retired, his daughter fully recovered from cancer. He retired as a two-star admiral.
Military Awards
Sestak received many military awards. These include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and two Legion of Merit awards.
Serving in Congress
Elections for the House of Representatives
2006 Election
In 2006, Sestak decided to run for Congress. His daughter's health care through the Navy's TRICARE program inspired him. He saw how important good health care was. He wanted to help other families get the same quality care. He saw his run for Congress as a way to "pay back" the country.
He ran as a Democrat in Pennsylvania's 7th district. This district usually voted Republican. He challenged the ten-term Republican, Curt Weldon. Sestak raised a lot of money for his campaign. He got donations from people like Jimmy Buffett and Bill Clinton.
Polls showed a very close race. In late October, federal agents investigated Weldon's family. Sestak won the election by 13 points. He became only the second Democrat to represent the 7th district since 1939.
2008 Election
In 2008, Sestak ran for reelection against Republican Wendell Craig Williams. Sestak won by a large margin of 20 points. He did not even buy many advertisements.
Laws and Votes in Congress
Sestak worked on many laws that passed Congress. In 2007, he was named the most productive new member of Congress. He helped pass 19 laws in his first term.
Some of his important work included:
- Creating the House Pediatric Cancer Caucus.
- Extending benefits for people looking for work.
- Helping small businesses get tax credits for health care.
- Getting federal money for autism care and research. This was called the "Sestak Amendment."
As a veteran, Sestak supported ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy prevented LGBT people from serving openly in the military. He also wanted to end bank bailouts. He voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help the economy. He also voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which helps ensure equal pay.
Working with Staff
Sestak and his staff were known for their hard work. He was even called "The Most Productive Member of Congress."
His office focused on helping people in his district. During the Great Recession, many people lost jobs and homes. Sestak's office handled 18,000 cases in four years. This was much more than the average congressional office. He also held many meetings in his district to hear from people.
Some people said Sestak expected his staff to work very long hours. He admitted the work was "pretty demanding." But he said his staff was becoming more stable over time.
2008 Presidential Election
Sestak supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries. He was her national security adviser. He later supported Barack Obama in the general election.
Committee Work
Sestak served on several important committees in the House:
- Committee on Armed Services (focused on military matters)
- Committee on Education and Labor (focused on schools and jobs)
- Committee on Small Business (helped small businesses, where he was Vice Chairman)
Running for U.S. Senate
2010 Primary Election
In 2009, Sestak decided to challenge Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. Specter had recently switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party. Many top Democrats, including President Obama, supported Specter. They did not want Sestak to run.
Sestak said, "there's no more kings, there's no more kingmakers in America." He traveled to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to gain support.
The Obama administration and the Democratic Party actively campaigned against Sestak. They held many fundraisers for Specter. There was even a report that Sestak was offered a federal job if he would drop out of the race. Sestak refused the offer. An official report later said that nothing wrong had happened.
Despite the strong opposition, Sestak gained momentum. He attacked Specter's party switch as being "100 percent" about politics. Sestak won the primary election with 54% of the vote.
2010 General Election
After winning the primary, Sestak faced Republican Pat Toomey. Many people saw this as a very important race for the country.
Toomey raised more money and aired TV ads earlier than Sestak. This helped Toomey gain a lead in the polls. Sestak was known for campaigning very hard until the end. He started airing his own ads in the fall and closed the gap.
On election night, the race was very close. Toomey eventually won by a small margin: 51% to 49%. This was one of the most expensive federal elections in 2010. Sestak received less financial help from his party compared to Toomey.
After the election, Sestak visited all 67 counties in Pennsylvania again to thank his supporters.
2016 Senate Election Attempt
After his 2010 defeat, Sestak taught at universities like Cheyney University and Carnegie Mellon University. He also worked with groups focused on refugee aid, nuclear disarmament, and education.
In 2013, Sestak said he was thinking about running against Toomey again. In 2015, he officially started his campaign by walking 422 miles across Pennsylvania. He held town hall meetings every day. He also published a book about his ideas.
Sestak faced strong opposition from national Democrats again. They supported other candidates, especially Katie McGinty. Even though Sestak often led in early polls, McGinty received a lot of money and support from party groups. McGinty won the primary election. Toomey then narrowly defeated McGinty in the general election.
2020 Presidential Campaign
.jpg)
On June 23, 2019, Sestak announced he was running for the Democratic nomination for president. He entered the race just before the first debates. However, he did not qualify for any of the debates. He received very little media attention and low poll numbers.
On December 1, 2019, he ended his presidential campaign. He later supported Amy Klobuchar for president.
Political Beliefs
Economy
Sestak believes that new government spending should be paid for. He supports tax cuts for middle-class families. He voted for laws to help the economy, like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Education
Sestak has a perfect rating from the National Education Association. He voted for laws to improve early childhood education and make college more affordable.
Environment
Sestak supports protecting the environment. He voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. He has high ratings from environmental groups like the League of Conservation Voters and Sierra Club. He supported laws to promote renewable energy.
Gun Rights
Sestak supports stricter gun control laws. He has a perfect rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He also has a low rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He wants to bring back the federal ban on assault weapons.
Healthcare
Sestak strongly supports health care reform. He believes it is his way of "paying back" the country for the care his daughter received. He supports state-provided preventive care. He helped create the Pediatric Cancer Caucus. He is also part of several other health-related groups in Congress.
Military
As a candidate, Sestak wanted to end the Iraq War. Once in office, he supported efforts to bring troops home. He also voted for military funding to ensure soldiers had good equipment.
Sestak was against the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He believed it was wrong to prevent LGBT people from serving openly in the military. He helped bring attention to abuse within a Navy unit in Bahrain, which led to an investigation.
Nonprofit Work
In 2017, Sestak became the first president of FIRST Global. This group aims to promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) around the world. They do this through robotics competitions like the Olympics.
In July 2017, the first FIRST Global Challenge brought together high school teams from 157 countries. Teams from many countries, including those on travel ban lists, were able to get U.S. visas to attend. Many teams had never had STEM education before. Sestak created "The Global STEM Corps" to help these teams online.
Personal Life
Sestak is married to Susan L. Clark. She works on international environmental issues and suicide prevention for veterans. Their daughter, Alexandra, bravely fought brain cancer twice. She passed away in 2020 at the age of 19.
