John Barrasso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Barrasso
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Official portrait, 2010
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| Senate Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Leader | John Thune |
| Preceded by | Dick Durbin |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Manchin |
| Succeeded by | Martin Heinrich |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Vice Chair | Joni Ernst Shelley Moore Capito |
| Preceded by | John Thune |
| Succeeded by | Tom Cotton |
| Chair of the Senate Environment Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Inhofe |
| Succeeded by | Tom Carper |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee | |
| In office January 26, 2012 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | John Thune |
| Succeeded by | Roy Blunt |
| Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Jon Tester |
| Succeeded by | John Hoeven |
| United States Senator from Wyoming |
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| Assumed office June 22, 2007 Serving with Cynthia Lummis
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| Preceded by | Craig L. Thomas |
| Member of the Wyoming Senate from the 27th district |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – June 22, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Bruce Hinchey |
| Succeeded by | Bill Landen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Anthony Barrasso III
July 21, 1952 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Linda Nix (divorced) Bobbi Brown
(m. 2008; died 2024) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature |  |
John Barrasso (born July 21, 1952) is an American doctor and politician. He is a U.S. Senator for Wyoming. He has been a senator since 2007. Barrasso is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming a U.S. Senator, he was in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003 to 2007. Starting in 2025, he will be the Senate Majority Whip. This means he will be the second most important Republican in the Senate.
Barrasso grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. He went to Georgetown University and earned degrees in science and medicine. He completed his medical training at Yale University. After that, he moved to Wyoming. He started his own practice as an orthopedic surgeon in Casper.
Barrasso first tried to become a U.S. Senator in 1996 but did not win the primary election. In 2002, he was elected to the Wyoming State Senate. He served there until 2007. That year, he was chosen to fill a U.S. Senate seat after Senator Craig L. Thomas passed away. He won elections in 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2024 to keep his seat.
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John Barrasso's Early Life and Medical Career
John Barrasso was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1952. He graduated from high school in 1970. He then studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for two years. Later, he transferred to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. He earned a science degree in biology in 1974. In 1978, he received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He finished his medical training at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut.
In 1983, Barrasso moved to Wyoming. He started working as an orthopedic surgeon in Casper. For a time, he was the chief of staff at the Wyoming Medical Center. He was also the State President of the Wyoming Medical Society. He volunteered as a doctor for Casper College and local high schools. He also worked as a doctor for rodeo events.
His Path to the U.S. Senate
First Try for U.S. Senate
In 1996, Barrasso ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. He was trying to win the seat that was being left open by Senator Alan K. Simpson. He lost the primary election by a small number of votes to Mike Enzi.
Serving in the Wyoming State Senate
In 2002, Barrasso was elected to the Wyoming Senate. He ran again in 2006 and was reelected without anyone running against him. He represented Wyoming's 27th Senate District. While in the State Senate, he led the Transportation and Highways Committee.
Becoming a U.S. Senator
How He Became a Senator
On June 22, 2007, Governor Dave Freudenthal chose Barrasso to become a U.S. Senator. This happened after Senator Craig L. Thomas passed away. State law said the governor had to choose from three people picked by the Republican Party. Barrasso was one of those three.
Winning Elections for Senate
2008 Election
Barrasso won the general election by a lot of votes. He defeated Nick Carter, the Democratic candidate, with 73% of the votes.
2012 Election
Barrasso ran for his first full term in 2012. He won the Republican nomination with 90% of the votes. In the main election, he defeated Tim Chestnut, the Democratic candidate, with 76% of the votes.
2018 Election
In 2018, Barrasso faced several challengers in the Republican primary. He won with 65% of the votes. He then defeated Democrat Gary Trauner and Libertarian Joseph Porambo in the general election, getting 67% of the votes.
2024 Election
In the 2024 primary, Barrasso won against Reid Rasner. He then won the general election against Democratic candidate Scott Morrow with 75.1% of the votes.
His Time in the Senate
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When Barrasso was chosen for the U.S. Senate in 2007, he shared his beliefs. He said he believed in "limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense." He also mentioned voting for prayer in schools and against certain marriage laws.
In 2018, Barrasso was chosen to lead the Senate Republican Conference. In 2024, he decided to run for Republican Whip instead of Senate Republican leader. As of the 119th Congress, he is the Senate Whip for the Republican Party.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Barrasso voted against some relief plans. However, he voted for other laws like the PPP Extension Act and the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.
What Committees He Works On
Barrasso works on several important committees in the Senate:
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (He is the top Republican, called the Ranking Member)
- Committee on Finance
- Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Health Care
- Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
- Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
- Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy and Environmental Policy
His Political Views
Gun Laws
In 2002, the National Rifle Association gave him a high rating for his support of gun rights. In April 2013, Barrasso was one of 46 senators who voted against a bill. This bill would have made background checks for all gun buyers more common.
Health Care
Barrasso voted against the Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare) in 2009 and 2010. He was part of a group of senators who tried to replace Obamacare in 2017. However, their bill did not pass.
Environment
In 2014, Barrasso said he wasn't sure how much human activity affects climate change. But in 2021, he agreed that humans are "certainly contributing" to it. He has often opposed policies aimed at fighting climate change.
Barrasso opposed the CIA creating a center for climate change in 2009. In 2011, he introduced a bill to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting carbon dioxide. He also worked with other senators to remove tax credits for electric cars.
Barrasso was one of 22 senators who asked President Donald Trump to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement. He has received a lot of money from the oil and gas industry. In 2019, he incorrectly said that the Green New Deal would ban livestock. He claimed it would mean "no more cheeseburgers and milkshakes."
In 2020, Barrasso supported a measure to limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons. These are gases used in things like refrigerators that contribute to global warming. He said, "We can have clean air without damaging our economy."
Foreign Policy
Barrasso was against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This pipeline was planned to bring natural gas from Russia to Germany. He supported bills to put sanctions on companies involved in the pipeline.
In May 2022, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Barrasso visited Kyiv, Ukraine. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to show support for Ukraine. His group also visited Finland to support their plan to join NATO.
Donald Trump
In 2018, when it was revealed that Trump had business dealings with Russia, Barrasso said it wasn't surprising. He said Trump was an international businessman. In 2019, Barrasso joined Trump on a surprise visit to American troops in Afghanistan.
In December 2019, Barrasso seemed to support a conspiracy theory about Ukraine interfering in the 2016 U.S. election. In February 2021, Barrasso voted against impeaching Donald Trump. He called it a "partisan crusade." He also voted to clear Trump of charges related to the 2021 United States Capitol attack. In May 2021, he voted against creating a special committee to investigate the January 6 events.
Personal Life
John Barrasso has three children. He was previously married to Linda Nix. On August 11, 2007, he announced his engagement to Bobbi Brown. She was a breast cancer survivor and worked in his state senate office. They got married on January 1, 2008. Bobbi Brown passed away from brain cancer on January 25, 2024. She was known for helping with mental health and suicide prevention.
Barrasso is on the board of directors for Presidential Classroom. He is also a member of the Casper Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Images for kids
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John Barrasso's signature
