Mark Pryor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Pryor
Official portrait, 2011
United States Senator from Arkansas
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Tim Hutchinson
Succeeded by	Tom Cotton
53rd Attorney General of Arkansas
In office January 12, 1999 – January 3, 2003
Governor	Mike Huckabee
Preceded by	Winston Bryant
Succeeded by	Mike Beebe
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office January 14, 1991 – January 9, 1995
Preceded by	Gloria Cabe
Succeeded by	Lisa Ferrell
Constituency	59th district (1991–1993) 57th district (1993–1995)
Personal details
Born	Mark Lunsford Pryor (1963-01-10) January 10, 1963 (age 62) Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joi Pryor
Children	2
Parent	David Pryor (father)
Education	University of Arkansas (BA, JD)
Signature

Mark Lunsford Pryor (born January 10, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a United States Senator for Arkansas from 2003 to 2015. A U.S. Senator is one of 100 people who make laws for the entire country.

Before becoming a senator, Pryor was the Attorney General of Arkansas from 1999 to 2003. An attorney general is the top lawyer for a state. He was also a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Pryor was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. His father, David Pryor, was also a U.S. Senator and a Governor of Arkansas. After being defeated in his 2014 reelection campaign, Pryor began working as a lobbyist. A lobbyist is someone who tries to persuade government officials to support a certain cause or policy. He is the last Democrat to have represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate.

Early Life and Education

Mark Pryor was born on January 10, 1963, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. His parents were Barbara and David Pryor. At the time, his father was a state representative. His father later became the Governor of Arkansas and a U.S. Senator.

When his father was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1979, the family moved. Pryor attended high school in Maryland and graduated in 1981.

He went to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and earned a degree in history in 1985. He then went to the university's law school and earned a law degree in 1988.

Political Career

Before entering politics, Pryor worked as a lawyer. He focused on civil litigation, which involves legal disagreements between people or companies.

State Government

From 1991 to 1995, Pryor was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. This group helps make laws for the state of Arkansas.

In 1998, he ran for Arkansas Attorney General and won. He defeated the Republican nominee, Betty Dicky, with 59% of the vote. He served as the state's top lawyer for four years.

U.S. Senate

In 2001, Pryor decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He ran for the same seat his father had held for many years. In the 2002 election, he defeated the Republican incumbent, Tim Hutchinson, with 54% of the vote. He was the only Democrat to beat a sitting Republican senator in that election.

In 2008, Pryor was reelected without a Republican opponent. He easily defeated a Green Party candidate.

In 2014, Pryor ran for a third term against Republican Tom Cotton. During the campaign, Pryor said that Cotton acted like he was entitled to the Senate seat because of his military service. Pryor later explained he was talking about Cotton's lack of experience in the House of Representatives, not his military service. Pryor lost the election, receiving 39% of the vote to Cotton's 57%.

Work in the Senate

As a senator, Pryor was known for helping the people of Arkansas. He helped get millions of dollars for new highways in the state. He also worked to support military families. He helped pass the SACRIFICE Act, which gave better medical care to families of soldiers injured in combat.

Sponsored Legislation

Pryor introduced several bills in the Senate.

• Drought Information Act: In 2013, he introduced a bill to fund the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). This system provides early warnings about droughts to help prevent damage. The bill passed the Senate in 2014.
• Veterans' Benefits: In 2014, he introduced a bill to stop a planned reduction in the annual cost-of-living increase for military veterans under age 62.

Political Positions

Pryor's political views were often considered moderate. Here are some of his key positions.

Economic Issues

In 2009, Pryor voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This law was created to help the economy during a recession.

In 2012, he was the only Democrat to vote against the "Buffett Rule." This was a proposed law that would have increased taxes on people earning more than $1 million per year.

In 2014, Pryor voted against a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.

Healthcare

Pryor voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2009. This law is often called "Obamacare" and made major changes to the U.S. healthcare system.

Foreign Policy

Pryor voted in 2006 for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which set up rules for military trials of suspected terrorists. In 2007, he was one of only two Democrats who voted against a plan to pull most U.S. troops out of Iraq.

Gun Policy

In 2004, Pryor voted to continue the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. In 2013, he voted against a bill that would have required background checks for all gun purchases. He also co-sponsored a bill to prevent people with certain mental health issues from buying guns.

Life After the Senate

After leaving the Senate in 2015, Pryor began working for a law and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. In 2020, he joined another firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. As a lobbyist, he represents major companies like Eli Lilly and Company, Tyson Foods, and General Motors.

Personal Life

Pryor and his wife, Joi, live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have a son and a daughter.

In 1996, Pryor was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in his leg. After 15 months of treatment, the cancer was successfully removed, and he recovered.

Electoral history

U.S. Senator

2014

2008

2002

See also

In Spanish: Mark Pryor para niños

• Conservative Democrat