Mike Huckabee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Huckabee
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 29th United States Ambassador to Israel | |
| Assumed office April 21, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jack Lew |
| 44th Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office July 15, 1996 – January 9, 2007 |
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| Lieutenant | Winthrop Paul Rockefeller (1996–2006) None (2006–2007) |
| Preceded by | Jim Guy Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Mike Beebe |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 18, 2005 – August 7, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Warner |
| Succeeded by | Janet Napolitano |
| 16th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office November 20, 1993 – July 15, 1996 |
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| Governor | Jim Guy Tucker |
| Preceded by | Jim Guy Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Winthrop Paul Rockefeller |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Dale Huckabee
August 24, 1955 Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Janet McCain
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 3, including Sarah |
| Education | Ouachita Baptist University (BA) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Occupation |
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| Signature |  |
Michael Dale Huckabee (born August 24, 1955) is an American politician, diplomat, and political commentator. He is a member of the Republican Party. Since 2025, he has served as the United States ambassador to Israel.
Before becoming an ambassador, Huckabee was the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He also ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2008 and 2016.
Huckabee hosted a TV talk show called Huckabee on the Fox News Channel and later on the TBN. He is also an ordained Baptist minister, a musician, and an author. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is the current governor of Arkansas.
On November 12, 2024, then-President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. He was sworn into the role on April 9, 2025.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mike Huckabee was born in Hope, Arkansas. His father was a fireman and mechanic, and his mother was a clerk. He has said that his working-class family background shaped his political views.
His first job was at a radio station when he was 14 years old. In high school, he was the student council president. He became a minister in 1972.
Huckabee married Janet McCain in 1974. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1978 with a degree in religion. He later attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for one year.
Career as a Pastor
Before entering politics, Huckabee was a pastor at churches in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Texarkana. He started television stations in both cities and hosted a program called Positive Alternatives.
As a pastor, he worked with people facing difficult situations. He said these experiences helped him understand the challenges many families face. From 1989 to 1991, he was the president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Political Career
Huckabee's first race for political office was in 1992 for the U.S. Senate, which he lost. The next year, he won a special election to become the lieutenant governor of Arkansas. He was only the second Republican to hold that office in Arkansas since the 1800s. He was re-elected as lieutenant governor in 1994.
Governor of Arkansas (1996–2007)
In 1996, Governor Jim Guy Tucker resigned from office. As lieutenant governor, Huckabee took his place and became the new governor of Arkansas.
He was elected to a full four-year term as governor in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002. As governor, he worked on cutting spending and changing taxes. He also became known for his quick response to help people affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Time magazine named him one of the five best governors in the U.S. that year. By the time he left office, he was one of the longest-serving governors in Arkansas history.
Clemency Decisions
As governor, Huckabee had the power to grant clemency, which means he could pardon someone for a crime or reduce their prison sentence. He granted 1,033 clemencies during his time as governor. This was more than the three governors before him combined.
This became a topic of discussion during his presidential campaigns. Most of the people he pardoned were no longer in prison but needed a pardon to find a job.
Presidential Campaigns
Huckabee ran for the Republican nomination for president two times.
2008 Campaign
Huckabee announced his first run for president in January 2007. He won the Iowa caucuses, which was the first major contest of the election season. He also won primaries in several other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia.
He was popular with many religious and conservative voters. He eventually ended his campaign in March 2008 after John McCain secured enough delegates to win the nomination.
2016 Campaign
In May 2015, Huckabee announced he was running for president again. He launched his campaign in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
In his announcement, he talked about protecting American jobs and supporting families. He ended his campaign in February 2016 after the Iowa caucus.
Ambassador to Israel
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The United States Senate approved his nomination in April 2025.
As ambassador, Huckabee represents the United States in Israel. He works with the Israeli government on issues like energy, technology, and security.
Media Career
After his 2008 presidential campaign, Huckabee began a career in media. He worked as a political commentator for Fox News. He also hosted a popular weekend show called Huckabee on the network from 2008 to 2015.
He hosted a daily radio commentary called The Huckabee Report. In 2017, his TV show Huckabee was brought back on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The show ended in 2025 when he became an ambassador.
Political Views
Huckabee is known for his conservative political positions.
- Health Care: He opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He believes people should have more control over their own health care choices.
- Trade: He supports free trade but believes it must also be "fair trade" to protect American jobs.
- LGBT Rights: Huckabee believes that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.
- Role of Religion: As a former pastor, his Christian faith is an important part of his life and influences his views. He supports teaching both evolution and creationism in schools.
- Israel: He is a strong supporter of Israel. He does not support the creation of a separate Palestinian state.
Personal Life
Music
Huckabee is a musician and plays the bass guitar. He has a rock band called Capitol Offense. The band has played at many political events and parties.
Health and Fitness
In 2003, Huckabee was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His doctor told him he needed to lose weight for his health. He lost over 110 pounds by changing his diet and exercising.
He has run in several marathons, including the New York City Marathon. He wrote a book about his weight loss journey called Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork.
Images for kids
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Huckabee with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono in 2006
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Huckabee giving a speech after the 2008 South Carolina primary.
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Huckabee with a supporter at a campaign rally in Wisconsin.
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Huckabee speaking at the 2011 Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
See also
In Spanish: Mike Huckabee para niños
- List of governors of Arkansas
- Electoral history of Mike Huckabee
- 2016 Republican Party presidential candidates
