Rob Portman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rob Portman
Official portrait, 2018
United States Senator from Ohio
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	George Voinovich
Succeeded by	JD Vance
Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Gary Peters
Succeeded by	Rand Paul
35th Director of the Office of Management and Budget
In office May 29, 2006 – June 19, 2007
President	George W. Bush
Deputy	Steve McMillin
Preceded by	Joshua Bolten
Succeeded by	Jim Nussle
14th United States Trade Representative
In office May 17, 2005 – May 29, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Robert Zoellick
Succeeded by	Susan Schwab
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 2nd district
In office May 4, 1993 – April 29, 2005
Preceded by	Bill Gradison
Succeeded by	Jean Schmidt
White House Director of Legislative Affairs
In office September 25, 1989 – April 12, 1991
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Gordon Wheeler
Succeeded by	Stephen Hart
Personal details
Born	Robert Jones Portman (1955-12-19) December 19, 1955 (age 69) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jane Dudley ​ (m. 1986)​
Children	3
Education	Dartmouth College (BA) University of Michigan (JD)
Signature

Robert Jones Portman (born December 19, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Ohio from 2011 to 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Before becoming a senator, Portman held several important roles. He was the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from 2006 to 2007. He also served as the United States trade representative from 2005 to 2006. From 1993 to 2005, he was a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 2nd district.

In 1993, Portman won a special election to join the United States House of Representatives. He was reelected six times. He left this role when President George W. Bush appointed him as the U.S. trade representative in May 2005. As trade representative, Portman worked on trade agreements with other countries. He also handled trade disputes at the World Trade Organization. In May 2006, President Bush appointed him director of the Office of Management and Budget.

In 2010, Portman ran for the United States Senate seat in Ohio. He won against Lee Fisher. He was reelected in 2016, defeating former Governor Ted Strickland. On January 25, 2021, he announced he would not seek a third term in 2022.

After leaving office in 2023, Portman started The Portman Center for Policy Solutions. This center is located at the University of Cincinnati. He also works as a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Early Life and Family

Rob Portman was born in 1955 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Joan and William C. "Bill" Portman II. His family was Presbyterian. His great-grandfather came from Switzerland. Portman also has Scots-Irish, English, and German roots.

In 1926, Portman's grandfather, Robert Jones, bought the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, Ohio. He and his wife, Virginia Kunkle Jones, fixed it up. They decorated it with old collectibles and Shaker items. They ran the inn until 1969.

When Portman was young, his father started the Portman Equipment Company. It was a forklift dealership. Rob and his siblings worked there as they grew up. From his mother, Joan, who was a liberal Republican, Portman learned to support the Republican Party.

Education and Early Career

Portman graduated from Cincinnati Country Day School in 1974. He then went to Dartmouth College. There, he studied anthropology and earned a bachelor's degree in 1978. In Cincinnati, Portman helped with Bill Gradison's campaign for Congress. Gradison later became a mentor to him.

Portman then went to the University of Michigan Law School. He earned his law degree in 1984. While in law school, he traveled across China by kayak and hiking. He met Jane Dudley, whom he married in 1986. After law school, Portman worked for law firms in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati.

In 1989, Portman started working in government. He was an associate White House Counsel for President George H. W. Bush. From 1989 to 1991, he was Bush's deputy assistant. He also directed the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. During this time, Portman visited several countries, including China, Egypt, and Kuwait.

U.S. Representative: 1993–2005

In 1993, Portman ran in a special election. He wanted to fill the seat of Congressman Bill Gradison in Ohio's 2nd congressional district. Gradison had left to lead a health insurance group. In the Republican primary, Portman won against several other candidates. He won mostly because of strong support in Hamilton County, his home county.

In the general election, Portman easily defeated the Democratic candidate, Lee Hornberger. He was reelected six more times. He won elections in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

House Legislative Work

One of Portman's first votes in Congress was for the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993. This agreement aimed to remove trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Portman was known for working well with members of both parties. He helped pass important laws. For example, he worked on the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. This law gave taxpayers more rights. Democratic Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones said Portman was "pleasant and good to work with."

During the first four years of the George W. Bush Administration, Portman helped connect Congressional Republicans with the White House. He voted for the Iraq War Resolution in 2002. Portman said his proudest moments in the House were passing the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the welfare reform bill.

As a congressman, Portman traveled to many countries, including Argentina, Iraq, and Mexico. He also helped Republican candidates prepare for debates. He would pretend to be their opponents, like Al Gore for George W. Bush in 2000.

George W. Bush Administration: 2005–2007

United States Trade Representative

On March 17, 2005, President Bush nominated Portman to be the United States Trade Representative. Bush called him "a good friend, a decent man, and a skilled negotiator." The Senate confirmed Portman on April 29, and he was sworn in on May 17.

As Trade Representative, Portman worked on trade agreements with about 30 countries. He visited places like Brazil, China, and South Korea. He also helped pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement. This agreement aimed to remove trade barriers between the U.S. and several Central American countries.

Trade Issues and China

Portman attended the WTO conference in Hong Kong in 2005. He spoke about global development. He also pushed for big cuts in worldwide agricultural subsidies.

He filed a trade complaint against China. He said China unfairly favored its own auto parts. This was the first successful trade case against China in the WTO. During his time as trade ambassador, the U.S. trade deficit with China grew.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget

On April 18, 2006, President Bush nominated Portman to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This office helps the President prepare the federal budget. Portman said he looked forward to the job, calling it "a big job." The U.S. Senate approved him unanimously on May 26, 2006.

As OMB director from May 2006 to August 2007, Portman helped create a $2.9 trillion budget for 2008. He was a strong supporter of balancing the budget. He worked to control government spending.

On June 19, 2007, Portman resigned as OMB director. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family and three children. Senator Kent Conrad praised Portman, saying he was "a person of credibility and decency."

Post-White House Career

After leaving the White House, Portman joined a law firm in Cincinnati in 2007. He also started Ohio's Future P.A.C. in 2007. In 2008, he was considered as a possible running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

U.S. Senator: 2011–2023

Elections

2010 Election

On January 14, 2009, Portman announced he would run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Ohio. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He received strong support from the Tea Party movement. By July 2010, he had raised much more money than his Democratic opponent, Lee Fisher. Portman focused his campaign on creating jobs and economic growth.

Portman won the election with 57% of the vote. He won in 82 of Ohio's 88 counties.

2016 Election

Portman faced challenges in his 2016 re-election campaign. It was a presidential election year, meaning more Democratic voters were expected. His team decided to run a very local campaign. They did not rely on the presidential candidate's popularity.

Polls showed the race was close in June 2016. But after that, Portman led Democratic former Governor Ted Strickland in every survey. Portman won with 58.0% of the vote, a large victory margin.

Experts praised Portman's campaign as one of the best that year. They said his strong win in Ohio helped Republicans keep control of the Senate.

Senate Work

In the Senate, Portman was known for working with both parties. He was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate. This means he often worked with Democrats to get things done. His ability to work across the aisle helped him become Vice Chairman for Finance of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Portman gave a speech at the funeral of astronaut Neil Armstrong in 2012. He also gave the commencement address at the University of Cincinnati's graduation ceremony.

In 2011, Portman was chosen to join a special committee. This committee worked on reducing the national debt. He built strong relationships with other members, including Senator John Kerry. However, the committee was not successful, which disappointed Portman.

On January 25, 2021, Portman announced he would not run for a third term. He said he wanted to focus on making laws instead of fundraising. He noted that many of his bills were signed into law by both President Trump and President Obama. He felt it was getting harder to make progress due to political disagreements.

Committee Assignments

• United States Senate Committee on Finance
• United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Caucus Memberships Portman belonged to several groups in the Senate, including:

• Congressional Serbian American Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Senate Ukraine Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus (Co-Chair)

Political Views

Portman is generally seen as a moderate-to-conservative Republican. He often voted with his party's leaders. However, he sometimes disagreed with them on certain issues. He was known for focusing on getting things done rather than just campaigning.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Portman voted with President Trump's positions about 90.4% of the time. As of October 2022, he voted with President Biden's positions about 61.8% of the time.

2012 Presidential Election

Portman was considered a possible choice for Vice President in 2012. He was on the list for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Experts thought his experience in both the executive and legislative branches made him a good candidate.

After Romney chose Paul Ryan as his running mate, Portman spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention. He talked about trade and his family business. Portman also helped Romney prepare for debates by pretending to be President Obama.

2016 Presidential Campaign

In 2014, some thought Portman might run for president in 2016. However, he announced in December 2014 that he would not run. He decided to seek a second term in the Senate instead.

Portman first supported Ohio Governor John Kasich in the Republican primaries. After Kasich dropped out, Portman endorsed Donald Trump. However, after some controversial audio recordings of Trump came out, Portman withdrew his endorsement. He said he would write in a vote for Trump's running mate, Mike Pence.

2020 Campaign and Capitol Attack

In the 2020 presidential election, Portman supported Trump. He was the Ohio state co-chair for Trump's re-election campaign. During Trump's first impeachment proceedings, Portman said Trump's actions were "wrong and inappropriate." However, he did not think they were serious enough for impeachment. He voted to acquit Trump.

After Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Portman initially did not recognize Biden as the winner. But he later said that there was no evidence of fraud that would change the election outcome. He accepted the election results after the Electoral College vote.

Portman opposed Trump's efforts to overturn the election results. He did not support the attempt by some Republicans to object to the counting of electoral votes. He said he could not support Congress going against the will of the voters. After the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Portman said Trump "bears some responsibility" for the violence. He later voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial.

Investigating Capitol Attack

In May 2021, Portman voted to create a bipartisan commission. This group would investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. However, the vote failed because it did not get enough support.

Veterans' Healthcare

In July 2022, Portman voted for the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This law provides healthcare for veterans who got sick from burn pit exposure overseas. He initially supported it, but later voted against a final version of the bill.

Budget and Economy

Portman strongly supports a balanced budget amendment. He worked with Democratic Senator Jon Tester to try and prevent government shutdowns. He also worked with Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill to look into government spending on public relations.

Portman has suggested a "balanced approach to the deficit." This would involve making government programs more efficient. He is known for working with both parties on financial issues. In August 2021, he was one of 19 Republican senators who voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This bill provided funding for roads, bridges, and other projects.

LGBT Rights

Until 2013, Portman did not support LGBT rights. In 1996, he supported the Defense of Marriage Act. This law banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

On March 14, 2013, Portman announced he had changed his mind. He now supported legalizing gay marriage. He was the first sitting Republican U.S. senator to do so. This change happened two years after his son told him he was gay.

In November 2013, Portman was one of 10 Republican senators who voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This bill aimed to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In July 2022, Portman co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill aims to protect gay marriage rights nationwide.

Women's Rights

Portman voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. This law helps protect women from violence.

Environment

Portman has voted to limit the government's power to control greenhouse gas emissions. In 2015, he voted to block the Clean Power Plan. This plan aimed to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. He also supported more oil drilling on public lands.

In 2013, Portman helped create a bill to reauthorize the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act. This law helps deal with harmful algal blooms and low-oxygen areas in water.

Portman also co-sponsored an amendment to the 2017 Energy Bill. This amendment recognized that climate change is real. It also stated that human activity contributes to the problem.

Foreign Policy

Portman is against the U.S. joining the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In March 2016, Portman worked with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy on a bill. It was called the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act. This law aimed to fight foreign propaganda. After the 2016 election, there were concerns about Russian propaganda on social media. This law authorized funding to help the U.S. State Department fight such propaganda.

Israel

In 2018, Portman and Senator Ben Cardin wrote the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This bill would make it illegal for companies to participate in boycotts against Israel.

Trade

Portman has always supported free trade agreements. He supported agreements with countries like Australia, Chile, and Singapore. He was praised by President Bush for being a "champion of free and fair trade."

Portman has also supported laws to address currency manipulation by other countries. He wanted to impose duties on Chinese imports if China did not stop this practice. In 2016, he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. He felt it did not address currency manipulation.

In January 2018, Portman was one of 36 Republican senators who asked Trump to keep the North American Free Trade Agreement. In November 2018, he asked Trump to submit the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement to Congress quickly.

Gun Laws

Portman has a high rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA has supported him in past elections.

In 2019, Portman co-sponsored a bill called the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This bill would allow people with concealed carry permits in their home state to carry concealed weapons in other states.

In 2022, Portman was one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control. This agreement included measures like stronger background checks for young buyers. It also provided funding for school safety.

Health Care

Portman has worked to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In 2017, he voted to repeal it. He supported proposed cuts to Medicaid.

Immigration

In June 2018, Portman was one of 13 Republican senators who asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to pause the Trump administration family separation policy. They wanted Congress to draft new laws. In March 2019, he voted against Trump's use of an emergency declaration to build a border wall.

Portman opposed Trump's Muslim travel ban. He said the order was not "properly vetted." He supported the federal judges who blocked its implementation.

Jobs

In 2014, Portman voted against extending long-term unemployment benefits. He was concerned about a part of the bill that would let companies contribute less to employee pension funds. However, in April 2014, he voted to extend federal funding for unemployment benefits.

In 2014, Portman opposed the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. This bill aimed to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.

In 2015, Portman voted for an amendment. This amendment would create a fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time.

Judiciary

In September 2018, Portman supported Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. He called Kavanaugh "a man of integrity and humility."

In September 2020, Portman supported a vote on Trump's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. This was to fill the vacancy left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Biden Administration

When Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Portman was one of the few Republicans to say he would certify the electoral college vote. During Trump's second impeachment trial, Portman said he would keep an open mind. He ultimately voted not guilty. However, he said Trump's comments before the Capitol attack were partly responsible for the violence.

Portman was a key senator in creating the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan. This plan passed the Senate in August 2021.

Electoral History

2010 Ohio U.S. Senator Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rob Portman	667,369	100.00%
Total votes			667,369	100.00%

United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rob Portman	2,168,742	56.85%	-6.61%
	Democratic	Lee Fisher	1,503,297	39.40%	+2.85%
	Constitution	Eric Deaton	65,856	1.72%	N/A
	Independent	Michael Pryce	50,101	1.31%	N/A
	Socialist	Daniel LaBotz	26,454	0.69%	N/A
	write-in	Arthur Sullivan	648	0.02%	N/A
Majority			665,445	17.44%
Total votes			3,815,098	100.00%
	Republican hold

2016 Ohio U.S. Senator Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rob Portman (incumbent)	1,336,686	82.16%
	Republican	Don Eckhart	290,268	17.84%
Total votes			1,626,954	100.00%

United States Senate election in Ohio, 2016
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rob Portman (incumbent)	3,118,567	58.03%	+1.18%
	Democratic	Ted Strickland	1,996,908	37.16%	-2.24%
	Independent	Tom Connors	93,041	1.73%	N/A
	Green	Joseph R. DeMare	88,246	1.64%	N/A
	Independent	Scott Rupert	77,291	1.44%	N/A
	write-in	James Stahl	111	0.00%	N/A
Total votes			5,374,164	100.0%	N/A
	Republican hold

Personal Life

Portman married Jane Dudley in July 1986. Jane, who used to work for a Democratic Congressman, became a Republican when Rob became a Methodist. The Portmans attend church services at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church. They have three children.

Portman still owns the Golden Lamb Inn with his brother and sister. In 2004, a Dutch company bought the Portman Equipment Company. Portman is an enthusiastic kayaker. He also speaks Spanish fluently and enjoys bike rides.

In December 2004, Portman and Cheryl Bauer wrote a book. It was about the 19th-century Shaker community at Union Village in Ohio. The book was called Wisdom's Paradise: The Forgotten Shakers of Union Village.

Awards and Honors

On August 23, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky gave Portman the Order of Merit, first class. This was for his work in strengthening cooperation and supporting Ukraine's independence. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) also honored Portman with several awards. These included the Friend of UNIS Ukrainian Democracy Award in 2014 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Year Received	Award	Organization
2013	Special Congressional Appreciation Award	Small Business Council of America
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018	Hero of Main Street	National Retail Federation (NRF)
2014	Margaret Mead Award	International Community Corrections Association (ICCA)
2014	ABA Justice Award	American Bar Association
2015	Everyday Freedom Hero	National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
2015	President's Partnering for Quality Award	Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities
2015	Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award	National Park Trust
2015	Distinguished Service Award	Tax Foundation
2016	Ohio Liberator Award	Save our Adolescents from ... (S.O.A.P.)
2016	Major General Charles Dick Award for Legislation Excellence	National Guard Association of the United States
2017	Jefferson-Lincoln Award	Panetta Institute for Public Policy
2017	Spirit of Enterprise Award	U.S. Chamber of Commerce
2018	Congressional Award	American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
2021	Champion of Retirement Security Award	Insured Retirement Institute
2022	Ohio History Leadership Award	Ohio History Connection
2022	National Order, Gran Cruz (Great Cross)	Embassy of Colombia
2022	Rob Portman Public Service Leadership Award	Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
2022	Lifetime Achievement Award	Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
2024	Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire	United Kingdom Government

See Also

In Spanish: Rob Portman para niños