Steven Joseph Chabot (/ˈʃæbət/ SHAB-ət; born January 22, 1953) is an American politician and lawyer who represented Ohio’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he lost his 2022 reelection bid to Democrat Greg Landsman. Until his election loss, he was the dean of Ohio’s GOP delegation to the House of Representatives, after the retirement of former Speaker John Boehner.[1]

Early life, education, and pre-political career

Chabot was born in 1953 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Gerard Joseph and Doris Leona (née Tilley) Chabot; paternally, he is of French-Canadian descent.[2] He graduated from La Salle High School in Cincinnati in 1971, and then from the College of William and Mary in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Arts in physical education. He went on to obtain a Juris Doctor degree from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 1978. He worked as an elementary school teacher in 1975–1976 while taking law classes at night. Chabot also taught political science at the University of Cincinnati and chaired the Boy Scouts of Cincinnati.[3]

As a practicing attorney from 1978 to 1994, Chabot handled domestic disputes and the drafting of wills as a sole practitioner.[4] He operated out of a small law office in Westwood.[5]

Early political career

Chabot ran unsuccessfully for the Cincinnati City Council as an independent candidate in 1979 and as a Republican in 1983. He won a seat in 1985 as a Republican and was reelected for the next four years. In 1988, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives against seven-term incumbent Democrat Tom Luken, who defeated him, 56–44%.[6] In 1990 he was appointed a Commissioner of Hamilton County, Ohio, and was elected later that year and again in 1992, holding that office until 1994.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 1994, Chabot ran for the U.S. House again and defeated Democratic incumbent David S. Mann of Ohio’s 1st congressional district, 56%–44%. In 1996, he defeated Democrat Mark Longabaugh, a member of the Cincinnati City Council, 54%–43%.[7] In 1998, he defeated Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls, 53% to 47%.[8] In the series of debates during that campaign, Qualls criticized Chabot for not funneling enough federal spending to his home district. Chabot countered that he would not support “wasteful or unnecessary” federal programs.[9][10] In 2000, he defeated City Councilman John Cranley 53–44%.[11] In 2002, he defeated Greg Harris with 65% of the vote.[11] In 2004, he defeated Harris again, with 60% of the vote.[12]

2006

Chabot during the
109th Congress

Chabot defeated Democratic challenger John Cranley again, this time by a narrower margin of 52–48%.[13]

2008

Chabot lost to State Representative Steve Driehaus, 52%–48%.[14]

2010

In a rematch, Chabot defeated Driehaus,[15][16] Libertarian Jim Berns, and Green Party nominee Richard Stevenson.[17] Chabot won with 52% of the vote.[18][19]

2012

Chabot defeated Democratic nominee Jeff Sinnard, 58%–38%, with Green nominee Rich Stevenson and Libertarian nominee Jim Berns picking up the balance.[20] He was helped by the 2010 round of redistricting, which shifted the majority of heavily Republican Warren County to the 1st Congressional District.[21]

2014

Chabot defeated Democratic nominee Fred Kundrata, 63%–37%.[22]

2016

Chabot defeated Democratic nominee Michele Young, 59%–41%.[23]

2018

Chabot defeated Democratic nominee Aftab Pureval, 51%–48%. Libertarian nominee Dirk Kubala took the remainder of the vote.

2020

Chabot defeated Democratic nominee Kate Schroder, 52%–45%. Libertarian nominee Kevin David Kahn took the remainder of the vote.[24]

2022

Chabot’s district became considerably more Democratic in redistricting, afterward including the entire city of Cincinnati. Chabot had considered retiring but ultimately ran for re-election as he believed Republicans would write off the seat. In the general election, he lost in an upset to Democratic nominee Greg Landsman, a member of the Cincinnati City Council. Chabot was the last republican elected during the “republican revolution” of 1994 to remain in Congress.[25] [26] Afterwards, Chabot stated that he would not run for the seat in 2024.[27]

Tenure

Chabot watches President George W. Bush sign the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act in 2005
Chabot watches President Donald Trump sign the CARES Act in 2020
U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ed Royce, members Steve Chabot and Robin Kelly in 2017 celebrate legislation to help educate more girls

In 1999, Chabot served as one of the House managers in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton.[28]

On December 18, 2019, Chabot voted against both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Of the 195 Republicans who voted, 185 voted against both articles and 10 Republicans [29] voted for impeachment.

On January 7, 2021, Chabot objected to the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results in Congress based on false claims of voter fraud.[30]

In March 2021, he voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[31]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

Ohio’s 1st congressional district: Results 1988, 1994–2022[35][36]
YearWinnerVotesPctRunner-upVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct
1988Thomas A. Luken (inc.)117,68257%Steve Chabot90,73843%
1994Steve Chabot92,99756%David S. Mann (inc.)72,82244%
1996Steve Chabot (inc.)118,32454%Mark P. Longabaugh94,71943%John G. HalleyNatural Law5,3812%
1998Steve Chabot (inc.)92,42153%Roxanne Qualls82,00347%
2000Steve Chabot (inc.)116,76853%John Cranley98,32845%David A. GroshoffLibertarian3,3992%Richard L. StevensonNatural Law1,9331%
2002Steve Chabot (inc.)110,76065%Greg Harris60,16835%
2004Steve Chabot (inc.)173,43060%Greg Harris116,23540%*
2006Steve Chabot (inc.)105,68052%John Cranley96,58448%
2008Steve Driehaus155,45552%Steve Chabot (inc.)140,68348%*
2010Steve Chabot103,77052%Steven L. Driehaus (inc.)92,67245%Jim A. BernsLibertarian3,0762%Richard L. StevensonNatural Law2,0001%
2012Steve Chabot (inc.)201,90758%Jeff Sinnard131,49038%Jim A. BernsLibertarian9,6743%Richard L. StevensonGreen Party6,6452%
2014Steve Chabot (inc.)124,77963%Fred Kundrata72,60437%
2016Steve Chabot (inc.)210,01459%Michele Young144,64441%
2018Steve Chabot (inc.)154,40951%Aftab Pureval141,11847%Dirk KubalaLibertarian5,3392%
2020Steve Chabot (inc.)199,56052%Kate Schroder172,02245%Kevin KahnLibertarian13,6924%
2022Greg Landsman156,41652%Steve Chabot (inc.)140,05847%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2004, Rich Stevenson received 198 votes. In 2008, Eric Wilson received 85 votes and Rich Stevenson received 67 votes. In 2020, Kiumars Kiani received 11 votes.

Political positions

During the presidency of Donald Trump, Chabot voted in line with Trump’s stated position 93.1% of the time.[37] As of August 2022, Chabot had voted in line with Joe Biden‘s stated position 16.4% of the time.[38]

Health care

Chabot authored a bill prohibiting a form of late-term abortion called partial-birth abortion, referred to in some medical literature by its less common name of intact dilation and extraction. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on November 5, 2003.[39][non-primary source needed]

Chabot favors repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He favors market-based reforms that he claims will offer American families more lower-cost options.[40] He supported the March 2017 version of the American Health Care Act, the GOP’s replacement for Obamacare.[41] On May 4, 2017, Chabot voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pass the American Health Care Act.[42][43]

Environment

On the topic of man-made climate change, Chabot has said, “the evidence concerning man-made climate change is far from conclusive”.[44] He has said cap-and-trade is an “extreme proposal” that would harm the economy.[44]

Other

In 1999, Chabot was one of the managers appointed to conduct the impeachment proceedings of President Bill Clinton.[45]

On August 22, 2011, Chabot asked Cincinnati police to confiscate cameras being used by private citizens to record a town-hall meeting, even as media television cameras recorded the incident.[46][47][48] YouTube videos of the incident provided wide awareness of it, and the participating police officer was later disciplined.[49]

In 2002, Chabot advocated teaching intelligent design alongside the theory of evolution by natural selection in Ohio high schools.[50]

Chabot has called for ending logging subsidies in the Tongass National Forest,[51] and promoted relations with Taiwan.[52] In 2002, he helped spearhead the local campaign against building a light rail system in Hamilton County.[53]

As of 2016, Chabot had traveled on congressional fact-finding missions to 46 countries at a cost of $200,000.[54]

Personal life

Chabot lives with his wife Donna in Westwood. They have two children and a grandson.[55]

Chabot is Roman Catholic.[56]

References

  1. ^ Exner, Rich (September 25, 2015). “John Boehner’s resignation will make Steve Chabot longest-serving Ohio Republican in U.S. House”. Cleveland.com.
  2. ^ “chabot”. Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  3. ^ “Steve Chabot About Steve”. Steve Chabot Congress. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  4. ^ Juliet Eilperin, “Like-Minded Team of 13 to Present House’s Case”, Washington Post, January 14, 1999
  5. ^ Paul Barton, “Chabot guaranteed place in textbooks”, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 14, 1999
  6. ^ “OH District 1 Race – Nov 08, 1988”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  7. ^ “OH District 1 Race – Nov 05, 1996”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  8. ^ “OH District 1 Race – Nov 03, 1998”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  9. ^ “Rep. Steve Chabot (R)”. Almanac of American Politics. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2006.
  10. ^ Wilkinson, Howard (October 28, 1998). “Chabot, Qualls debate pork vs. fair share”. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  11. ^ a b “OH District 1 Race – Nov 07, 2000”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  12. ^ “OH District 1 Race – Nov 05, 2002”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  13. ^ “OH – District 01 Race – Nov 07, 2006”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  14. ^ “OH – District 01 Race – Nov 04, 2008”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  15. ^ Zeleny, Jeff (July 3, 2010). “In Midterm Elections, a Rougher Road for Incumbent Democrats”. The New York Times.
  16. ^ “Politics 2010: Parties play take-away, keep-away in Ohio”. UPI.com. May 2, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  17. ^ Official Hamilton County Candidates and Issues List Archived October 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Hamilton County Ohio Board of Elections
  18. ^ “2010 election results for Ohio”. The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ “OH – District 01 Race – Nov 02, 2010”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  20. ^ “Ohio Secretary of State” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2012.
  21. ^ Exner, Rich (March 7, 2017). “How gerrymandered Ohio congressional districts limit the influence of Ohio voters”. cleveland.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  22. ^ “Ohio State Unofficial Election Results”. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  23. ^ “Ohio State Official Election Results”. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  24. ^ “2020 OFFICIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS”. Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  25. ^ “Representative Steve Chabot Farewell Speech”. C-SPAN.
  26. ^ “Steve Chabot concedes to Greg Landsman”. spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  27. ^ Wartman, Scott (November 9, 2022). “Chabot won’t run again after Tuesday’s loss. ‘It’s somebody else’s turn’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  28. ^ “List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives”. history.house.gov. United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian, Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  29. ^ Montanaro, Domenico (January 14, 2021). “These Are the 10 Republicans Who Voted to Impeach Trump”. NPR.
  30. ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (January 7, 2021). “The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  31. ^ “FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 49”. clerk.house.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  32. ^ “House & Senate Taiwan Caucus (2019-2020)”. Formosan Association of Public Affiairs. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  33. ^ “Members”. U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  34. ^ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  35. ^ “Election Statistics”. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  36. ^ “2012 Elections Results – Ohio Secretary of State”. Sos.state.oh.us. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  37. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). “Tracking Steve Chabot In The Age Of Trump”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  38. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  39. ^ “Steve Chabot – Legislative Issues”. US House web site. 2008. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  40. ^ BieryGolick, Keith (February 1, 2017). “Crashing congressman’s office over ‘Obamacare’ stance”. Cincinnati.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  41. ^ “How House Republicans Planned to Vote on the Obamacare Replacement”. The New York Times. March 20, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  42. ^ “How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill”. Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  43. ^ “How every member voted on health care bill”. CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  44. ^ a b “Climate change: ‘We can debate this forever’. Cincinnati.com. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  45. ^ Chabot puts impeachment at center of his case for Judiciary post The Hill. 31 May 2018.
  46. ^ Wilkinson, Howard (September 2, 2011). “Chabot camera seizure irks right and left”. Cincinnati.com. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  47. ^ Wilkinson, Howard “Democrats’ cameras seized by police at Chabot Town Hall meeting”, Cincinnati.com, August 24, 2011
  48. ^ Kurt Nimmo, [1] “Cops Confiscate Cameras at Ohio Congressman’s Town Hall”, August 24, 2011
  49. ^ Wilkinson, Howard (September 20, 2011). “Officer who confiscated cameras at Chabot event gets “administrative insight”. Cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  50. ^ Murray, Iaian (June 5, 2002). “Scientific Boehner: The new creationism and the congressmen who support it”. The American Prospect. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  51. ^ “Cut it out – Stop spending taxpayers’ money to build roads for timber companies”. The Columbus Dispatch – Editorial. May 16, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  52. ^ Snyder, Charles (June 30, 2006). “US House adopts measure on Taiwan”. Taipei Times. p. 1. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  53. ^ Monk, Dan; Lucy May (May 11, 2001). “Missing the bus”. Business Courier of Cincinnati. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  54. ^ “From Westwood to the World”. Citybeat.com. October 26, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  55. ^ “About Steve | U.S. House of Representatives”. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  56. ^ “Religious affiliation of members of 115th Congress” (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2023.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio’s 1st congressional district

1995–2009
Succeeded by

Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio’s 1st congressional district

2011–2023
Succeeded by

Preceded by

Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
2007–2009
Succeeded by

Preceded by

Chair of the House Small Business Committee
2015–2019
Succeeded by

Preceded by

Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
2019–2021
Succeeded by

U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

as Former US Representative

Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded by

as Former US Representative