Mike Coffman

Mike Coffman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 6th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2009
Preceded by Tom Tancredo
Secretary of State of Colorado
In office
January 9, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Governor Bill Ritter
Preceded by Gigi Dennis
Succeeded by Bernie Buescher
Treasurer of Colorado
In office
March 27, 2006 – January 9, 2007
Governor Bill Owens
Preceded by Mark Hillman (Acting)
Succeeded by Cary Kennedy
In office
January 3, 1999 – June 9, 2005
Governor Bill Owens
Preceded by Bill Owens
Succeeded by Mark Hillman (Acting)
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 27th district
In office
December 12, 1994 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by Bill Owens
Succeeded by John Andrews
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 40th district
In office
January 1989 – December 12, 1994
Preceded by ???
Succeeded by Gary McPherson
Personal details
Born Michael Coffman
(1955-03-19) March 19, 1955
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Cynthia Coffman
Alma mater University of Colorado, Boulder
Religion Methodism
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
 United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1972–1978 (Army)
1979–1994, 2005–2006 (Marines)
Rank Major
Battles/wars Persian Gulf War
Iraq War

Michael "Mike" Coffman (born March 19, 1955) is the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district, serving since 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the Secretary of State of Colorado (2007–2009) and as Colorado State Treasurer (1999–2005 and 2006–2007).

Early life, education, and business career

Michael Coffman was born on March 19, 1955 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to Harold and Dorothy Coffman, and is one of five children. His father served in the United States Army at Fort Leonard Wood, and after 1964, at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.

In 1972, Coffman enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was assigned to a mechanized infantry battalion. The following year, he earned a high school diploma through an army program. Leaving active duty for the U.S. Army Reserve in 1974, he entered the University of Colorado, under the G.I. Bill graduating in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science.[1][2] He also studied at Vaishnav College in Chennai, India, and the University of Veracruz in Mexico for a year. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado, Coffman transferred from the Army Reserve to the United States Marine Corps in 1979, becoming an infantry officer. In 1983, he transferred from active duty to the Marine Reserves, serving until 1994. In 1983, he created an Aurora, Colorado-based property management firm, serving as senior shareholder until 2000.

State politics

Legislature

Coffman began his political career serving as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1989 to 1994. Shortly after winning re-election in 1990, he took an unpaid leave-of-absence from the statehouse during his active duty service in the Persian Gulf War, during which he saw combat as a light armored infantry officer. In 1994, he retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 20 years of combined service to the Army, Army Reserve, Marines, and Marine Reserve. In 2006 he returned to active duty in the Marines where he deployed to Iraq for combat service. Upon return from his deployment, he retired from the Marine Corps once again. When State Senator Bill Owens resigned his seat to become state treasurer, the party's vacancy committee named Coffman the replacement in December 1994. In 1996, he was elected to a full term to the Colorado State Senate unopposed.[3] He became the Chairman of the Finance Committee.[4]

Statewide offices

In 1998, Coffman was elected as State Treasurer of Colorado with 51% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Jim Polsfut.[5] In 2002, he was re-elected with 56%, defeating Democratic State Senator Terry Phillips.[6]

He resigned from that post in 2005 in order to resume his career in the U.S. Marines, and serve in the War in Iraq, where he helped support the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, which oversaw two national elections, and helped establish interim local governments in the western Euphrates Valley. In 2006, he completed his duty in Iraq and was re-appointed as State Treasurer. He served that position for only a few months because in November 2006, he was elected Colorado Secretary of State with 51% of the vote, defeating Democratic State Senator and Minority Leader Ken Gordon.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2008

Coffman announced that he would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Republican Tom Tancredo in 2008 in Colorado's 6th congressional district. Three other candidates decided to run in the Republican primary for the open seat: Wil Armstrong (son of former U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong), State Senator Ted Harvey, and State Senator Steve Ward. Coffman won the August primary with a plurality of 40% of the vote, beating runner-up Wil Armstrong by seven points.[8]

During the general election, several groups accused the secretary of state's office of improperly marking 6,400 voter registration forms as incomplete, because they failed to check a box on the form, required by legislation sponsored by then Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, a Democrat, in 2006.[9] Incomplete registrations require voters to either re-register or provide extra identification when they go to vote.[9] Soon after the accusations were made, Common Cause filed suit against Coffman, in his official capacity as secretary of state. The secretary of state's office denied wrongdoing, and Coffman said he believes his office was correctly applying the law.[10] On October 30, 2008, the court approved a preliminary injunction allowing purged voters to participate in the 2008 election.[11] Bernie Buescher, Coffman's successor as secretary of state, replaced Coffman as defendant in the case in January 2009.[12] The bulk of the litigation was settled in January 2010 after changes to Colorado's election regulations, and the remaining portions were decided in January 2011.

The Denver Post endorsed Coffman on October 10, 2008.[13] In November, Coffman defeated Democrat Hank Eng, an Appleton, Wisconsin City Common Councilman, 61%–39%.[14] Governor Bill Ritter designated State Representative Bernie Buescher, a Democrat, to succeed Coffman as Secretary of State.[15]

2010

Coffman defeated Democrat John Flerlage 66%–31%.[16]

2012

In redistricting, Colorado's 6th congressional district was made more favorable to Democrats than previously. Aurora was added to the district.[17]

Democratic State Representative Joe Miklosi challenged Coffman.[18] During a campaign fundraiser in Elbert County on May 12, 2012, Coffman expressed doubt that President Barack Obama had been born in the United States and declared that: "I don't know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. I don't know that. But I do know this, that in his heart, he's not an American. He's just not an American."[19] Coffman apologized several days later saying that, "I misspoke and I apologize", and "I have confidence in President Obama's citizenship and legitimacy as President of the United States."[20]

Coffman defeated Miklosi 48%–46%, a difference of 6,992 votes.[21]

2014

Coffman ran for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He won the Republican nomination in the primary election on June 24, 2014, unopposed.[22] He faced Democrat Andrew Romanoff in the general election. Coffman won 52%–43%.

2016

Coffman ran for re-election in 2016 as the Republican nominee against Democratic State Senator Morgan Carroll. He defeated Carroll in the general election, winning 51% of the vote to Carroll's 42%.[23]

In July 2016, the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity announced plans to launch a major advertising campaign opposing Carroll.[24][25]

EMILY's List, a political action committee that works to elect pro-choice Democratic women, endorsed Coffman's 2016 U.S. House opponent. It criticized Coffman for allegedly "co-sponsoring a bill to redefine rape". PolitiFact.com rated the claim "Mostly True", writing that "Coffman did co-sponsor the bill to redefine a ban on federal funding for abortions to exempt 'forcible rape.' Yet he later voted on the floor for an amended version that had removed the 'forcible' modifier from the bill."[26]

Coffman did not endorse Donald Trump, the Republican Party's nominee for U.S. president in 2016.[27] In August 2016, he ran an advertisement promising to "stand up” to Trump. The ad represented the first time a House Republican used explicitly anti-Trump messaging in paid advertising. It is rare for incumbent members of Congress to run advertisements attacking presidential nominees of their own party.[28] Coffman also released a version of the commercial which featured him speaking Spanish.[29] He criticized Trump for his attacks on the parents of Captain Humayun Khan.

Tenure

Military and veterans affairs

In 2011, Coffman proposed a half billion dollars in cuts to military programs such as education reimbursements, the Selective Service and the military's health plan, TRICARE, saying that the programs "have been neglected for a long time. Every dollar wasted is a dollar not going to our war fighters. What they do is important to this country, and we should focus on them."[30]

Coffman introduced the Veterans Paralympic Act of 2013,[31] which funds disabled veterans who want to compete in the Paralympic Games.[32] The bill was signed into law by President Obama in 2013.[33]

In response to a 2013 Gazette report about veterans with mental health conditions, such as Post-traumatic stress disorder, being stripped of medical benefits, Coffman sponsored a 2014 amendment that would allow servicemen with mental health issues who were discharged because of misconduct to appeal for medical discharge instead.[34]

Coffman introduced the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014, a bill that would alter the relationship between the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses (RAC) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).[35][36]

Coffman was the first congressman to call for Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to resign after misconduct at multiple VA facilities was revealed.[37] On May 30, 2014, Shinseki resigned as Secretary.[38][39]

In 2016, Coffman co-sponsored a bill to abolish the Selective Service System.[40]

Immigration

In August 2014, Coffman broke ranks with the Republican Party and voted against a bill that would have dismantled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.[41]

In October 2015, Coffman and Democrat Tammy Duckworth co-sponsored the Military Enlistment Opportunity Act, which would provide undocumented immigrant children an opportunity to serve in the U.S. military and gain a path to citizenship.[42][43]

Social issues

Coffman opposes abortion, supports the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, and supports maintaining access to birth control for women.[44] In early 2014, Coffman announced that he no longer supports personhood laws.[45][46]

Coffman opposes federally mandated background checks for gun purchases.[47] He supported the 2012 renewal of the Violence Against Women Act.[48]

In 2014, Coffman signed on as a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.[49]

Voting rights

In September 2016, Coffman became co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2015, legislation that would restore some protections in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that have been stripped by the United States Supreme Court.[50]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Coffman's wife Cynthia Coffman was elected Colorado Attorney General in 2014. She previously served as Chief Deputy Attorney General in the office of Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, and as Chief Counsel in the office of then-Governor Bill Owens.[51]

Coffman is a Methodist.[52]

References

  1. ↑ Mike Coffman (R), Winner U.S. Representative – CO6, Election 2012, Wall Street Journal
  2. ↑ "Mike Coffman Full Biography". Mike Coffman U.S. Representative. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ElectionArchives/1996/General/1996StateSenateResults.pdf
  4. ↑ "Full Biography". House of Representatives. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "CO Treasurer Race". Our Campaigns. November 3, 1998. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ "CO Treasurer Race". Our Campaigns. November 5, 2002. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ "CO Secretary of State Race". Our Campaigns. November 7, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "CO District 6 – R Primary Race". Our Campaigns. August 12, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Kim, Myung Oak (October 14, 2008). "Voting forms ruled incomplete for lack of check mark". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Lawsuit alleges voters in Colorado illegally purged from rolls". CNN. October 27, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Order Approving Parties' Stipulated Preliminary Injunction" (PDF). October 30, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Notice of Substitution of Party by Defendant Michael Coffman" (PDF). January 21, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Editorial: Coffman's financial skills needed in D.C.". The Denver Post. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008.
  14. ↑ "CO – District 06 Race". Our Campaigns. November 4, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  15. ↑ Kim, Myung Oak (December 19, 2008). "Buescher first Dem to become secretary of state since 1963". Rocky Mountain News.
  16. ↑ "Beyond the Results: House". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  17. ↑ Hoover, Tim (November 12, 2011). "New map may shake up Colorado congressional races". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  18. ↑ Lee, Kurtis (July 29, 2011). "Not your average Joe launches congressional campaign". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  19. ↑ Clark, Kyle (May 16, 2012). "Coffman Speech in Elbert County". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  20. ↑ Southall, Ashley (May 24, 2012). "Republicans Apologetic After Raising Issue of Obama's Birthplace". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  21. ↑ David Nir (November 19, 2012). "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for the 2012 and 2008 elections". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Live election results: June 24". The Washington Post. June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  23. ↑ Murray, Jon (November 8, 2016). "Mike Coffman defeats Morgan Carroll in latest attempt by Democrats to win seat". The Denver Post. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  24. ↑ Matthews, Mark (July 5, 2016). "Koch brothers-backed political group AFP brings new firepower to Coffman-Carroll race". Denver Post. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  25. ↑ Sapin, Rachel (July 19, 2016). "Coffman outpaces Carroll again in quarterly CD6 fundraising, holds big cash lead". Aurora Sentinel. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Emily's List attacks Coffman on 'forcible' rape and abortion rights". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  27. ↑ Foley, Elise (August 4, 2016). "Republican Congressman Runs Ad Saying He Doesn't Like Donald Trump". Huffington Post. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  28. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex (August 4, 2016). "Republican releases ad promising to 'stand up' to Trump". Politico. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  29. ↑ Watkins, Eli; Raju, Manu (August 4, 2016). "GOP congressman on Trump in ad: 'Honestly, I don't care for him much'". CNN. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  30. ↑ Sherry, Allison. "Coffman's proposed military cuts face strong opposition." The Denver Post, April 21, 2011.
  31. ↑ "H.R. 1402 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  32. ↑ Coffman, Mike (September 27, 2013). "Coffman statement on The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act". House Office of Mike Coffman. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  33. ↑ "H.R.1402 - VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013". Congress.gov.
  34. ↑ Philipps, Dave (June 2, 2014). "Path cleared for Coffman measure to protect vets". The Gazette. Colorado Springs.
  35. ↑ Coffman, Mike (March 14, 2014). "Bipartisan Bill on Gulf War Health Research". House Office of Mike Coffman. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  36. ↑ Kennedy, Kelly (March 14, 2014). "Congress seeks independence for Gulf War illness board". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  37. ↑ Stokols, Eli (May 27, 2014). "Romney endorses Coffman in competitive C.D. 6 race". Fox 31 Denver. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Embattled VA chief Shinseki resigns". USA Today. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Veterans Secretary Eric Shinseki resigns". CNN. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  40. ↑ Matthews, Mark (February 10, 2016). "Mike Coffman, Jared Polis want to abolish the military draft". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  41. ↑ Foley, Elise (January 8, 2014). "House Votes To Strip Deportation Relief From Dreamers". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  42. ↑ "H.R.3698 - Military Enlistment Opportunity Act of 2015". Congress.gov. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  43. ↑ Stokols, Eli (May 20, 2014). "Coffman to push for military DREAMers bill already dismissed by GOP leadership". KDVR. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  44. ↑ Murray, Jon (August 14, 2014). "Mike Coffman, Andrew Romanoff tangle on immigration, trade barbs". The Denver Post.
  45. ↑ "Shadow Of Abortion Looms Over Colorado Campaigns". CBS Denver. AP. October 26, 2012.
  46. ↑ Stokols, Eli (March 25, 2014). "Coffman follows Gardner's lead, flips fast on personhood". KDVR.
  47. ↑ "Parents Of Aurora Victims Slam Rep. Mike Coffman". CBS Denver. April 23, 2014.
  48. ↑ Murray, Jon (September 17, 2014). "Gay Republicans honor Mike Coffman, while Democrats challenge his record on issues". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  49. ↑ Stokols, Eli (April 9, 2014). "Coffman comes out in support of LGBT anti-discrimination measure". KDVR. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  50. ↑ Hutchins, Corey (September 12, 2016). "Mike Coffman quietly signs onto the Voting Rights Amendment Act". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  51. ↑ Whaley, Monte (November 4, 2014). "Cynthia Coffman easily wins Colorado AG's race". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  52. ↑ "About Mike Coffman". Mike Coffman for Congress. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008.
Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Owens		 Treasurer of Colorado
1999–2005 		Succeeded by
Mark Hillman
Acting
Preceded by
Mark Hillman
Acting		 Treasurer of Colorado
2006–2007 		Succeeded by
Cary Kennedy
Preceded by
Gigi Dennis		 Secretary of State of Colorado
2007–2009 		Succeeded by
Bernie Buescher
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Tom Tancredo		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 6th congressional district
2009–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Jason Chaffetz		 United States Representatives by seniority
194th 		Succeeded by
Gerry Connolly
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