John Yarmuth has represented Kentucky's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007. He is a Democrat who previously worked as a publisher and columnist. Yarmuth has been reelected five times. He serves on the House Budget Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee, and holds leadership positions in several Congressional caucuses.

1. John Yarmuth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded by Anne Northup
Personal details
Born John Allan Yarmuth
November 4, 1947
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party Democratic (1985–present)
Other political
affiliations
Republican (before 1985)
Spouse(s) Catherine Yarmuth
Children 1 son
Education Yale University (BA)
Georgetown University
John Yarmuth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Allan Yarmuth (born November 4, 1947) is an
American Democratic politician who has been the U.S.
Representative for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district since
2007. His district encompasses the vast majority of Louisville
Metro.
Contents
1 Early life, education and career
2 Publisher and columnist
3 U.S. House of Representatives
3.1 Tenure
3.2 Committee assignments
3.3 Party leadership
3.4 Congressional Caucuses
4 Political campaigns
4.1 2006
4.2 2008
4.3 2010
4.4 2012
4.5 2014
4.6 2016
5 Television
6 Personal life
7 References
8 External links
Early life, education and career
Yarmuth was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Edna E.
(née Klein) and Stanley R. Yarmuth. He is descended from
Jewish immigrants from Russia and Austria.[1] He graduated
from Atherton High School.[2] He later graduated from Yale
University, majoring in American Studies, and attended
Georgetown University Law Center.[2]
He worked for Republican U.S. Senator Marlow Cook from 1971 to 1975, then returned to Louisville and
launched his publishing career by founding the Louisville Today magazine, which operated from 1976 to 1982.
He later worked as a vice-president of University Relations at the University of Louisville.[2]
Publisher and columnist
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2. In 1990, Yarmuth founded the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO), a weekly newspaper for which he wrote a
generally progressive political column that was usually featured on the first page. In 2003, Yarmuth sold LEO to
a company owned by Times Publishing Company of Pennsylvania, owner of the Erie Times-News. Yarmuth
remained on board as a columnist and consultant until January 2006, when he put his column on hiatus to run for
Congress.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives
Tenure
Yarmuth took office on January 3, 2007. As of 2016, he is serving his fifth term as Congressman.
After his first year in Congress, Yarmuth donated his post-tax congressional salary of just over $120,000 to
various charities in Louisville.[3]
On February 8, 2008, Yarmuth endorsed Barack Obama in his bid for the Democratic Party nomination for
President of the United States.[4]
On September 29, 2008, Yarmuth voted against the TARP bailout plan, as negotiated by House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President George W. Bush, House Minority Leader John Boehner,
and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.[5] However, he did vote in favor of the second version of the
bailout bill.[6]
Yarmuth said he was so "nauseated" by a moment of silence for Michael Jackson on the House floor that he left
the chamber. "I thought it was outrageous," he said. "In my two and a half years, we've not done this for
anybody else. We've done it for former members and that's about it."[7]
After defeating Northup for the second time, Yarmuth was rewarded by the Democratic Steering and Policy
Committee with a spot on the influential Ways and Means Committee. On the committee, Yarmuth worked on
issues on which he campaigned before the 2008 general election: Social Security, pension, Medicare, and
Medicaid issues.
At a September 2009 town hall meeting, constituents were unhappy with Yarmuth's decision to support the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "Yarmuth stayed calm in the face of boos and catcalls from some in
the audience" according to an Associated Press report. "He warned that the current health care system is an
unsustainable drain on businesses and the nation's economy."[8]
In 2011, Yarmuth introduced a bill alongside Republican Congressman Walter Jones that would seek to overturn
key parts of the controversial court case Citizens United v. FEC. The legislation would also give Congress the
power to enact mandatory public financing for Congressional candidates and create a national holiday for voting
purposes.[9]
In 2011, Yarmuth voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 due to a
controversial provision which allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens
and others without trial.[10][11]
In 2013, Yarmuth introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would establish a public financing system for
Congressional campaigns.[12][13]
In 2015, Yarmuth once again made an attempt at removing "dark money" from the political sphere by Proposing
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3. HR 2125, the Keeping our Campaigns Honest Act of 2015, however the bill realistically had no chance of
passing in the 114th Congress in which it was proposed.[14]
Committee assignments
Committee on the Budget
Committee on Energy and Commerce[15]
Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Member, Subcommitte on Oversight and Investigations[16]
Party leadership
Regional Whip
Congressional Caucuses
The following is a list of John Yarmuth's Congressional Caucus memberships:[17]
Co-Chair Congressional Ohio River Basin
Caucus
Co-Chair Congressional Bourbon Caucus
Congressional Musician's Caucus
Fragile X Caucus
Home Health Caucus
Congressional Horse Caucus
Congressional Youth Challenge Caucus
Congressional Caucus on the Mississippi River
Congressional Aluminium Caucus
Congressional Business Owner's Caucus
Congressional Caucus on Bosnia
Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome
Congressional Energy Savings Performance
Caucus
Congressional Deaf Caucus
Congressional High Technology Caucus
Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus
Congressional Adult Literacy Caucus
Populist Caucus
Congressional Baby Caucus
Congressional Arthritis Caucus
Congressional Mobility Air Force Caucus
Congressional Recycling Caucus
Congressional Steel Caucus
Congressional Lupus Caucus
Green Schools Caucus
Congressional Career and Technical Education
Caucus
Congressional Vision Caucus
Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus
Congressional Boating Caucus
Congressional Social Work Caucus
Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
Public Broadcasting Caucus
Congressional Caucus for Competitiveness in
Entertainment Technology
Congressional Humanities Caucus
Congressional Nursing Caucus
Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
House National Service Caucus
National Guard and Reserve Components
Caucus
Community College Caucus
Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus
House Small Brewers Caucus
Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus
Coalition for Autism Research and Education
Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Caucus
Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's
Disease
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth
Congressional Bike Caucus
Congressional Animal Protection Caucus
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Diabetes Caucus
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4. Political campaigns
2006
Yarmuth filed candidacy papers on January 31, 2006, to represent Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Having
won the Democratic primary on May 16, defeating Andrew Horne, Burrell Charles Farnsley and James W.
Moore, he defeated incumbent Anne Northup (R) in November of that year.
On August 7, 2006, The Courier-Journal reported that The Hill revealed a week before that the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee had earmarked $51.5 million for television advertising in 32 congressional
districts across the nation, but none for Yarmuth's challenge in the Third Congressional District.[18]
On October 20, a Courier-Journal article stated that a WHAS11/SurveyUSA poll revealed the race had
tightened dramatically, with Yarmuth leading Northup 48 to 47 percent. Another poll a month earlier had
Northup leading by 6 points.[19] A WHAS11/SurveyUSA poll released on November 2 showed Yarmuth leading
Northup 52 to 44 percent.[20]
On October 26, Yarmuth told Courier-Journal reporter Kay Stewart that he would donate his congressional
salary—which would be $168,500 in 2007—to local charity.[21]
Because polls close early in Kentucky, many analysts saw this race as a key indicator and it immediately became
one of the most watched House races in the nation.
Yarmuth defeated Northup in the general election. He garnered 122,139 votes (51%) to Northup's 116,157 votes
(48%). Independent candidates garnered 2,896 votes (1%).
2008
Yarmuth ran unopposed in the primary, and faced Anne Northup in a rematch of the 2006 general election.
[22][23][24]
Yarmuth won the 2008 election with 59% of the vote.[25]
2010
Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Todd Lally and Independent Michael D. Hansen. Yarmuth was
re-elected successfully with 53% of the vote.[26]
2012
Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Brooks Wicker and Independent candidate Robert L. Devore Jr.
Yarmuth received 206,385 votes (63.96%), Brooks Wicker received 111,452 votes (23.32%), and Robert L.
Devore Jr. received 4,819 votes (1.49%).
2014
Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Michael McFarlane and Independent Gregory Puccetti. Yarmuth won
reelection with 63.5% of the votes cast.
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5. 2016
Yarmuth was challenged by Republican Harold Bratcher and Independent Everett Corley. Yarmuth won with
63% of the vote, receiving 212,388 votes. Harold Bratcher received 37% of the vote, totaling 122,085 ballots
cast in his name. Everett Corley received no votes in the election.[27]
Television
In 2003, Yarmuth and former WHAS-AM radio talk show host John Ziegler debated political issues on the
weekly WAVE program Yarmuth & Ziegler, with Yarmuth taking the liberal side and Ziegler, the conservative
side. On a successor program, Hot Button, which ran from September 2004 to December 2005, he faced off with
conservative Jim Milliman.
Yarmuth appeared on the March 8, 2007, episode of The Colbert Report in the show's "Better Know a District"
series. In a parody of Yarmuth's former Yarmuth & Ziegler debate series, host Stephen Colbert prodded Yarmuth
into a point/counterpoint style debate. After agreeing to the "debate," Colbert forced Yarmuth to defend the
shredding of kittens in wood chippers, which Yarmuth gamely proceeded to do. Colbert referred to Yarmuth as a
real life Bruce Wayne, and presented him with a framed print of his congressional photo with a Batman mask
photoshopped over his face.[28]
Personal life
Yarmuth has served on many boards including the Bingham Child Guidance Center and Kentucky Country Day
School. He is Kentucky's first Jewish congressman. Yarmuth and his wife, Cathy Yarmuth, have one son, Aaron,
who is a graduate of Kentucky Country Day. Aaron is currently the owner of the Louisville Eccentric Observer.
References
"yarmuth". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.1.
Official House Biography (http://yarmuth.house.gov/johns-biography/) Retrieved July 5, 2012.2.
Yarmuth For Congress » Campaign Blog » Yarmuth Donates 2007 Congressional Salary to Louisville Non-Profit
Organizations (https://web.archive.org/web/20080412080919/http://www.yarmuthforcongress.com/yarmuth.php
/news/yarmuth-donates-2007-congressional-salary-to-louisville-non-profit-organizations) at the Wayback Machine
(archived April 12, 2008)
3.
Carroll, James (February 8, 2008). "Yarmuth endorses Obama". The Courier-Journal.4.
Abdullah, Halimah (September 29, 2008). "Four Congressmen vote No". Lexington Herald Leader.5.
"Yarmuth Thinks Bailout Bill Stinks, Votes For It Anyway". WHAS-TV. October 3, 2008. Archived from the original
on December 2, 2008.
6.
Petchenik, Mike. "Yarmuth 'Nauseated' By Jackson Tribute". WLKY.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.7.
"Yarmuth faces boisterous town hall meeting". WBKO.8.
Phillip M. Bailey (December 20, 2011). "Yarmuth Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United
Case". Archives.wfpl.org. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
9.
"NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?". Ibtimes.com. December 16, 2011. Retrieved October 11,
2012.
10.
"House Vote 291 - Passes the the [sic] National Defense Authorization Act". Inside Congress. The New York
Times. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
11.
"Congressman John Yarmuth : Get Money Out of Politics". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 14, 2016. Retrieved
November 12, 2016.
12.
"Congressman John Yarmuth : Press : Rep. Yarmuth Introduces Public Financing Bill to Get Money Out of Politics".
Yarmuth.house.gov. January 16, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
13.
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6. "Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act of 2015 (H.R. 2125)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 23, 2016.14.
"Congressman John Yarmuth : Committees". Yarmuth.house.gov. October 15, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.15.
"John Yarmuth, Representative for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 23,
2016.
16.
"Elected Official Detail Page". Municipal Association of South Carolina. Retrieved December 23, 2016.17.
Stewart, Kay (August 7, 2006). "National Democratic campaign doesn't plan ads for Yarmuth". The Courier-
Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2006.
18.
Stewart, Kay (October 20, 2006). "Poll: Northup, Yarmuth race in dead heat". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved
November 9, 2006.
19.
Hebert, Mark (November 2, 2006). "Yarmuth ahead in new poll". whas11.com. Archived from the original on
February 11, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
20.
Stewart, Kay (October 26, 2006). "Northup attacks Yarmuth's Wealth -- Hypocrisy?". The Courier-Journal.
Retrieved January 2, 2008.
21.
Gerth, Joe (January 16, 2008). "Roberts probably out, Northup considers return". The Courier-Journal.22.
Schreiner, Bruce (January 28, 2008). "Northup to run to regain former congressional seat, adviser says". Associated
Press.
23.
"Northup Files To Run For Old Congressional Seat". WLKY.com. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. January 28,
2008. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
24.
"2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.25.
"John Yarmuth wins Kentucky 3rd District". WDRB. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.26.
"Live Results : 2016 KENTUCKY HOUSE ELECTION RESULTS". Realclearpolitics.com. Retrieved
November 12, 2016.
27.
Carroll, James R. (March 9, 2007). "Yarmuth jokes on the 'Colbert Report' ". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved
March 9, 2007.
28.
External links
Congressman John Yarmuth (http://yarmuth.house.gov/) official U.S. House site
John Yarmuth for Congress (http://www.yarmuthforcongress.com/)
John Yarmuth (https://www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Kentucky/Government
/Federal/US_House_of_Representatives/John_Yarmuth_%5BD-3%5D) at DMOZ
Biography (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=y000062) at the Biographical
Directory of the United States Congress
Profile (https://www.votesmart.org/candidate/58579) at Project Vote Smart
Financial information (federal office) (http://www.fec.gov/fecviewer
/CandidateCommitteeDetail.do?&tabIndex=1&candidateCommitteeId=H6KY03124) at the Federal
Election Commission
Legislation sponsored (https://www.congress.gov/member/john-yarmuth/1853) at The Library of Congress
Campaign Contributors to Rep. John Yarmuth (http://watchdog.net/p/john_yarmuth/contribs) at
watchdog.net
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Anne Northup
Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd congressional district
2007–present
Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Peter Welch
D-Vermont
United States Representatives by seniority
158th
Succeeded by
Niki Tsongas
D-Massachusetts
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7. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Yarmuth&oldid=768719308"
Categories: 1947 births 21st-century American politicians American magazine founders
American magazine publishers (people) American newspaper founders
American newspaper publishers (people) American people of Russian-Jewish descent
American people of Austrian-Jewish descent Atherton High School alumni
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives Kentucky Democrats Living people
Members of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky
Politicians from Louisville, Kentucky Yale University alumni
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