John Kasich (rhymes with Basic) is proud to call Ohio his home, and he is optimistic about our future. He understands that our great state is hurting, and believes we can do better.
The son of a mailman, John grew up in a blue collar neighborhood in McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Like many Americans his values were shaped by a childhood rooted in faith, family, community and common sense.
At age 18 John chose to move 180 miles to the west to attend The Ohio State University, and after graduating he chose to make his mark in Ohio.
Known for his straightforward style and boundless energy, John was elected to the Ohio State Senate at the age of 26 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 30.
As a nine-term Congressman, John played major leadership roles in a variety of groundbreaking achievements. Driven by a belief that government shouldn’t live beyond its means, John worked as Chairman of the House Budget Committee to construct the plan that balanced the federal budget for the first time since man first walked on the moon. At first the naysayers said it couldn’t be done, then they said it shouldn’t be done, then they said it wouldn’t be done. But John, working with a team of other leaders, proved them all wrong. Together they balanced the budget, provided for the largest government surplus our country has ever seen, and opened the door for an era of tremendous job growth and prosperity.
An advocate of personal responsibility, John chaired the historic congressional conference committee that overhauled the welfare system. Building on his commitment to limited government, John also championed defense reform and the elimination of wasteful government spending by effectively building coalitions with members on both sides of the aisle.
John’s leadership, accomplishments and vision for America led Newsweek magazine to name him one of its "100 people for the 21st century." But instead of seeking a 10th congressional term, John decided to remain in Westerville with his wife Karen and twin daughters Emma and Reese, and has pursued new challenges and experiences outside of Washington.
As a business leader, John has worked to understand what makes businesses successful, and has helped companies in a wide variety of industries nationwide to grow, invest for the future and create jobs.
His leadership in Washington and his ability to communicate powerfully and effectively have given John a broad platform to shape public opinion as a commentator, appearing on virtually every major network and cable news show. He has also hosted a national weekly news show called "Heartland with John Kasich," which allowed him to provide a uniquely Midwestern perspective to news from around the nation and world.
John has lectured on college campuses across the country, challenging students with a message that emphasizes the importance of hard work, ethics and values.
Additionally, John is a two-time New York Times bestselling author. Most recently, he penned Stand for Something: The Battle for America’s Soul. Praised by the likes of Bono, George Stephanopoulos and Elie Wiesel, Stand for Something directly addresses how we can overcome the erosion of the long-standing, hard-earned values upon which our nation is built. John has also authored Courage is Contagious, a book which highlights the stories of ordinary Americans who have taken amazing measures to make a difference for their communities and our country.
Like the people John writes about, his entire career has been about making a difference. Now, turning his leadership toward Ohio, John wants to work together with all Ohioans to make a difference for our future and develop common sense solutions that will bring jobs and prosperity back to Ohio’s families.
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