Heath Shuler

Shuler was born in Bryson City, North Carolina, a small town in the Great Smoky Mountains near the Tennessee border.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Becky |date=February 8, 2012 |title=Family first: As Shuler steps down to spend time with family, finding a Shuler-esque candidate to fill the void has Democrats scrambling. |work=Smoky Mountain News |url=https://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/6177-family-first-as-shuler-steps-down-to-spend-time-with-family-finding-a-shuler-esq |access-date=August 22, 2018}} His father was a mail carrier and his mother a homemaker and volunteer with the Swain County Youth Association; he has a younger brother, Benjie.Democrats for Values. [http://www.democratsforvalues.com/shuler.htm Heath Shuler] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105224614/http://www.democratsforvalues.com/shuler.htm |date=January 5, 2009 }}{{Cite news |date=August 30, 1994 |title=THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/08/30/the-young-and-the-restless/7956f862-ca94-4a80-8c4d-1e76860c13b6/ |access-date=August 22, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}}

Shuler's athletic career began at Swain County High School in Bryson City. A standout quarterback who led his team to three state championships, he was named as the North Carolina High School Player of the Year. He attracted scout attention and accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee in 1990.

Under head coaches Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer, Shuler gained national attention as one of the SEC's top quarterbacks. After a limited role in the 1991 season behind quarterback Andy Kelly, he became a prolific passer.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1992 |title=Tennessee Looks To Quarterback Shuler |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/10/11/tennessee-looks-to-quarterback-shuler/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |language=en}} In the 1992 season, he passed for 1,712 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and four interceptions as Tennessee finished with a 9–3 record.{{Cite web |title=1992 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tennessee/1992-schedule.html |access-date=August 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} The next season, he finished with 2,354 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions as Tennessee finished with a 9–2–1 record.{{Cite web |title=1993 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tennessee/1993-schedule.html |access-date=August 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He held nearly all Volunteer passing records by the end of his collegiate career; most were subsequently eclipsed by Peyton Manning. In 1993, Shuler was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) player of the year and came in second behind Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.{{Cite web |title=1993 Heisman Trophy Voting |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1993.html |access-date=August 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

{{NFL predraft

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| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Heath Shuler, Combine Results, QB - Tennessee |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Heath&l=Shuler&i=24025 |access-date=August 9, 2021 |website=nflcombineresults.com}}

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Shuler was a first-round selection in the 1994 NFL draft, taken by the Washington Redskins with the third overall pick.{{Cite web |title=1994 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1994/draft.htm |access-date=August 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract, most of the holdout being due to Shuler's agent and the Redskins general manager discussing the parameters of the contract.{{Cite news |last=Aldridge |first=David |date=August 1, 1994 |title=SHULER AND REDSKINS AGREE ON $19.25 MILLION FOR 8 YEARS |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/08/02/shuler-and-redskins-agree-on-1925-million-for-8-years/4aa2486d-1c1c-420a-af65-e845192f6a17/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2024 |title=SHULER HOLDOUT MAY COST HIM STARTING JOB |url=https://www.deseret.com/1994/8/1/19122891/shuler-holdout-may-cost-him-starting-job/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} The Redskins had fallen on hard times since winning Super Bowl XXVI, and Shuler was considered the quarterback of the future.{{cite web | last=Loverro | first=Thom | title=LOVERRO: Washington has had its share of springtime saviors. Remember Heath Shuler? | website=The Washington Times | date=2024-04-23 | url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/apr/23/heath-shuler-was-once-franchises-cant-mioss-savior/ | access-date=2025-02-25}} However, Shuler's poor play contributed to a quarterback controversy with fellow 1994 draft pick, seventh-rounder Gus Frerotte. Public and fan sentiment soon began to back Frerotte, especially after Shuler threw five interceptions in a 19–16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins - October 16th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199410160was.htm |access-date=August 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Shuler started 18 games in his first two years with the team and was benched in his third year, as Frerotte led the team.{{Cite news |date=August 31, 1995 |title='Skins choose Shuler to start over Frerotte - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993-2009) |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/1995/08/31/74301-skins-choose-shuler-to-start-over-frerotte/ |access-date=August 22, 2018 |work=Tucson Citizen |language=en}}

After the 1996 season, Shuler was traded to the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round pick in the 1997 draft and a third-round pick in 1998.{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1997 |title=REDSKINS TRADE SHULER TO NEW ORLEANS |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/04/18/redskins-trade-shuler-to-new-orleans/c158a549-ec76-4b52-8a3a-75597572573d/ |access-date=August 22, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}} Shuler's statistics remained poor. He suffered a serious foot injury during the 1997 season in New Orleans and had two surgeries to try to correct it. Football statistics site Football Outsiders called Shuler "The least valuable quarterback of 1997."{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2006 |title=1997 DVOA Ratings and Commentary |url=http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2006/1997-dvoa-ratings-and-commentary |access-date=August 8, 2012 |publisher=Football Outsiders}} Shuler chose the Saints over the Packers, who were also interested, because of the opportunity to start in New Orleans despite Washington GM Charley Casserly urging Shuler to pick the Packers because of their ability to develop quarterbacks.{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Les |date=April 23, 2019 |title=25 years ago, the Redskins picked the wrong QB. Heath Shuler is fine, but the team isn't. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/04/23/years-ago-redskins-picked-wrong-qb-heath-shuler-is-fine-team-isnt/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

After being unable to take the field due to his foot injury in his second season in New Orleans, Shuler signed with the Oakland Raiders. After re-injuring his foot in training camp, he was cut and later retired.{{Cite news |date=June 18, 1999 |title=Raiders Cut Shuler |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-18-sp-47915-story.html |access-date=August 22, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}} As a professional, his career passer rating was a 54.3. In 2004, ESPN rated him the 17th biggest 'sports flop' of the past 25 years,{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2004 |title=ESPN25: The 25 Biggest Sports Flops of 1979–2004 |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker/25biggestflops |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524183133/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker%2F25biggestflops |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |website=ESPN.com}} along with the fourth biggest NFL Draft bust.{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2008 |title=Top 50 draft busts |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3325687 |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In 2007, the NFL Network ranked Shuler as the ninth-biggest bust in NFL history.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2010 |title=NFL Videos: Top 10 draft busts |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81794233/Top-10-draft-busts |access-date=August 8, 2012 |website=Nfl.com}}

After retiring from the NFL, Shuler returned to the University of Tennessee and completed his degree in psychology.{{Cite news |last=Moreno |first=Eric |date=February 12, 2018 |title=From the gridiron to Congress, Heath Shuler has been a leader everywhere he's gone |url=https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5535/from-the-gridiron-to-congress-heath-shuler-has-been-a-leader-everywhere-he-s-gone |access-date=August 22, 2018 |work=USA Football}} He became a real estate professional in Knoxville, Tennessee. His real estate company was one of the largest independent firms in East Tennessee. In 2003, Shuler moved to Biltmore Forest, North Carolina.

;2006

{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 11}}

In July 2005, Shuler announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination to run against eight-term incumbent Republican Charles H. Taylor. North Carolina's 11th congressional district covered most of the Western North Carolina mountains where Shuler grew up.

Shuler was a tough target for opponents. His views on social issues were in line with the traditionally conservative district and he did not have a legislative record for opponents to attack. His campaign points were based on supporting cultural "mountain values:" opposing abortion rights, same-sex marriage and gun control. Taylor, an Appropriations subcommittee chairman, campaigned on his ability to bring federal money to the district. In October, with polls showing Taylor trailing, The Wall Street Journal ran a story about spending earmarks sought by Taylor that benefited many of his business interests.{{Cite news |last=Wilke |first=John R. |date=October 11, 2006 |title=Seat in Congress Helps Mr. Taylor Help His Business |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116053185551188928 |access-date=April 5, 2012 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} Taylor poured $2.5 million of his own money into his race, and spent $4.4 million overall, compared with Shuler's $1.8 million.{{Cite magazine |title=Rep. Heath Shuler (D) |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/heath-shuler-nc/ |url-status=dead |magazine=National Review |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120825101104/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/heath-shuler-nc/ |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2012}}

Shuler repeatedly attacked Taylor for failing to stand up for the 11th's interests. For example, he blasted Taylor for missing a vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which passed by only two votes. Shuler pointed out that, according to the House roll call, Taylor voted 11 times on the same day that CAFTA came up for a vote, suggesting he deliberately avoided the vote.{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2006 |title=Heath Shuler campaign press release on Taylor's missed CAFTA vote |url=http://www.heathshuler.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=848 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027144241/http://www.heathshuler.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=848 |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |access-date=August 8, 2012}} Taylor was one of two Republicans who did not vote on the bill, even though he had publicly opposed it in the past.Joel Burgess, [http://search.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050729/NEWS/507290332&SearchID=73257445388771 "Taylor explains absent nay vote"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010507/http://search.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050729%2FNEWS%2F507290332&SearchID=73257445388771 |date=September 28, 2007 }}, Times-News, July 29, 2005

Taylor attempted to tie Shuler to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, although Shuler was nearly as conservative on social issues as Taylor.Whitmire, Tim. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/08/12/politics/p082202D07.DTL "GOP Raises Specter of 'Speaker Pelosi' "]. Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle, August 12, 2006.

In the November election, Shuler won with 54 percent of the vote to Taylor's 46 percent. He carried nine of the district's 15 counties, including several that had reliably supported Taylor over the years. He even won Taylor's home county of Transylvania. Shuler was one of only two Democrats to defeat an incumbent in the South that year. His victory gave the Democrats a majority of the state's congressional delegation for the first time since the 1994 elections. North Carolina's 11th was one of thirty seats picked up by Democrats nationwide in 2006, giving them control of the House for the first time since 1994.

In 2009, a documentary film about the successful 2006 Democratic campaign to retake control of the House, HouseQuake, prominently featured then-Congressman Rahm Emanuel's efforts to recruit new candidates including Shuler. "Mr. Emanuel's efforts to get him to run offer one of the most revealing moments in the film," including two weeks of frequent phone calls about the balancing of family and Congressional obligations. The film was directed and produced by Karen Elizabeth Price, daughter of Congressman David Price who represented North Carolina's 4th congressional district.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=October 21, 2009 |title=Emanuel at the Epicenter: Then and Now |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/us/politics/22baker.html |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}

;2008

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 11}}

In 2008, Shuler faced Carl Mumpower, a Republican Asheville city councilman, and Libertarian Keith Smith. Shuler won strongly with 62 percent of the vote. He easily carried all 15 counties in the district, including the traditionally Republican Henderson County.

;2010

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 11}}

In early 2009, Shuler was mentioned as a possible candidate to run against incumbent Republican Richard Burr for the United States Senate in the next year's elections.{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=James |date=November 13, 2008 |title=Heath Shuler mulls race for Senate seat |url=https://ncnewsline.com/2008/11/13/heath-shuler-mulls-race-for-senate-seat/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=NC Newsline |language=en-US}} He ultimately chose not to do so, and sought reelection to the House.{{Cite web |title=Shuler won't seek NC Senate seat in 2010 |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/politics/story/587216.html |access-date=October 3, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Shuler defeated Republican nominee Jeff Miller, winning reelection by a margin of 54% to 46%.{{Cite news |title=Elections 2010: North Carolina |work=USA Today |url=http://projects.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010/elections/NC/ |url-status=dead |access-date=March 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105144957/http://projects.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010/elections/NC/ |archive-date=November 5, 2010}}

;2012

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 11}}

Although Shuler represented a district with a slight Republican bent, he had a lifetime ACU rating of 28.5.{{Cite web |title=ACU Ratings |url=http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/2010/House-Senate-combo.htm#NC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213221913/http://conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/2010/House-Senate-combo.htm#NC |archive-date=February 13, 2011 |access-date=April 2, 2012 |publisher=American Conservative Union}}

In July 2011, the Republican-dominated General Assembly significantly redrew the 11th. The district and its predecessors had been anchored in Asheville for over a century. However, the new map saw most of heavily Democratic Asheville drawn into the 10th. To make up for the population loss, a number of heavily Republican counties in the Foothills were moved to the 11th. The redistricting reduced the percentage of registered Democrats in the 11th from 43% to 36%. Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, concluded that the new district was so heavily Republican that Shuler would need to "practically completely separate himself from the Democratic party" in order to have any chance of winning a fourth term.{{Cite news |date=July 6, 2011 |title=Shuler left with Republican-leaning district after new maps slice liberal Asheville out of WNC |work=Smoky Mountain News |url=http://www.smokymountainnews.com/component/k2/item/4349-shuler-left-with-republican-leaning-district-after-new-maps-sliceliberal-asheville-out-of-wnc |access-date=April 2, 2012}} Years later, NBC News also concluded that the redrawn 11th was all but unwinnable for a Democrat, even one as conservative as Shuler. The map was drawn in a way that a number of neighborhoods in Asheville, and even streets, were split between the two districts. In some parts of Asheville, one side of the street moved to the 10th while the other side remained in the 11th.{{Cite news |last=Timm |first=Jane |date=September 22, 2017 |title=They're Still Drawing Crazy-Looking Districts. Can't It Be Stopped? |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/they-re-still-drawing-crazy-looking-districts-can-t-it-n803051}}

Over the course of 2011, several persons declared their candidacy for Shuler's seat or expressed interest in a possible run.{{Cite news |last=Bowling |first=Caitlin |date=November 30, 2011 |title=Republican candidates pile on for the chance to take on Shuler |url=http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/5688-republican-candidates-pile-on-for-the-chance-to-take-on-shuler |access-date=April 2, 2012 |work=Smoky Mountain News}}{{Cite news |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=July 26, 2011 |title=Heath Shuler to face new opposition |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59956.html |access-date=April 2, 2012 |work=Politico}}

On February 2, 2012, Shuler announced that he would not run for another term. He endorsed his former chief of staff, Hayden Rogers, in the race to succeed him. However, as expected, Rogers found the new 11th's redder hue impossible to overcome, and was heavily defeated by Republican Mark Meadows. Years later, Shuler told NBC News that the kind of ultra-precise redistricting that enabled the Republican-dominated legislature to split Asheville between two districts was bad for the country because it made it all but impossible to elect moderates to Congress. He argued that a fairer redistricting system was "the single greatest thing that could happen". Underscoring how Republican the district now was, Shuler would be the last Democrat to win as much as 40 percent of the district's vote until 2020, when the district regained all of Asheville.

;Ideology

Shuler was a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate-to-conservative House Democrats, initially serving as whip,{{Cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Barbara |last2=Bonner |first2=Lynn |last3=Curliss |first3=J. Andrew |date=November 7, 2010 |title=Shuler has an opening to challenge Pelosi |work=News & Observer |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/07/786496/shuler-has-an-opening-to-challenge.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109044934/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/07/786496/shuler-has-an-opening-to-challenge.html |archive-date=November 9, 2010}} and eventually rising to the role as co-chairman.{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2012 |title=Blue Dog Democrat Heath Shuler to retire from Congress |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/blue-dog-democrat-heath-shuler-retire-congress-000856256.html |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Yahoo! News}}

A list of bills sponsored by Shuler in the 112th Congress includes H.R.3065, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; H.R.2086, the Medical Debt Responsibility Act of 2011; H.R.2000, the SAVE Act of 2011: H.R. 1889, the Gas Tax Holiday Act; and H.R.1434, the International Child Protection Act of 2011.{{Cite web |title=112th Congress Legislation |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/bills.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00027655&type=I&spon_type=sponsor&cong=112 |access-date=March 28, 2012 |publisher=Open Secrets}}

In 2011, Shuler led a group of House Democrats in pressuring the President to deal with the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. The group pushed for the lawsuit to be settled by the Department of Justice. The group sided with the claim made by AT&T that the merger would create much-needed jobs.{{Cite news |last=King |first=Rachel |date=September 15, 2011 |title=House Democrats rally for AT&T, T-Mobile with letter to Obama |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/house-democrats-rally-for-at-t-t-mobile-with-letter-to-obama/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |work=CNET |language=en}}

In November 2011, Shuler took the lead in a bipartisan call calling for larger cuts of the U.S. deficit.{{Cite news |last=Bowling |first=Caitlin |date=November 9, 2011 |title=Shuler leads national call for much larger debt cuts |url=http://www.smokymountainnews.com/component/k2/item/5550-shuler-leads-national-call-for-much-larger-debt-cuts |access-date=March 28, 2012 |work=Smokey Mountain News}}

In 2007, Shuler introduced proposed legislation co-sponsored with fellow North Carolina U.S. Congressman Walter Jones to require airlines to have sections of the aircraft where large movie screens would not be visible.{{Cite news |title=Bill targets sex and violence in inflight movies - CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/09/25/airline.movies.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209063849/http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/09/25/airline.movies.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch |archive-date=December 9, 2007}}

Representative Shuler has also been a major supporter of the government of Sri Lanka in Congress.{{Cite news |title=Shulers outreach goes all the way to Sri Lanka |publisher=Rollcall.com |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_48/Shulers-Outreach-Goes-All-the-Way-to-Sri-Lanka-209767-1.html}}

Reportedly owing to his success in real estate, Shuler was named chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship during the 110th and 111th Congresses.{{Cite news |date=January 31, 2007 |title=Shuler chairman of subcommittee |work=Hendersonville Times-News |url=http://www.blueridgenow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/NEWS/70131005/1042/NEWS |access-date=February 3, 2012 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206104638/http://www.blueridgenow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/NEWS/70131005/1042/NEWS |url-status=dead }} He has also been a deputy-at-large Whip.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2007 |title=Shuler chosen as deputy-at-large whip |work=Hendersonville Times-News |url=http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20070113/NEWS/701130325 |access-date=February 3, 2012}}

;Key votes during economic recession

Shuler voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 both times it came before the House.{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 674 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll681.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 681] October 3, 2008 He later joined seven other conservative House Democrats in voting against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, an $819 billion economic stimulus bill proposed by President Barack Obama. Shuler also voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, or HR 3962, along with 38 other Democrats, despite voting yes on the Stupak amendment in the same bill, which prohibits federal funds to be used for abortions.{{Cite web |title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 887 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml#Y |access-date=September 19, 2012 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}{{Cite web |title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 884 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll884.xml |access-date=September 19, 2012 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}

In January 2011, Shuler voted against repealing the law,{{Cite news |publisher=Projects.washingtonpost.com |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/house/1/votes/14/?hpid=artslot | title=The Washington Post - Breaking news and latest headlines, U.S. News, world news, and video }} explaining that the repeal would be immoral.{{Cite web |title=Still voting 'no:' 2 'Blue Dogs' explain why they oppose repeal |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/19/107020/nc-dems-kissell-shuler-will-oppose.html |access-date=March 28, 2012 |publisher=McClatchy}}

;Cap and trade

Shuler voted in favor of HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act which would implement a cap and trade system aimed at controlling pollution.{{Cite web |title=Roll call vote on HR 2454 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll477.xml |publisher=Clerk.house.gov}}

;Abortion

In 2011, he co-sponsored HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2011 |title=Full text of House Resolution 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-3 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |publisher=Govtrack.us}} The bill contained an exception for "forcible rape", which opponents criticized as potentially excluding drug-facilitated rape, date rape, and other forms of rape.{{Cite news |title=What is 'forcible rape' exactly? |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/02/what_is_forcible_rape_exactly.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811012017/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/02/what_is_forcible_rape_exactly.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2011}} The bill also allowed an exception for minors who are victims of incest.

;Guns

Shuler is a strong advocate of gun rights. On January 10, 2011, the Washington Post reported that "[i]n the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords," Shuler "intends to arm himself more frequently" and is "encouraging his staff members to apply for carry permits". On January 29, 2011, a Doonesbury cartoon made fun of Shuler's plan to carry a gun.

;LGBT issues

In April 2009, Shuler voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml |title= |website=clerk.house.gov |access-date=February 21, 2014}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}

;Republican 2011 budget

In July 2011, Shuler was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.{{Cite news |last=Berman |first=Russell |date=July 19, 2011 |title=Five Blue Dogs join GOP in vote for 'cut, cap and balance' bill |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/96898-five-blue-dogs-join-gop-in-vote-for-cut-cap-and-balance-bill/ |access-date=July 21, 2011}}

;Interest in leadership position

During his 2010 campaign, Shuler showed interest in taking the place of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, if Democrats maintained their majority. On November 4, after Republicans had won a majority of seats in the upcoming Congress, Shuler predicted Pelosi would no longer be a leader in the House. However, if Pelosi wanted to take the minority leader position, Shuler told Roll Call, he would run against her if there were no "viable candidate".{{Cite news |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |date=November 15, 2010 |title=Rep. Heath Shuler says he'll likely challenge Nancy Pelosi for leadership post |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-15-la-pn-shuler-challenge-20101116-story.html |access-date=March 17, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

On November 13, 2010, in a long New York Times article about Shuler, Campbell Robertson noted his use of a football analogy to describe the current situation of Congressional Democrats: "It's no different than me as a quarterback," he said. "I didn't play very good. So what they'd do? They benched me." Robertson noted that "Shuler has emerged as one of most prominent voices in the debate on the Democratic Party's immediate future. He was among the first to call for Ms. Pelosi to step down from her leadership role in the new Congress and said he would run for minority leader himself if no alternative emerged (though he admitted that he would be an underdog)." According to Robertson, Shuler felt the Democratic leadership "has been too reflexively partisan" and called for "a more moderate approach".{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Campbell |date=November 13, 2010 |title=After Party's Rout, a Blue Dog Won't Back Down |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/us/politics/14shuler.html |access-date=March 14, 2012}}

Robertson observed that North Carolina "has long nurtured a strand of progressivism, particularly on issues like education, and a Sunday school brand of social conservatism — sometimes in the same candidate," and that "North Carolina's curious politics are on full display in Mr. Shuler's district, which ... includes the heavily Democratic city of Asheville, home to yoga studios and holistic medicine centers, as well as staunchly conservative hamlets scattered throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains."

As expected, Pelosi did run for minority leader, and on November 14, Shuler told CNN he would run against her, though he doubted he would win.{{Cite news |last=Motsinger |first=Carol |date=November 15, 2010 |title=Heath Shuler: I'll challenge Nancy Pelosi if she continues to run for minority leader |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20101115/NEWS/311150028/1009/news01 |access-date=November 23, 2010}} Shuler lost to Pelosi 150–43 on November 17, but he was pleased that conservative Democrats showed they must be dealt with.{{Cite news |last=Boyle |first=John |date=November 18, 2010 |title=Heath Shuler challenge to Nancy Pelosi falls short |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/article/2010311180019 |access-date=November 23, 2010}} On the opening day of the 112th Congress, Shuler received 11 votes for Speaker of the House, which his political aide called "the most dissenting votes recorded in modern history for partisan defections during a vote for Speaker".{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2011 |title=Shuler falls short, way short |url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/shuler_falls_short_way_short |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401165407/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/shuler_falls_short_way_short |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |website=NewsObserver.com}}{{Cite web |title=Container Detail Page |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=16625 |access-date=August 8, 2012 |publisher=Our Campaigns}}

• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
• Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Shuler transitioned to a lobbying position with Duke Energy to direct its lobbying and government affairs in Washington, D.C., in 2013.{{cite web | last=Barrett | first=Mark | title=Heath Shuler cryptic on possibility of Senate bid | website=The Citizen-Times, Asheville | date=2015-08-11 | url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2015/08/11/heath-shuler-cryptic-possibility-senate-bid/31491941/ | access-date=2024-09-13}}{{Cite news |title=Duke Energy Taps Schuler |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57554710/duke-energy-taps-shuler-as-washington-lobbyist/ |url-status=dead |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201173430/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57554710/duke-energy-taps-shuler-as-washington-lobbyist/ |archive-date=December 1, 2012}}

In March 2020, he endorsed Joe Biden's presidential bid.{{Cite web |title=Heath Shuler steps off the political sidelines |url=https://www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/29711-heath-shuler-steps-off-the-political-sidelines}}

Shuler is married to Nikol Davis, with whom he has two children: a daughter, Island, and a son, Navy.{{Cite web |title=Heath Shuler |url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome/profiles/heath_shuler |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304093716/http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome/profiles/heath_shuler |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=News Observer}} Shuler remains active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Shuler also serves as a volunteer assistant football coach for Christ School, a boarding and day school located in suburban Asheville. His son Navy attended Christ School{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Andrew |date=August 4, 2015 |title=Shuler, son join Christ School football |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/hshuddle/2015/08/04/shuler-son-join-christ-school-football/31096283/ |access-date=October 23, 2018 |work=Citizen Times |language=en}} and Appalachian State University before transferring to the University of Tennessee as a preferred walk-on quarterback.

In Washington, Shuler lived at the C Street House of The Fellowship, a controversial organization which operates the property as a tax-exempt church and a residence for several congressmen and senators. The building became notorious during a series of political sex scandals in 2009, in which current or former residents John Ensign, Mark Sanford, and Chip Pickering admitted to adulterous affairs, which their housemates knew of but did not publicize. In September 2010, The New Yorker published a piece about the house, focusing on the connection with a secretive religious organization called the Fellowship. Shuler has attended weekly prayer sessions sponsored by the group since his arrival in Washington. In reference to the secrecy, Shuler said "I've been here the whole time, and there's talk about what the Fellowship is, but I honestly have no idea what they're talking about. I honestly don't know what it is."{{Cite magazine |last=Boyer |first=Peter J. |date=September 6, 2010 |title=Frat House for Jesus |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/13/100913fa_fact_boyer |access-date=March 22, 2012 |magazine=The New Yorker}}

Shuler is a Freemason.{{Cite web |last=Cheek |first=Derek |date=April 8, 2008 |title=WNC Trestleboard: Congressman Heath Shuler to be raised! |url=http://wnctrestleboard.blogspot.com/2008/04/congressman-heath-shuler-to-be-raised.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=WNC Trestleboard}}

{{Election box begin | title=2006 United States House of Representatives North Carolina 11th District election{{cite web|url=http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/resultsby_contest_single1.asp?ED=11xx07xx2006GENERAL2006AUS%2520CONGRESS%2520DISTRICT%252011&B1=Submit|title=2006 General Election Results US House (11th District)|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|access-date=January 11, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Heath Shuler

|votes = 124,972

|percentage = 53.79

|change = +8.70

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Charles H. Taylor (incumbent)|votes=107,342|percentage=46.21|change=–8.70}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 232,314

|percentage = 100

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=2008 United States House of Representatives North Carolina 11th District election{{cite web |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/14537/en/summary.html |title=2008 General Election |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections |access-date=January 11, 2010}} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Heath Shuler (incumbent)

|votes = 211,112

|percentage = 61.96

|change = +8.17

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Carl Mumpower|votes=122,087|percentage=35.83|change=–10.37}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Keith Smith|votes=7,517|percentage=2.21|change=N/A}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 340,716

|percentage = 100

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=North Carolina's 11th district general election, November 2, 2010{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/22580/41687/en/vts.html?cid=2011000|title=US House of Representatives district 11|access-date=March 17, 2015|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Heath Shuler (incumbent)

|votes = 131,225

|percentage = 54.34

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jeff Miller

|votes = 110,246

|percentage = 45.66

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 241,741

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

• North Carolina Democratic Party
• Hayden Rogers

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070211234326/http://shuler.house.gov/ Congressman Heath Shuler] official U.S. House website
• [http://www.heathshuler.com/ Heath Shuler for Congress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029000718/http://www.heathshuler.com/ |date=October 29, 2010 }} official campaign website
• {{CongLinks | congbio=s001171 | votesmart=57781 | fec=H6NC11172 | congress= }}
• [http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome/profiles/heath_shuler Profile] at the Raleigh News & Observer
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070318182609/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heath_Shuler Profile] at SourceWatch
• [https://archive.today/20121209071709/http://miva.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/miva?blogs+blog_id=hshuler] Heath Shuler's Blog.]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [http://housequakethefilm.com/Synopsis.html HouseQuake film synopsis.]
• [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/ShulHe00.htm Career stats for Shuler]
• [http://www.nfl.com/players/heathshuler/profile?id=SHU320982 NFL.com career stats]
• {{C-SPAN|1022886}}

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{{s-bef|before=Tom Suozzi|as=former U.S. Representative}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
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{{s-aft|after=Renee Ellmers|as=former U.S. Representative}}

{{s-end}}

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{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 110th–112th United States Congresses |state=North Carolina}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shuler, Heath}}

Category:1971 births

Category:American athlete-politicians

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Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina

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