Jason Lewis (Minnesota politician)

{{About|the Minnesota politician|other people with the same name|Jason Lewis (disambiguation){{!}}Jason Lewis}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jason Lewis

| image = Jason Lewis, official portrait, 115th congress.jpg

| alt = Lewis in 2017

| state = Minnesota

| district = {{ushr|MN|2|2nd}}

| term_start = January 3, 2017

| term_end = January 3, 2019

| predecessor = John Kline

| successor = Angie Craig

| birth_name = Jason Mark Lewis

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|9|23}}

| birth_place = Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Leigh Lewis

| children = 2

| education = University of Northern Iowa (BA)
University of Colorado, Denver (MA)

}}

Jason Mark LewisAncestry.com. Minnesota, Marriage Index, 1958–2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. (born September 23, 1955) is an American politician and former conservative radio personality who served as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district from 2017 until 2019. The district included most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. A member of the Republican Party, he was a radio talk show host and a conservative political commentator before serving in Congress. He hosted the nationally syndicated Jason Lewis Show, based out of KSTP (AM) in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul radio market, from 2009 to 2014.

Lewis was elected to Congress in 2016 defeating Democrat Angie Craig. He succeeded retiring Republican incumbent John Kline. He lost his bid for a second term in 2018 in a rematch against Craig. He was the Republican nominee in the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota. He was defeated by incumbent Democrat Tina Smith by a margin of 5.2 points, making it the closest Senate election in Minnesota since 2008. Some election observers attribute this close election to two pro-marijuana legalization parties taking a combined 7.69% of the vote.

Early life and education

Lewis was born in 1955 in Waterloo, Iowa.{{cite web |url=http://info.cqrollcall.com/rs/764-XAC-282/images/CQ-NewMemberGuide-115thCongress.pdf |title=Guide to the New Congress |publisher=Roll Call |access-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524105207/http://info.cqrollcall.com/rs/764-XAC-282/images/CQ-NewMemberGuide-115thCongress.pdf |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |url-status=dead }} He earned a master's degree in political science from the University of Colorado at Denver as well as a Bachelor of Arts in education and business from the University of Northern Iowa.

Career

= Radio =

Lewis's show was syndicated nationally by the Premiere Radio Networks and the Genesis Communications Network. Before that, he broadcast locally for ten years on KSTP in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and then on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, for three years. In 2006 Lewis moved back to Minnesota to the newly established KTLK-FM.{{cite web |url=http://www.ktlkfm.com/pages/onair.html?feed=261837&article=3514198 |title=KTLK-FM official Jason Lewis biography |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929050344/http://www.ktlkfm.com/pages/onair.html?feed=261837&article=3514198 |archive-date=September 29, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

On February 17, 2009, episode of his show, Lewis announced that his show would be syndicated nationally, effective February 23, 2009. Since 2007 Lewis had been one of the most frequently used and most popular guest hosts of Rush Limbaugh's radio program, allowing him to reach a nationwide audience.{{cite news |last1=Lambert |first1=Brian |title='I wanted to make a political statement': a Q&A with former radio host Jason Lewis |url=https://www.minnpost.com/media/2015/09/i-wanted-make-political-statement-qa-former-radio-host-jason-lewis |work=MinnPost |date=September 2, 2015}}

On August 8, 2011, The Jason Lewis Show was picked up for national syndication by the Genesis Communications Network.{{cite news |title=The Jason Lewis Show Joins the GCN Radio Network |url=http://radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2240144&spid=24698 |access-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005232617/http://radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2240144&spid=24698 |archive-date= October 5, 2011 }} On the July 31, 2014, episode, Lewis announced he was leaving the show to devote more time to a website he helped co-found.{{cite news |title=Radio host Jason Lewis quits show while on the air |url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26255918/radio-host-jason-lewis-quits-show-while-air |access-date=July 31, 2014}}

In 2018, CNN reviewed many hours of audiotape recorded during the years when Lewis served as a substitute host for Rush Limbaugh. Lewis's comments included: "Now, are we beyond those days where a woman can behave as a slut, but you can't call her a slut?" and "One of the reasons that the Democrats love the quote unquote female issue is because they know women vote more liberally than men do. Now you could say in a very, very sexist, misogynistic way that 'Well, that's because women just don't understand money. They don't understand, they're—they don't handle finances. They're guided by emotion, not reason. Why, that's why they didn't have the vote for a full century in the country."[http://www.startribune.com/u-s-rep-jason-lewis-made-disparaging-comments-about-women-on-radio-show/488554021/ U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis made disparaging comments about women on radio show Comments he made on his provocative show are getting a wider airing], Star-Tribune, J. Patrick Coolican, July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

Lewis defended his comments by saying that he was paid to be provocative. "There's a difference between [being] a politician and a pundit", he added.{{cite news |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |title=Rep. Jason Lewis stands by 'sluts' comments: 'I was paid to be provocative' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/kfile-jason-lewis-stands-by-comments/index.html |access-date=October 13, 2018 |work=CNN |date=July 19, 2018}}

In 2013, Lewis stated on his radio show that the "Jewish lobby" was in control of the Republican Party, and falsely claimed members of the Bush administration were dual citizens of Israel and the United States.{{cite news |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |title=GOP Senate candidate Jason Lewis said Republicans have 'dual loyalties' to Israel, 'Jewish lobby' controls the party |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/20/politics/jason-lewis-israel-kfile/index.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20don't%20think%20the%20Jewish%20lobby%2C%20the%20Israeli,Jewish%20organizations%20for%20supporting%20Hagel. |access-date=March 12, 2024 |work=CNN |date=September 20, 2019}}

=Writing=

Lewis is the author of the 2011 book Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States Rights.{{cite book |title=Power divided is power checked : the argument for states' rights |last=Lewis |first=Jason |year=2011 |publisher=Bascom Hill Pub Group |location=Minneapolis, MN |isbn=978-1-935098-50-8 |oclc=668197899}} In bonus commentary added to the 2016 audiobook version, Lewis said that many state laws prohibit consensual conduct and most of those laws are decided by the states.{{cite news |title=Lewis' book offers provocative analysis on slavery and civil rights |url=http://m.startribune.com/lewis-book-offers-provocative-analysis-on-slavery-and-civil-rights/369306761/ |access-date=June 30, 2016}} In the book he writes, "slavery was mercifully conquered",{{cite news |last1=Brucato |first1=Cyndy |title=Provocateur-turned-politician Jason Lewis finding that past comments can haunt the present |url=https://www.minnpost.com/party-politics/2016/02/provocateur-turned-politician-jason-lewis-finding-past-comments-can-haunt-pre |access-date=August 23, 2016 |publisher=MinnPost |date=February 23, 2016}} and suggests that "emancipated compensation" (compensated emancipation) was rejected by the Lincoln Administration—raising the question whether Abraham Lincoln "exploited the issue" of slavery to justify the "War Between the States." The book is a defense of federalism and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing "any state to peaceably leave the union."{{cite news |last1=Brodkorb |first1=Michael |title=Republican official says Jason Lewis' comments 'demonstrate ignorance' |url=http://www.startribune.com/republican-official-says-jason-lewis-comments-demonstrate-ignorance/369601551/ |access-date=August 22, 2016 |agency=Star Tribune |date=February 22, 2016}}

U.S House of Representatives

=Elections=

== 1990 ==

{{main|1990 United States House of Representatives elections#Colorado}}

In 1990, Lewis ran for Congress in Colorado's 2nd congressional district. He was defeated by incumbent Democrat David Skaggs.{{cite news |last1=Broadkorb |first1=Michael |title=GOP buzzing about possible Jason Lewis run for Congress |url=http://www.startribune.com/gop-buzzing-about-possible-jason-lewis-run-for-congress/329979211/ |access-date=August 23, 2016 |publisher=Star Tribune |date=September 30, 2015}}

== 2016 ==

{{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 2}}

In October 2015, Lewis filed to run for U.S. Congress in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district,{{Cite web |url=http://m.startribune.com/jason-lewis-files-paperwork-to-run-for-congress/331661291/ |title=Jason Lewis files paperwork to run for Congress |website=Star Tribune |access-date=2016-08-11}} and was endorsed at the Minnesota Republican Party's convention on the 6th ballot on May 7, 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.twincities.com/2016/05/07/jason-lewis-wins-2nd-district-gop-endorsement-over-david-gerson |title=Jason Lewis wins 2nd District GOP endorsement over David Gerson – Twin Cities |date=May 7, 2016 |access-date=2016-08-11}} He won the four-way August primary with 46% of the vote.{{cite news |last1=Pathé |first1=Simone |title=Controversial Former Talk Radio Host Wins GOP Primary in Minnesota Battleground |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/controversial-former-talk-radio-host-wins-gop-nod-minnesota-battleground |access-date=August 22, 2016 |agency=Roll Call |date=August 9, 2016}}

The race was widely considered one of 2016's most competitive congressional elections.{{cite journal |last1=COTTLE |first1=MICHELLE |title=Meet Minnesota's Mini-Trump |journal=The Atlantic |date=August 12, 2016 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/meet-minnesotas-mini-trump/495641/ |access-date=August 22, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Brodey |first1=Sam |title=It's Jason Lewis vs. Angie Craig in what's likely to be one of the most-watched congressional races in the country |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/08/its-jason-lewis-vs-angie-craig-what-s-likely-be-one-most-watched-congression |access-date=August 22, 2016 |agency=Minn Post |date=August 10, 2016}} Roll Call journalist Alex Roarty wrote that Lewis had not openly embraced Donald Trump, but that he had been "unafraid to embrace many of the presumptive presidential nominee's trademarks: tough talk, an aversion to political correctness, and a focus on border security."{{cite news |last1=Roarty |first1=Alex |title=Mini Trumps Sound Like the Nominee |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/meet-downballot-republicans-imitating-trump |access-date=August 22, 2016 |agency=Roll Call |date=May 16, 2016}}

During the campaign, a number of Lewis's opinions from his radio and internet career were publicized by the news media, including comments he made about women and slavery. Lewis said on his radio show: "You've got a vast majority of young single women who couldn't explain to you what GDP means. You know what they care about? They care about abortion. They care about abortion and gay marriage. They care about 'The View.' They are non-thinking."

In an update to his book on states' rights just before the campaign, Lewis questioned the federal government's role in outlawing slavery: "In fact, if you really want to be quite frank about it, how does somebody else owning a slave affect me? It doesn't. If I don't think it is right, I won't own one, and people always say 'well, if you don't want to marry somebody of the same sex, you don't have to, but why tell somebody else they can't?' Uh, you know, if you don't want to own a slave, don't. But don't tell other people they can't."{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/lewis-book-offers-provocative-analysis-on-slavery-and-civil-rights/369306761/ |title=Lewis' book offers provocative analysis on slavery and civil rights |website=Star Tribune |date=February 19, 2016 |access-date=October 28, 2018}}

Lewis said, "liberal reporters and typical politicians may not like the bluntness of the way I've framed some issues in my career as a voice in the conservative movement" and that his comments were "taken out of context by his opponents and the media".

On November 8, 2016, Lewis was elected to the United States House of Representatives, defeating Democratic nominee Angie Craig and independent Paula Overby.Montgomery, David. "[http://www.twincities.com/2016/11/08/minnesotas-congressional-races-2nd-district-early-results/ GOP's Jason Lewis wins MN 2nd Congressional District; incumbent Democrats narrowly hold seats]", TwinCites.com, November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.

== 2018 ==

{{main|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 2}}

In 2018, Angie Craig ran against Lewis again and defeated him in the November 6 general election with 52.8% of the vote to Lewis's 47.2%.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Election Results: Second House District |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/minnesota-house-district-2 |work=New York Times |access-date=November 16, 2018}}

U.S. Senate campaign

=Elections=

== 2020 ==

Lewis was mentioned as a possible candidate against Senator Al Franken in 2014, but did not run.{{cite web |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2013/03/franken_hires_a.shtml |title=Franken hires a campaign manager |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=May 17, 2013 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |first=Tom |last=Scheck}} In August 2019, he launched a campaign for that seat, held by former lieutenant governor Tina Smith.{{cite web |last1=Zdechlik |first1=Mark |title=Jason Lewis announces a run for U.S. Senate |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/08/22/jason-lewis-announces-a-run-for-us-senate |website=MPRNews |date=August 22, 2019 |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |access-date=August 22, 2019}} Lewis pledged not to distance himself from Trump or his policies.{{cite news |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=June 11, 2019 |title=If Lewis runs, he'll stick close to Trump |url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2019/06/if-lewis-runs-hell-stick-close-to-trump/ |work=Minnesota Public Radio}} Most polls predicted Smith's reelection. She was reelected by a 5.2% margin, the closest Senate election in Minnesota since 2008. There was some speculation before the election that races would be close due to two pro-marijuana legalization parties (the G–LC and LMN), which took a combined 7.69% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Some legalize cannabis candidates are giving off very MAGA vibes |date=June 15, 2020 |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/06/15/some-legalize-cannabis-candidates-are-giving-off-a-very-maga-vibe/ |publisher=Minnesota Reformer |access-date=August 22, 2022}}

Political positions

In the 115th United States Congress, Lewis voted with his party in 96.3% of votes and in line with President Trump's position in 90% of votes.{{Cite news |url=https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/L000587-jason-lewis |title=Represent |last=Willis |first=Derek |work=ProPublica |access-date=2017-04-06 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/jason-lewis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406111603/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/jason-lewis/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |title=Tracking Jason Lewis In The Age Of Trump |last=Bycoffe |first=Aaron |date=2017-01-30 |work=FiveThirtyEight |access-date=2017-04-06}}

According to Project Vote Smart's 2016 analysis, Lewis generally supported anti-abortion legislation, opposed income tax increases, opposed mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, opposed federal spending, supported lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth, opposed requiring states to adopt federal education standards, supported the building of the Keystone Pipeline, opposed federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, opposed gun-control legislation, supported repealing the Affordable Care Act, supported requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship, and opposed American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support.{{cite web |title=Jason Lewis' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/171558/jason-lewis/#.Wlaa0ktG0js |publisher=Vote Smart |access-date=January 10, 2018}}

= Criminal justice reform =

Lewis authored a bill that would provide education and vocational training resources to at-risk youth and young criminal offenders instead of levying penalties against them for petty offenses.{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/criminal-justice-system-reformers-house-motley-bipartisan-crew |title=Criminal Justice System Reformers in House a Motley Bipartisan Crew |last1=Connolly |first1=Griffin |date=2018-05-29 |work=Roll Call |access-date=2018-10-10 |last2=Connolly |first2=Griffin |language=en |archive-date=October 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095355/https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/criminal-justice-system-reformers-house-motley-bipartisan-crew |url-status=dead}} He reintroduced the SAFE Justice Act, a criminal justice reform bill.{{Cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/u-s-rep-jason-lewis-joins-bipartisan-push-for-criminal-justice-reform/483894251/ |title=U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis joins bipartisan push for criminal justice reform |work=Star Tribune |access-date=2018-10-10}}

Lewis has criticized the war on drugs and compared it to the failed policy of alcohol prohibition in America.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Jason |title=Jason Lewis: Drug war is a failure, so let's experiment |url=http://www.startribune.com/jason-lewis-drug-war-is-a-failure-so-let-s-experiment/126040478/ |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=Star Tribune |date=July 23, 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Jason |title=Next on Minnesota's social agenda: Marijuana |url=http://www.startribune.com/next-on-minnesota-s-social-agenda-marijuana/216228691/ |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=Star Tribune |date=July 22, 2013}} He cosponsored legislation to let states set their own policy on cannabis and to remove cannabis from the list of Schedule I drugs.{{cite news |last1=Mullen |first1=Mike |title=Jason Lewis (yes, that Jason Lewis) said something cool about marijuana |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/jason-lewis-yes-that-jason-lewis-said-something-cool-about-marijuana/418647663 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=City Pages |date=April 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317072716/http://www.citypages.com/news/jason-lewis-yes-that-jason-lewis-said-something-cool-about-marijuana/418647663 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

=Health care=

Lewis supported the March 2017 version of the American Health Care Act (the GOP's bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act).{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/20/us/politics/health-care-whip-count.html |title=How House Republicans Planned to Vote on the Obamacare Replacement |last=The New York Times |date=2017-03-20 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2017-04-06 |issn=0362-4331}} On May 4, 2017, he voted to repeal the ACA (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504203121/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-05-04 |title=How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=2017-05-04}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/04/health-care-vote-puts-pressure-dozens-vulnerable-gop-reps/101297824/ |title=Health care vote puts pressure on dozens of vulnerable GOP reps |work=USA TODAY |access-date=2017-05-04}}

=LGBT rights=

In 2011, Lewis said that prohibitions on same-sex marriage were not discriminatory against gay people, because they would still be free to marry those of the opposite sex.{{Cite news |url=https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2011/05/jason-lewis-gays-already-have-equal-right-marry-someone-opposite-sex |title=Jason Lewis: Gays already have equal right to marry someone of opposite sex |work=MinnPost |access-date=2017-04-06 |language=en}} In 2013, he argued against same-sex marriage, comparing gay people to rapists, speeders and polygamists.{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/dominicholden/republican-jason-lewis-compared-gay-people-to-rapists |title=A Republican Congressman Seeking Reelection Once Compared Gay People To "Rapists" And Other Criminals |work=BuzzFeed News |access-date=2018-08-10 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2018/8/08/congressman-running-against-lesbian-once-compared-gays-rapists |title=Congressman Running Against Lesbian Once Compared Gays to Rapists |date=2018-08-08 |access-date=2018-08-10 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/08/08/republican-candidate-gay-rapists-jason-lewis/ |title=Republican congressman compared gays to rapists and murderers |work=PinkNews |access-date=2018-08-10 |language=en-US}} Lewis said that prohibitions against same-sex marriage could not be legally challenged on the basis of discrimination, because rapists and speeders could not reasonably argue that they were being discriminated against by prohibitions on rape and speeding. "The gay-rights lobby is playing underhanded to get their will and in the process they are shredding the Constitution of this country", he said.

Lewis suggested that households headed by gay parents might be harming their children and that more research was needed to confirm that they were not.

He called the decision of school boards to allow transgender restrooms and locker rooms in public schools an "abomination".{{Cite web |url=http://theuptake.org/2016/04/06/jason-lewis-says-transgendered-students-using-bathroom-of-choice-an-abomination/ |title=The UpTake – Jason Lewis Says Transgendered Students Using Bathroom Of Choice "An Abomination" |website=The UpTake |access-date=2017-04-06 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406112726/http://theuptake.org/2016/04/06/jason-lewis-says-transgendered-students-using-bathroom-of-choice-an-abomination/ |url-status=dead}}

= Taxes and spending =

Lewis voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-house-live-vote.html |title=How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill |last=The New York Times |date=2017-12-19 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-10-13 |issn=0362-4331}} He voted against the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, a bill that increased discretionary spending by $300 billion.{{Cite news |url=https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=137 |title=Lewis: 'No' to reckless government spending |access-date=2018-10-13 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920222117/https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=137 |url-status=dead}} After his vote he said, "I ran for Congress to get the economy going again by reducing taxes, regulations, deficits and debt. A $300 billion increase in discretionary spending along with hiking the debt ceiling fails on all accounts."

Lewis authored a bill that would mandate an audit of the Department of Defense.{{Cite news |url=https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/news/government/lewis-welcomes-long-called-for-pentagon-audit/article_2acb71b2-e017-11e7-8e6b-0faa05d477a2.html |title=Lewis welcomes long called-for Pentagon Audit |work=SunThisweek |date=2017-12-13 |language=en}} He later praised the department's decision to undergo an audit in 2018.

= Women's issues =

In 2011, Lewis decried laws prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace, claiming such laws are unconstitutional because they interfere with free speech.{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/19/politics/kfile-jason-lewis-radio-comments-sexual-harassment/index.html |title=GOP Rep. Jason Lewis once mocked women who felt traumatized by unwanted touching |date=2018}} The same year, he mocked women who claimed to have been traumatized by unwanted sexual touching and kissing.

Personal life

Jason and his spouse, Leigh Lewis, reside in Woodbury, Minnesota, near the congressional district where he was elected in 2016.{{cite news |last=Golden |first=Erin |date=October 1, 2016 |title=Minnesota's Second District race is among the most-watched in the country |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-second-district-race-is-among-the-most-watched-in-the-country/395527561/ |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis |quote=He and his wife, Leigh, have two daughters and live in Woodbury, just outside the Second District's border.}}

On October 26, 2020, eight days before Election Day, Lewis underwent emergency surgery for an internal hernia. His campaign said that he expected to be released from the hospital within days.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/522796-minnesota-senate-candidate-jason-lewis-undergoes-successful-hernia-surgery |date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |work=The Hill|title=Minnesota Senate candidate Jason Lewis undergoes 'successful' hernia surgery |first=Max |last=Greenwood}}

Lewis is Roman Catholic.{{cite web |title=Religious affiliation of members of 115th Congress |url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/01/19161723/Member-affiliations-for-web.pdf |website=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325144213/https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/01/19161723/Member-affiliations-for-web.pdf |archive-date=2023-03-25 |url-status=live}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change|title=1990 Colorado's 2nd congressional district election[http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1990/federalelections90.pdf 1990 Election Results for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives]; retrieved November 9, 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = David Skaggs

| votes = 105,248

| percentage = 60.67

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Jason Lewis

| votes = 68,226

| percentage = 39.33

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2016 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election[http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/USRepresentative/100?officeinelectionid=10735&districtid=557 Results for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district]; retrieved November 9, 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Jason Lewis

| votes = 172,345

| percentage = 47.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Angie Craig

| votes = 164,621

| percentage = 45.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

| party = Independence

| candidate = Paula Overby

| votes = 28,508

| percentage = 7.79

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title = 2018 Minnesota's 2nd congressional district election{{Cite web |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/FedStatebyCGDistrict/115?districtid=557 |title=Home - ElectionResults.Web |website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us |access-date=October 26, 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Angie Craig

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 177,958

| percentage = 52.65

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jason Lewis (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 159,344

| percentage = 47.15

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party =

|candidate = Write-in

|votes = 666

|percentage = 0.20

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 337,968

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title=2020 United States Senate election in Minnesota{{cite web |title=Statewide Results for U.S. Senator |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&officeInElectionIdList=22264&officeInElectionIdList=-1&scenario=USSenate&electionDate=11%2F03%2F2020%2000%3A00%3A00 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=November 25, 2020}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| candidate = Tina Smith (incumbent)

| votes = 1,566,522

| percentage = 48.74%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Jason Lewis

| votes = 1,398,145

| percentage = 43.50%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Legal Marijuana Now Party

| candidate = Kevin O'Connor

| votes = 190,154

| percentage = 5.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Grassroots Party

| candidate = Oliver Steinberg

| votes = 57,174

| percentage = 1.78%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2,261

| percentage = 0.07%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,214,256

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

References

External links

{{official website|https://lewisformn.com/}}
{{CongLinks |congbio=L000587 |fec=H6MN02149 |votesmart=171558 |congress=jason-lewis/L000587}}
{{C-SPAN|155}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district|years=2017–2019}}

{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Minnesota
(Class 2)|years=2020}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as former U.S. Representative}}|years=}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses=115th United States Congress|state=Minnesota}}

Category:1955 births

Category:American conservative talk radio hosts

Category:American political commentators

Category:American Roman Catholics

Category:American talk radio hosts

Category:Candidates in the 1990 United States elections

Category:Catholics from Minnesota

Category:Living people