Michael Guest (politician)

{{short description|American attorney and politician (born 1970)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Michael Guest

| image = Michael Guest portrait 116th congress2.jpg

| office = Chair of the House Ethics Committee

| term_start = January 3, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Susan Wild

| successor =

| office1 = Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee

| term_start1 = August 19, 2022

| term_end1 = January 3, 2023

| predecessor1 = Jackie Walorski

| successor1 = Susan Wild

| state2 = Mississippi

| district2 = {{ushr|MS|3|3rd}}

| term_start2 = January 3, 2019

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Gregg Harper

| successor2 =

| office3 = District Attorney of Rankin County and Madison County

| term_start3 = 2008

| term_end3 = 2019

| predecessor3 = David Clark

| successor3 = John Bramlett

| birth_name = Michael Patrick Guest

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|2|4}}

| birth_place = Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Haley Kennedy

| children = 2

| education = Mississippi State University (BS)
University of Mississippi (JD)

| website = {{URL|guest.house.gov|House website}}

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Michael Guest on Fallen Police Officers.ogg|title=Michael Guest's voice|type=speech|description=Michael Guest on a House resolution honoring fallen police officers
Recorded May 15, 2023}}

}}

Michael Patrick Guest (born February 4, 1970) is an American attorney and Republican politician. He has represented {{ushr|MS|3}} in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. He became the ranking member of the United States House Committee on Ethics upon the August 2022 death of Jackie Walorski, and became its chair in the 118th Congress after Republicans won a House majority that November.

Early life and education

Michael Patrick Guest[http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00665752/1197022/ Statement of Organization, Friends of Michael Guest] was born on February 4, 1970.[http://gr.acsa.org/election/candidate/id/337534 Michael Guest - Candidate for House of Representatives MS 3rd District. (Republican)] He graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting and the University of Mississippi School of Law with a Juris Doctor. He served as the Assistant District Attorney for Madison and Rankin counties from 1994 to 2008, and became District Attorney in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/may/30/candidate-questionnaire-michael-guest/ |title=Candidate Questionnaire: Michael Guest|newspaper=Jackson Free Press |date=May 30, 2018}} Guest and his family are members of Brandon Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.{{cite web |url=https://michaelguest.ms/about-michael-2/ | title=About Michael | date=April 30, 2018 }}

U.S. House of Representatives

File:Cindy Hyde-Smith visits with Michael Guest.jpg in November 2018]]

=Elections=

==2018==

{{see also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi#District 3}}

Guest ran for the United States House of Representatives in {{ushr|MS|3}} to succeed Gregg Harper, who chose not to seek reelection.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/01/05/district-attorney-michael-guest-running-congress-replace-gregg-harper-ms-03/1008400001/ |title=District Attorney Michael Guest running to replace Gregg Harper |work=Clarion-Ledger|date=January 5, 2018}} In the six-way June Republican primary election, Guest received the most votes (45%), with Whit Hughes coming in second with 22%.{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Fowler|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/06/26/guest-declared-winner-u-s-house-primary-runoff/732948002/|title=Michael Guest defeats Whit Hughes in GOP House primary runoff |work=Clarion-Ledger|date=June 27, 2018}} Because no candidate received 50% of the vote, Guest and Hughes faced each other in a primary runoff election,{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/06/05/michael-guest-whit-hughes-ms-03-republican-primary-runoff/657840002/ |title=Michael Guest, Whit Hughes head to Republican runoff in MS03 race |work=Clarion-Ledger|date=June 6, 2018}} which Guest won. Guest defeated State Representative Michael Evans, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.Sarah Fowler, [https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/ms-election-results-michael-guest-defeats-michael-ted-evans-ms-03/1673399002/ Republican Michael Guest defeats Democrat Michael Evans in #MS03], Clarion Ledger (November 7, 2018).

Guest campaigned as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.

==2020==

{{see also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi#District 3}}

Guest was reelected in 2020 with 64.7% of the vote, defeating Democrat Dort Benford.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-04 |title=Republican Michael Guest wins reelection to U.S. House in Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District |url=https://www.wjtv.com/news/politics/republican-michael-guest-wins-reelection-to-u-s-house-in-mississippis-3rd-congressional-district/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=WJTV |language=en-US}}

=Tenure=

In December 2020, Guest was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated{{cite web|last1=Blood|first1=Michael R.|last2=Riccardi|first2=Nicholas|date=December 5, 2020|title=Biden officially secures enough electors to become president|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|url-status=live|access-date=December 12, 2020|website=AP News|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa}} Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.{{Cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Liptak|date=2020-12-11|title=Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|access-date=2020-12-12|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Order in Pending Case|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|date=2020-12-11|publisher=Supreme Court of the United States|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|title=Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court|first=Daniella |last=Diaz|work=CNN|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live}}

On May 19, 2021, Guest was one of 35 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/house-republicans-january-6-commission/index.html|title=Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission|publisher=CNN|last=LeBlanc|first=Paul|date=May 19, 2021|accessdate=May 19, 2021}}

In November 2021, Business Insider reported that Guest had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose trades in BP and ExxonMobil stock by his wife's family trust; as a result, Guest paid a $200 fine.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Warren |date=2021-11-05 |title=Republican Rep. Michael Guest failed to properly disclose family stock trades |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-guest-congress-mississippi-stock-trades-investments-2021-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306045732/https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-guest-congress-mississippi-stock-trades-investments-2021-11 |archive-date=2023-03-06 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

In June 2022, after a leaked decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to revoke the right to abortion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Guest wrote to the Department of Homeland Security to demand action in the wake of attacks by Jane's Revenge, which Guest called an "anarchist extremist group" that targets crisis pregnancy centers and other anti-abortion organizations.{{Cite web |last=Sabes |first=Adam |date=2022-06-17 |title=Minnesota pregnancy center vandalized by 'Jane's Revenge': 'We should've done more' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/minnesota-pregnancy-center-vandalized-janes-revenge |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}

In August 2022, Guest was named ranking member of the House Ethics Committee upon the death of former ranking member Jackie Walorski.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Zach|title=Republican Tapped to Serve in Secretive Ethics Role No One Wants|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/republican-tapped-to-serve-in-secretive-ethics-role-no-one-wants|website=Bloomberg Law|date=August 19, 2022|access-date=September 1, 2022}}

Guest was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}

Guest voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}

He also proposed the resolution that expelled George Santos from Congress.{{Cite web |last1=Vielkind |first1=Jimmy |last2=Ferek |first2=Katy Stech |date=Dec 1, 2023 |title=George Santos Expelled From Congress in Tense House Vote |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/george-santos-faces-house-expulsion-vote-after-a-year-of-mounting-allegations-0803d7db |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Guest voted against the $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine, although much of the money would go to his constituency.{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first= Marc |title=These politicians voted against their states’ best interests on Ukraine aid|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/25/senators-house-members-opposed-ukraine-aid/ |date=2024-04-25 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=The Washington Post |language=en-US}}

=Committee assignments=

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Michael Guest |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/G000591 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=August 17, 2023}}

= Caucus memberships =

Source:{{Cite web |date=2021-01-03 |title=Committees and Caucuses |url=http://guest.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Representative Michael Guest |language=en}}

Army Caucus
Border Security Caucus
Chicken Caucus
Fire Services Caucus
Freshman Working Group on Addiction
Law Enforcement Caucus
National Guard and Reserve Caucus
Prayer Caucus
Pro-Life Caucus
Republican Study Committee{{Cite web |date=2017-12-06 |title=Membership |url=https://rsc-banks.house.gov/about/membership |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Republican Study Committee |language=en}}
Rice Caucus
Sportsman Caucus
Steel Caucus
Suburban Caucus
Unmanned Systems Caucus

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2018 Republican primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 29157

| percentage = 44.8

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Whit Hughes

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 14464

| percentage = 22.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Perry Parker

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 10562

| percentage = 16.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sally Doty

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 6608

| percentage = 10.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Morgan Dunn

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 3820

| percentage = 5.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Katherine Tate

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 416

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 65027

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary runoff results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 31121

| percentage = 65.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Whit Hughes

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 16691

| percentage = 34.9

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 47812

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, 2018

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 160,284

| percentage = 62.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Evans

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 94,461

| percentage = 36.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Matthew Holland

| party = Reform Party (United States)

| votes = 2,526

| percentage = 1.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 257,271

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2020 Republican primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 67,269

| percentage = 89.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = James Tulp

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 7,618

| percentage = 10.2

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 74,887

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, 2020

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 221,064

| percentage = 64.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Dorothy "Dot" Benford

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 120,782

| percentage = 35.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 341,846

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, 2022

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 132,481

| percentage = 70.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Shuwaski Young

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 54,803

| percentage = 29.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 187,284

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, 2024

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michael Guest (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 265,159

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 265,159

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

References

External links

[https://guest.house.gov/ Congressman Michael Guest] official U.S. House website
[https://michaelguest.ms/ Michael Guest for Congress]

{{CongLinks|fec=H8MS03125|votesmart=179667|congbio=G000591|congress=michael-guest/G000591}}

{{C-SPAN|117109}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district|years=2019–present}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the House Ethics Committee|years=2023–present}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=210th}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 116th–present United States Congress |state=Mississippi}}

Category:1970 births

Category:District attorneys in Mississippi

Category:Living people

Category:Baptists from Mississippi

Category:Mississippi State University alumni

Category:Politicians from Woodbury, New Jersey

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi

Category:University of Mississippi School of Law alumni

Category:Kappa Sigma members

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives