Mike Stack

{{About|the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|his grandfather and U.S. Representative|Michael J. Stack}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Mike Stack

| image = Liet. Gov. Michael Stack.jpg

| alt = Official portrait, 2015

| office = 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

| governor = Tom Wolf

| term_start = January 20, 2015

| term_end = January 15, 2019

| predecessor = Jim Cawley

| successor = John Fetterman

| state_senate1 = Pennsylvania State

| district1 = 5th

| term_start1 = January 2, 2001

| term_end1 = January 20, 2015

| predecessor1 = Frank Salvatore

| successor1 = John Sabatina

| birth_name = Michael Joseph Stack III

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|6|5}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Tonya Stack

| relatives = Michael J. Stack (grandfather)

| education = La Salle University (BA)
Villanova University (JD)

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{army|United States}}

| serviceyears = 2008–present

| unit = Army Judge Advocate General's Corps{{cite web |title=Training Ground |url=http://www.philadelphiabar.org/WebObjects/PBAReadOnly.woa/Contents/WebServerResources/CMSResources/PLS08_trainingground.pdf |publisher=The Philadelphia Lawyer |date=Summer 2008}}

}}

Michael Joseph Stack III (born June 5, 1963) is an American attorney and former politician who served as the 33rd lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 5th district from 2001 to 2015.

Early life and education

Stack was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from La Salle College High School, LaSalle University in 1987 and Villanova University School of Law in 1992.{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania State Senate - Michael J Stack, III Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=5523&body=S |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |accessdate=14 February 2019}}

Stack attended the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School at the University of Virginia and entered the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.{{cite news|url=https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=PhiladelphiaLawyerSummer08|title=Training Ground|newspaper=Philadelphia Bar Association|access-date=2022-07-11}}

Career

File:Mike Stack 2009.jpg

=State senate career=

Stack served in the Pennsylvania Senate from 2001 until 2015. In 2009, Stack was Democratic leader of Philadelphia's 58th ward.{{cite web|url=http://www.seventy.org/Downloads/2009_Citizen's_Guide.pdf |title=2009 Citizen's Guide |accessdate=2009-12-21 |last=Committee of Seventy |author-link=Committee of Seventy |date=2009-12-21 |publisher=The Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia, PA 19103 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419063456/http://seventy.org/Downloads/2009_Citizen%27s_Guide.pdf |archivedate=2009-04-19 }}

=Lieutenant governor term=

He was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the 2014 election, running with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Wolf.{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Brittany|title=Lt. Gov.: Stack Wins Big|url=http://www.politicspa.com/lt-gov-stack-wins-big/58097/|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=PoliticsPA|date=20 May 2014}} The Wolf/Stack ticket defeated the Republican Tom Corbett/Jim Cawley ticket in the 2014 gubernatorial election. Stack took the oath of office January 20, 2015.{{cite news|last1=Lavender|first1=Paige|title=Pennsylvania Governor Election Results: Tom Wolf Defeats Incumbent Tom Corbett|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/pennsylvania-governor-election-results_n_5974022.html|accessdate=5 November 2014|agency=Huffington Post|date=4 November 2014}}{{cite news|title=NBC News Projects: PA's Corbett Ousted by Democrat Tom Wolf|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/nbc-news-projects-pas-corbett-ousted-democrat-tom-wolf-n241396|accessdate=5 November 2014|agency=NBC News|date=4 November 2014}} While serving as lieutenant governor, Stack had a high-profile falling out with governor Tom Wolf, owing in part to Stack's alleged mistreatment of staff and a difference in management styles with Wolf.{{cite web|title=Your guide to who's running for Pa. lieutenant governor — and why you should care|publisher=The York Daily Record|year=2018|url=https://www.ydr.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/05/08/pa-lieutenant-governor-election-whos-running-why-you-should-care/589891002/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512162555/https://www.ydr.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/05/08/pa-lieutenant-governor-election-whos-running-why-you-should-care/589891002/?from=new-cookie|archive-date=May 12, 2018}}

On May 15, 2018, Stack lost the state Democratic primary for lieutenant governor to Braddock Mayor John Fetterman,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/15/us/elections/results-pennsylvania-primary-elections.html|title=Pennsylvania Primary Election Results|last=Almukhtar|first=Sarah|date=2018-05-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} placing fourth overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/elections/mc-nws-pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-mike-stack-20180515-story.html|title=John Fetterman takes historic win over incumbent lieutenant governor Mike Stack|last=McGoldrick|first=Gillian|work=themorningcall.com|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en-US}} Stack is the only lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania to lose his renomination bid.

Stack ran briefly for a Philadelphia City Council at-large position, though withdrew in March 2019 after drawing a poor ballot position. His spokesman said Stack would continue to consider other opportunities for public service.{{cite news |url=https://www.politicspa.com/stack-ends-bid-for-philly-city-council/90766/ |title=Stack Ends Bid for Philly City Council |website=PoliticsPA |date=March 27, 2019 |first=John |last=Cole |access-date=October 31, 2019 }}

=Subsequent career=

Following his withdrawal from the city council race, Stack moved to California, where he was operating as of January 2020 as a comedian under the name "Mikey Stacks".{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/mike-stack-pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-california-stand-up-comedy-20200123.html|title=The former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania is now doing stand-up comedy in California as 'Mikey Stacks'|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|last1=Brennan|first1=Chris|date=January 23, 2020|accessdate=February 4, 2021}} Stack's routine involves self-deprecating jokes about his nickname "Mikey", as well as jokes around his mother's cooking, Donald Trump, Opioid use disorder and teenage suicide.{{cite web|url=https://billypenn.com/2020/01/23/former-pa-lt-gov-mike-stack-hits-hollywood-with-new-standup-comedy-act/|title=Former PA Lt. Gov. Mike Stack hits Hollywood with new standup comedy act|website=Billy Penn|last1=Marin|first1=Max|date=January 23, 2020|accessdate=February 2, 2021}}

In August 2021, Stack appeared on the AWE show Find Me a Luxury Home, wherein he described himself as a lawyer seeking to purchase a $7 million home in Manhattan Beach, California. In October 2021, it was reported that Stack was contemplating a return to politics, considering a run in his old state senate district following incumbent senator John Sabatina's announcement that he would not seek re-election.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/mike-stack-state-senate-john-dougherty-bill-mcswain-larry-krasner-chuck-peruto-20211008.html|title=Mike Stack is back and hankering for his old Northeast Philly seat in the Pa. Senate|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|last1=Brennan|first1=Chris|last2=Roebuck|first2=Jeremy|date=October 8, 2021|accessdate=October 12, 2021}} In 2022, Stack said he might run for Mayor of Philadelphia as an independent in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/clout-three-questions-mayor-2023-josh-shapiro-president-20221111.html | title=Three questions for every politician we could corner on Election Day | date=11 November 2022 }} In January 2023, Stack announced he was running for mayor.{{cite news |last1=Ulrich |first1=Steve |title=Mike Stack "Announces" Run For Philly Mayor |url=https://www.politicspa.com/mike-stack-announces-run-for-philly-mayor/117625/ |access-date=21 January 2023 |work=PoliticsPA |date=January 19, 2023}} In February 2023, he dropped out of the race.{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/mike-stack-mayor-philadelphia-comedy-acting-politics-20230221.html?outputType=default | title=Mike Stack leaves Philly voters wanting more | date=21 February 2023 }}

Stack appeared on the CBS game show Let’s Make a Deal; dressed as a Roman soldier and introducing himself as a former state senator from Pennsylvania and a retired Army captain. The episode aired on December 19, 2024.{{cite web | url= https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/2024/12/19/who-is-the-pennsylvania-senator-on-lets-make-a-deal-mike-stack-wayne-brady/77086097007/# | title=Former Pa. senator who zonked out on ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ is also a disgraced Lt. Gov. | date=19 December 2024 }}

Personal life

Stack's grandfather, Michael J. Stack, was a U.S congressman from 1935 to 1939.

In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of best-dressed legislators.{{cite web|title=Sy Snyder's Best Dressed Legislators |work=PoliticsPA |publisher=The Publius Group |year=2002 |url=http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/best_dressed.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803093934/http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/best_dressed.htm |archivedate=2002-08-03 |url-status=dead }}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 1988}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Frank Salvatore (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=58,331|percentage=56.83}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=44,308|percentage=43.17}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|58331|44308}}|percentage=100.00}}

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

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 1992}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Frank Salvatore (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=52,211|percentage=54.06}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=44,362|percentage=45.94}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|52211|44362}}|percentage=100.00}}

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

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 2000}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=46,980|percentage=52.55}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Frank Salvatore (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=42,416|percentage=47.45}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|46980|42416}}|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (US)|loser=Republican Party (US)}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 2004}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=66,844|percentage=65.74}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Sam Mirarchi|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=34,829|percentage=34.26}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|66844|34829}}|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (US)}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 2008}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=71,141|percentage=71.97}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=John Farley|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=27,702|percentage=28.03}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|71141|27702}}|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (US)}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 5, 2012}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=65,587|percentage=71.65}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Tomlinson|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=25,954|percentage=28.35}}

{{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|65587|25954}}|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (US)}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election, Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Stack III|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=351,627|percentage=46.79}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mark Critz|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=119,334|percentage=15.88}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mark Smith|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=109,519|percentage=14.57}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Brad Koplinski|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=89,524|percentage=11.91}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Brandon Neuman|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=81,438|percentage=10.84}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=https://electionreturns.pa.gov/General/SummaryResults?ElectionID=41&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0|title=Pennsylvania Elections - Summary Results}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Tom Wolf
Michael Stack III|votes=1,920,355|percentage=54.93%|change=+9.42%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Tom Corbett (incumbent)
Jim Cawley (incumbent)|votes=1,575,511|percentage=45.07%|change=-9.42%}}

{{Election box total|votes=3,495,866|percentage=100.00%|change=N/A}}

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

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election, Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Fetterman|votes=288,229|percentage=38.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Nina Ahmad|votes=182,309|percentage=23.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kathi Cozzone|votes=142,410|percentage=18.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Stack (incumbent)|votes=127,259|percentage=16.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ray Sosa|votes=27,427|percentage=3.6}}

References

External links

[http://www.stackforpa.com/ Stack for PA] - official website
[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=47379 Project Vote Smart - Senator Michael J. 'Mike' Stack III (PA)] profile
Follow the Money - Mike Stack
[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88575 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=65065 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=16702 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49279 2000] campaign contributions

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|years=2014}}

{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|years=2015–2019}}

Category:1963 births

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:Candidates in the 2019 United States elections

Category:Judge advocates general of the United States Army

Category:La Salle University alumni

Category:Lieutenant governors of Pennsylvania

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Category:National Guard (United States) officers

Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators

Category:Politicians from Philadelphia

Category:Villanova University School of Law alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly