Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich was born in Cleveland's West Side Tremont neighborhood, the oldest of the seven children of Virginia (née Norris) and Frank J. Kucinich.[http://www2.kucinich.us/files/pdfs/about_dennis.pdf "About Dennis Kucinich." Dennis for President. July 24, 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725202047/http://www2.kucinich.us/files/pdfs/about_dennis.pdf |date=July 25, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sanduskyregister.com/obituary/28573|title=Sandusky Register: Obituary|access-date=July 5, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107221609/http://www.sanduskyregister.com/obituary/28573|url-status=dead}} His father, who was of Croat ancestry, worked as a truck driver and was a member of the Teamsters for 35 years;{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Cleveland mayoral candidate Dennis Kucinich endorsed by Teamsters Ohio DRIVE |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/elections/cleveland-mayoral-election/cleveland-mayoral-candidate-dennis-kucinich-receives-endorsement-teamsters-ohio-drive/95-27ca7a4e-3bc0-4798-9c3c-bc16d132da0e |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}} his Irish American mother was a homemaker.{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Okamoto |title=Kucinich's hard childhood a 'gift' yielding strength, compassion |url=http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22187297.html |newspaper=Des Moines Register |date=September 7, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040209061551/http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22187297.html |archive-date=February 9, 2004}} Growing up, his family moved 21 times and Dennis was often charged with the responsibility of finding apartments they could afford.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/08/15/kucinich_speaks_from_experience_on_homelessness/ |access-date=August 16, 2007 |title=Kucinich speaks from experience on homelessness |first=Holly |last=Ramer |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=August 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907134710/http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/08/15/kucinich_speaks_from_experience_on_homelessness/ |archive-date=September 7, 2008 }}

Kucinich graduated from St. John Cantius High School in 1965.{{Cite news|url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/politics/articles/kucinich-on-the-couch|title = Kucinich on the Couch}} He attended Cleveland State University from 1967 to 1970.{{cite web|url=http://www.politics1.com/kucinich.htm|title=Presidency 2004 Dennis J. Kucinich (Democrat – Ohio)|work=Politics1.com|access-date=July 25, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713182039/http://www.politics1.com/kucinich.htm|archive-date=July 13, 2007}} In 1973, he graduated from Case Western Reserve University with both a Bachelor and a Master of Arts degree in speech and communication."About Dennis." Congressman Dennis Kucinich. July 25, 2007 {{cite web |url=http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/ |title=Congressman Dennis Kucinich |access-date=June 28, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628191105/http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/ |archive-date=June 28, 2006 }}

Kucinich's political career began in 1967 when he ran unsuccessfully for office. In 1969, he was elected to the Cleveland City Council at the age of 23. In 1972, Kucinich ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, losing narrowly to incumbent Republican William E. Minshall Jr. After Minshall's retirement in 1974, Kucinich sought the seat again, this time failing to get the Democratic nomination, which went to Ronald M. Mottl. Kucinich ran as an Independent candidate in the general election, placing third with about 30% of the vote. In 1975, Kucinich became clerk of the municipal court in Cleveland and served in that position for two years.{{cite web |last=Bartimole |first=Roldo |title=25 Years of Cleveland Mayors: Who Really Governs? |publisher=Point of View |date=July 18, 1992 |url=http://www.clevelandmemory.org/roldo/pdf/wheehl.pdf |access-date=January 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217014305/http://www.clevelandmemory.org/roldo/pdf/wheehl.pdf |archive-date=December 17, 2007}}

{{main|Mayoralty of Dennis Kucinich}}

File:Nlc04123cs (cropped).jpg in 1978]]

Kucinich was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1977 and served in that position until 1979.The Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History by Cleveland Bicentennial Commission (Cleveland, Ohio), David D. Van Tassel (Editor), and John J. Grabowski (Editor) {{ISBN|978-0-253-33056-7}} At age 31, he was the youngest mayor of a major city in the United States, earning him the nickname "the boy mayor of Cleveland". Kucinich's tenure as mayor is often regarded as one of the most tumultuous in Cleveland's history.The Plain Dealer, August 1, 1999. Our Century: 'Boy Mayor' Leads Battle Into Default by Fred McGunagle.The Crisis of Growth Politics: Cleveland, Kucinich, and the Challenge of Urban Populism by Todd Swanstrom {{ISBN|978-0-87722-366-5}}

After Kucinich refused to sell Municipal Light (now Cleveland Public Power), Cleveland's publicly owned electric utility, the Cleveland mafia sought to murder him in a contract killing. A hit man from Maryland planned to shoot him in the head during the Columbus Day Parade, but the plot fell apart when Kucinich was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer and missed the event.{{cite book |last=Kucinich |first=Dennis J. |author-link= |date=2021 |title=The Division of Light and Power |url=https://a.co/gTON8qC |edition=Kindle |location=Cleveland, Ohio |publisher=Finney Avenue Books |pages=366–369|isbn=978-1-63877-229-3|access-date=October 28, 2022}} When the city fell into default shortly thereafter, the Mafia leaders called off the contract killer.{{cite news | first=James | last=Renner | title=The Mafia Plot To Kill Dennis Kucinich |date=July 4, 2007 |url=http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/9/the-mafia-plot-to-kill-dennis-kucinich | work =The Cleveland Free Times | pages =Cover story | access-date = July 6, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708205903/http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/9/the-mafia-plot-to-kill-dennis-kucinich| archive-date = July 8, 2007}}

In 1984, John F. Sopko, then assistant counsel to the Minority Subcommittee staff, testified to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, "Intelligence information gleaned by the Maryland State Police and Cleveland Police Department confirmed that the murder contract was, in general terms, due to the fact that Kucinich had caused considerable problems for local dishonest businessmen, politicians and criminals." Sopko said, "It was alleged that Kucinich had been impeding organized criminal activities and its ability to make money in the city. As a result, someone decided to do away with the mayor."{{cite book |last=Kucinich |first=Dennis J. |author-link= |date=2021 |title=The Division of Light and Power |url=https://a.co/617sWbC |edition=Kindle |location=Cleveland, Ohio |publisher=Finney Avenue Books |pages=551–553 |isbn=978-1-63877-229-3|access-date=October 28, 2022}}

The Cleveland Trust Company suddenly required all the city's debts be paid in full, forcing the city into default, after news of Kucinich's refusal to sell the city utility. For years, these debts were routinely rolled over, pending future payment, until Kucinich's announcement was made public. In 1998, the Cleveland City Council honored him for having had the "courage and foresight" to stand up to the banks, which saved the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995.{{cite web |url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0123-04.htm |title='Boy Mayor' Kucinich Took Charge in Utility Debt Crisis |access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061122032858/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0123-04.htm |archive-date=November 22, 2006 }}'Boy Mayor' Kucinich Took Charge in Utility Debt Crisis, From LA Times, January 23, 2003

File:Dennis Kucinich - District 23 - Ohio Senate 121st General Assembly 1995-1996 - DPLA - 0e1747b522aad91345898fed00e3159f (page 16) (cropped).jpg

After losing his reelection bid for mayor to George Voinovich in 1979, Kucinich initially kept a low profile in Cleveland politics. He criticized a tax referendum Voinovich proposed in 1980, which voters eventually approved. He also struggled to find employment and moved to Los Angeles, where he stayed with a friend, actress Shirley MacLaine.{{cite news |last=Pilolla |first=Ed |title=He's always had a destiny |newspaper=Concord Monitor |year=2004 |url=http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/front2004/kucinich_again_2004.shtml |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309043044/http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/front2004/kucinich_again_2004.shtml |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |url-status=dead}} For the next three years, Kucinich worked as a radio talk-show host, lecturer, and consultant. It was a difficult period for him financially. Without a steady paycheck, Kucinich fell behind in his mortgage payments, nearly lost his house in Cleveland, and borrowed money from friends, including MacLaine, to keep it. On his 1982 income tax return, Kucinich reported an income of $38. Of this period, Kucinich has said, "When I was growing up in Cleveland, my early experience conditioned me to hang in there and not to quit... It's one thing to experience that as a child, but when you have to as an adult, it has a way to remind you how difficult things can be. You understand what people go through."

In 1982, Kucinich moved back to Cleveland and ran for Secretary of State; he lost the Democratic primary to Sherrod Brown. In 1983, Kucinich won a special election to fill the seat of a Cleveland city councilman who had died. His brother, Gary Kucinich, was also a councilman at the time.

In 1985, there was some speculation that Kucinich might run for mayor again. Instead, his brother Gary ran against (and lost to) the incumbent Voinovich. Kucinich, meanwhile, gave up his council position to run for governor of Ohio as an independent against Richard Celeste, but later withdrew from the race. After this, Kucinich, in his own words "on a quest for meaning," lived quietly in New Mexico until 1994, when he won a seat in the Ohio State Senate.

File:Kucinich june07.JPG in June 2007]]

In 1996, Kucinich was elected to represent Ohio's 10th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Martin Hoke by three percentage points. He never faced another general election contest that close and was reelected seven times.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=January 10, 2008 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226190314/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=December 26, 2007 }}

• Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
• Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
• Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending (Ranking Member)

Kucinich served as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 1999 to 2003, after founding chair Bernie Sanders, and was succeeded by Peter DeFazio.

Kucinich was one of the 31 House Democrats who voted to not count the 20 electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election, despite Republican president George Bush winning the state by 118,457 votes.{{cite web|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7: On Agreeing to the Objection|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives|access-date=December 24, 2012|date=January 6, 2005}}{{Cite news|last=Salvato|first=Albert|date=December 28, 2004|title=Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|location=Cincinnati|publication-date=December 29, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425002714/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html|archive-date=April 25, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2008, Kucinich introduced articles of impeachment in the House of Representatives against President George W. Bush for the invasion and occupation of Iraq.{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/07/dennis-kucinich-suffers-defeat-in-ohio-primary-race/| title=Dennis Kucinich suffers defeat in Ohio primary race| newspaper=The National Post| date=March 7, 2012}}

Although his voting record was not always in line with that of the Democratic Party, on March 17, 2010, after being courted by President Barack Obama, his wife and others, Kucinich reluctantly agreed to vote with his colleagues for the Affordable Care Act without a public option component.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/03/16/michelle-obama-gets-backup-from-scarlett-johansson-on-healthful-eating.html |title=Michelle Obama Gets Backup From Scarlett Johansson on Healthful Eating – Washington Whispers |publisher=usnews.com |access-date=May 24, 2010}}

Kucinich criticized the flag-burning amendment and voted against the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. His congressional voting record was strongly anti-abortion, although he has noted that he never supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion altogether. In 2003, however, he began describing himself as pro-abortion rights and said he had shifted away from his earlier position.Marc Sandalow, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0223-05.htm Ohio Presidential Hopeful Pivots Over to Pro-Choice Camp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902205710/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0223-05.htm |date=2013-09-02 }}", San Francisco Chronicle, February 23, 2003. Press releases indicated that he supported abortion rights, ending abstinence-only sex education and increasing the use of contraception to make abortion "less necessary" over time. His voting record since 2003 received mixed ratings from abortion rights groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=318|title=Interest Group Ratings|publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=November 23, 2009}}{{Clear}}

{{Main|Dennis Kucinich 2004 presidential campaign}}

{{BLP sources section|date=February 2018}}File:Dennis Kucinich 2004 Democratic National Convention.jpg.]]

Kucinich was criticized during his 2004 campaign for changing his stance on the issue of abortion. His explanation was, "I've always worked to make abortions less necessary, through sex education and birth control. But the direction that Congress has taken, increasingly, is to make it impossible for women to be able to have an abortion if they need to protect their health. So when I saw the direction taken, it finally came to the point where I understood that women will not be truly free unless they have the right to choose."Democratic 2004 Primary Presidential Debate in Durham, New Hampshire, December 9, 2003.

On December 10, 2003, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) announced the removal of its correspondents from the campaigns of Kucinich, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton.[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/12/1657250&mode=thread&tid=25 "Kucinich & Braun Blast ABC For Reducing Campaign Coverage."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118201935/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03%2F12%2F12%2F1657250&mode=thread&tid=25 |date=November 18, 2007 }} Democracy Now! December 12, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2007. Previously critical of the limited coverage given his campaign, Kucinich characterized ABC's decision as an example of media companies' power to shape campaigns by choosing which candidates to cover and questioned its timing, coming immediately after the debate. ABC News, while stating its commitment to give coverage to a wide range of candidates, argued that focusing more of its "finite resources" on the candidates most likely to win would best serve the public.{{cite web|url=http://zmagsite.znetwork.org/Feb2004/tychostup0204.html|title=How the Media Picks the Candidates|author=Robinson, Josh and Lorna Tychostup|date=February 2004|publisher=Z Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103230928/http://zmagsite.znetwork.org/Feb2004/tychostup0204.html|archive-date=January 3, 2007|access-date=August 26, 2011}}

In the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination race, national polls consistently showed Kucinich's support in single digits. In the Iowa caucuses, he finished fifth, receiving about 1% of the state delegates, far below the 15% threshold for receiving national delegates. He performed similarly in the New Hampshire primary, placing sixth among the seven candidates with 1% of the vote. In the Mini-Tuesday primaries, he finished near the bottom in most states. His best performance was in New Mexico, where he received over 5% of the vote but still no delegates. Kucinich's best showing in any Democratic contest was in the February 24 Hawaii caucus, in which he won 31% of caucus participants, finishing second behind Senator John Kerry and winning Maui County, the only county Kucinich won in either of his presidential campaigns. He also had a double-digit showing in Maine on February 8, receiving 16% percent in the state's caucus. On Super Tuesday, March 2, Kucinich had another strong showing in the Minnesota caucus, receiving 17% of the vote. In Ohio, he received 9%. Kucinich campaigned heavily in Oregon, spending 30 days there during the two months leading up to the state's May 18 primary. He continued his campaign because "the future direction of the Democratic Party has not yet been determined"Rick Lyman, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0517-11.htm Down But Not Out, Kucinich Keeps Fighting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902214302/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0517-11.htm |date=2013-09-02 }}", The New York Times, May 17, 2004. and chose to focus on Oregon "because of its progressive tradition and its pioneering spirit."{{cite news |title=Kerry visits spotlights Oregon's state primary |date=May 18, 2004 |publisher=KGW news |url=http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_051704_news_election_roundup.1d1202a0b.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103192805/http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_051704_news_election_roundup.1d1202a0b.html |archive-date=January 3, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2011}} He won 16% of the vote.

Even after Kerry won enough delegates to secure the nomination, Kucinich continued to campaign until just before the convention, citing an effort to help shape the agenda of the Democratic Party. He was the last candidate to end his campaign. He endorsed Kerry on July 22, four days before the start of the Democratic National Convention.David Halbfinger, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03EFDB163DF930A15754C0A9629C8B63 "The 2004 Campaign: Campaign Briefing – The Democrats; Kucinich Endorses Kerry"], The New York Times, July 23, 2004.

{{main|Dennis Kucinich 2008 presidential campaign}}

File:Dennis Kucinich speaking at SEIU event, January 26, 2007.jpg

On December 11, 2006, in a speech at Cleveland City Hall, Kucinich announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

Kucinich told his supporters in Iowa that if he did not appear on the second ballot in a caucus that they should back Barack Obama.{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDC1l7fRNVdFdgW4JsjBd03lUOIAD8TTD8M00|title=Kucinich Asks Supporters to Back Obama|work=Google News|access-date=January 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105114348/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDC1l7fRNVdFdgW4JsjBd03lUOIAD8TTD8M00|archive-date=January 5, 2008|agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/kucinich-urges-supporters-to-back-obama-on-second-iowa-ballot/|title=Kucinich Urges Supporters to Back Obama on Second Iowa Ballot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102195213/http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/kucinich-urges-supporters-to-back-obama-on-second-iowa-ballot/|archive-date=January 2, 2008|access-date=January 5, 2008}}

At an October 2007 debate, NBC's Tim Russert cited a passage from a book by Shirley MacLaine in which she writes that Kucinich had seen a UFO. Asked if it was true, Kucinich confirmed it.{{cite web |last=Eaton |first=Sabrina |title=Kucinich at debate: I did see a UFO |date=October 31, 2007 |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/10/kucinich_at_debate_i_did_see_a.html |access-date=November 28, 2007 }} In November 2007, Larry Flynt hosted a fundraiser for Kucinich that drew criticism from Flynt's detractors. Campaign representatives declined to comment.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |title=Larry Flynt Hosts Fundraiser For Dennis Kucinich |url=http://www.bloggernews.net/111743 |access-date=January 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219103801/http://www.bloggernews.net/111743 |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=usurped }}{{cite news|last=Katz |first=Jackson |title=Dennis Kucinich Endorses Hustler |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-katz/dennis-kucinich-endorses-_b_77226.html |access-date=January 3, 2008 |work=HuffPost }} Kucinich was endorsed by author Gore Vidal and actor Viggo Mortensen.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-nation/gore-vidal-for-dennis-kuc_b_71779.html |title=The Nation: Gore Vidal for Dennis Kucinich: A farsighted populist and pacifist. – Off The Bus on The Huffington Post |publisher=HuffPost |date= March 28, 2008|access-date=May 24, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=267005 |title=The Return of the King... for Kucinich |publisher=TheNation.com |access-date=May 24, 2010}} In January 2008, he asked for a New Hampshire recount based on alleged discrepancies between the machine-counted ballots and the hand-counted ballots. He stated that he wanted to make sure "100% of the voters had 100% of their votes counted."{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22608231 |title=Asks for New Hampshire Recount |work=NBC News |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=May 24, 2010}}

In January 2008, Kucinich was excluded from a Democratic presidential debate on MSNBC due to his poor showing in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. A ruling that the debate could not go ahead without him was overturned on appeal.{{cite news |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDnNS8D2ehuX_-DVhFZ3z3WK1vtgD8U6M5V00 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213071935/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDnNS8D2ehuX_-DVhFZ3z3WK1vtgD8U6M5V00 |archive-date=February 13, 2008 |title=Court: MSNBC Can Bar Kucinich |author=Ken Ritter |date=January 15, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 26, 2011}} Later that month, Kucinich dropped out of the race and did not endorse any other candidate. He endorsed Barack Obama after Obama won the nomination.Naymik, Mark and Kavanoaugh, Molly. [http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/01/kucinich_drops_presidential_bi.html Kucinich drops presidential bid]. The Plain Dealer, January 24, 2008.Cillizza, Chris. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/kuncinich_drops_out_why_now.html Why Kucinich Dropped Out Now] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515211316/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/kuncinich_drops_out_why_now.html |date=May 15, 2008 }}. The Washington Post, January 24, 2008.

File:Dennis Kucinich DNC 2008.jpg in Denver, Colorado.]]

On August 27, 2008, he delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/26/kucinichs-democratic-conv_n_121622.html Kucinich's Democratic National Convention Speech (VIDEO), From Huffington Post, August 26, 2008

Until 2012, Kucinich was reelected to Congress by big margins in his strongly Democratic-leaning districts.

Kucinich defeated a Democratic primary challenger by a wide margin and defeated Republican Mike Dovilla in the general election with 66% of the vote.

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio#District 10}}

His opponents included Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman and North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady. In February 2008, Kucinich raised around $50,000 compared to Cimperman's $228,000,{{cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/congressional_candidate_rosema.html |title=10th Congressional candidate Palmer raised $133,300 in '07 – Openers – Ohio Politics Blog by The Plain Dealer |date=February 2, 2008 |publisher=Blog.cleveland.com |access-date=May 24, 2010}} but through a YouTube fund-raising campaign he managed to raise $700,000, surpassing Cimperman's $487,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1203672761265370.xml&coll=2 |title=Dennis Kucinich raised nearly $700,000 in six weeks in bid to keep seat in Congress |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607103933/http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1203672761265370.xml&coll=2 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}{{youTube|id=LehCxhHPXQ8}}

Cimperman, who was endorsed by the mayor of Cleveland and The Plain Dealer, criticized Kucinich for focusing too much on campaigning for president and not on the district. Kucinich accused Cimperman of representing corporate and real estate interests. Cimperman described Kucinich as an absentee congressman who failed to pass any major legislative initiatives in his 12-year House career. In an interview, Cimperman said he was tired of Kucinich and Cleveland being joke fodder for late-night talk-show hosts, saying: "It's time for him to go home."{{cite web |url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52064 |title=Is Dennis Kucinich Getting McKinney´d |publisher=American Chronicle |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901190938/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52064 |archive-date=September 1, 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Susan |url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB120364487659384883-V6ua29cOYO_J_kQ_X_vD15fLe1Y_20080322.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top |title=Long Shots Could Pay High Price – WSJ.com |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 22, 2008 |access-date=May 24, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A Cimperman campaign ad stated that Kucinich had missed over 300 votes, but the actual number was 139.{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/vote-missers/ |title=House members who missed votes, 110th Congress (Congress votes database) |publisher=Projects.washingtonpost.com |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501011039/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/vote-missers/ |archive-date=May 1, 2010 }} It was also suggested that Kucinich's calls for universal health care and an immediate withdrawal from Iraq made him a thorn in the side of the Democrats' congressional leadership, as well as his refusal to pledge to support the eventual presidential nominee, which he later reconsidered.

Kucinich took part in a debate with the other primary challengers. Barbara Ferris criticized him for not bringing as much money back to the district as other area legislators and authoring just one bill that passed during his 12 years in Congress. Kucinich responded: "It was a Republican Congress and there weren't many Democrats passing meaningful legislation during a Republican Congress."{{cite web |url=http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1202808813169900.xml&coll=2 |title=U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, 4 challengers debate |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509084439/http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1202808813169900.xml&coll=2 |archive-date=May 9, 2010 }} He won the primary with 68,156 votes out of 135,589 cast, beating Cimperman 52% to 33%.{{cite news |title=Kucinich Wins Chance To Keep U.S. Rep. Seat |date=March 5, 2008 |publisher=WEWS |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/15495659/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526140309/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/15495659/detail.html |archive-date=May 26, 2008 |access-date=August 26, 2011}}

Kucinich defeated former state representative Jim Trakas in the November 4 general election with 157,268 votes, 57.02% of those cast. Trakas received 107,918 votes (39.13%).[http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2008ElectionResults/congress110408.aspx Representative to Congress Amended Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603164918/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2008ElectionResults/congress110408.aspx |date=June 3, 2016 }}, Ohio Secretary of State, November 4, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2016.

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio#District 10}}

Kucinich defeated Republican nominee Peter J. Corrigan and Libertarian nominee Jeff Goggins in the November 2 general election with 101,343 votes, 53.1% of those cast.{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2010results/20101102congress.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227141807/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2010results/20101102congress.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2010|title=Home}}

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio#District 9}}

Redistricting after the 2010 census eliminated Kucinich's district. The new map shifted the bulk of Kucinich's territory, including his home, to the Toledo-based 9th District, represented since 1983 by fellow Democrat Marcy Kaptur. Kucinich had been endorsed by another House member, Barney Frank of Massachusetts.{{cite web| last = Frank| first = Barney| author-link = Barney Frank| title = Congressman Barney Frank for Dennis Kucinich in Ohio's New Ninth|url=http://kucinich.us/congressman-barney-frank-dennis-kucinich-ohio%E2%80%99s-new-ninth| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128203116/http://kucinich.us/congressman-barney-frank-dennis-kucinich-ohio%E2%80%99s-new-ninth| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 28, 2012| access-date = January 26, 2012}} The two competed in the Democratic primary on March 6, with Graham Veysey, a small-business owner from Cleveland, also on the ballot. Kaptur won the primary with 56% of the vote to Kucinich's 40%.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/House/2012/Primary/OH|title=2016 Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates|website=Politico|date=November 8, 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=745617 |title=OH District 9 - D Primary Race |publisher=Our Campaigns |date=March 6, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2012}} The redrawn district contained roughly 60% of Kaptur's former territory.

In the general election, with 73% of the vote, Kaptur won a 16th term against Republican Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher and Libertarian Sean Stipe.{{cite news |title=Marcy Kaptur coasts to win in 9th District congressional race |url=http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2012/11/marcie_kaptur_coasts_to_win_in.html |publisher=Sun News |first=Joe |last=Noga |date=November 7, 2012}}

Kucinich had been mentioned frequently as a possible 2012 candidate for Congress in Washington's newly created 10th district, but he decided to retire from Congress when his term ended in January 2013.{{cite web|author=Northeast Ohio |url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/03/dennis_kucinich_holding_back_o.html |title=Dennis Kucinich holding back on future plans, but not on criticism for victorious rival Marcy Kaptur |date=March 8, 2012 |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=November 9, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Sabrina Eaton/The Plain Dealer |url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/05/rep_dennis_kucinich_wont_run_f.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich won't run for Congress in Washington state |date=May 16, 2012 |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=November 9, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Ken Lambert, Seattle Times |url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/04/rep_dennis_kucinichs_washingto.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Washington state supporters urge him to run, but party leadership says keep out |date=April 17, 2012 |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=November 9, 2012}}

{{Further|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio#District 7}}

In 2024, Kucinich announced his campaign to represent Ohio's 7th congressional district as an independent. He placed third with 13% of the vote, losing to incumbent Republican Max Miller. This was the best result for an independent candidate running for Congress in Ohio since Jim Traficant's 16% finish in 2010.{{cite web|author= Sam Allard|url=https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2024/01/24/dennis-kucinich-ohio-congressional-campaign|title=Dennis Kucinich announces Ohio congressional campaign |date=January 12, 2024 |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=November 9, 2012}}

{{main|2018 Ohio gubernatorial election}}

In January 2018, Kucinich announced his candidacy for governor of Ohio in the 2018 election.{{cite news|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dennis-kucinich-running-for-ohio-governor-against-other-democrats/8lNjACdgNqcQBzMoEGK13I/|title=Dennis Kucinich is running for Ohio governor against 6 other Democrats|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Laura A. Bischoff|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-date=January 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112034110/http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dennis-kucinich-running-for-ohio-governor-against-other-democrats/8lNjACdgNqcQBzMoEGK13I/|url-status=dead}} He was criticized for working as a Fox News contributor.{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/146612/dennis-kucinich-serious-run-governor-ohio|title=Is Dennis Kucinich Serious?|last=Vyse|first=Graham|date=January 17, 2018|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=January 12, 2020|issn=0028-6583}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2018/01/dennis_kucinich_officially_ann.html|title=Dennis Kucinich officially announces run for Ohio governor|last=Richardson|first=Seth A.|date=January 17, 2018|website=cleveland|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020}} Tara Samples, an Akron city councilwoman, was his running mate.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2018/01/dennis_kucinich_chooses_akron.html|title=Dennis Kucinich chooses Akron city councilwoman as running mate|work=cleveland.com|last=Richardson|first=Seth|date=January 19, 2018}} Our Revolution, a grassroots progressive organization founded by Bernie Sanders, endorsed Kucinich, but Sanders did not.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/02/22/bernie-sanders-kicks-off-3-days-of-rallies-for-like-minded-candidates/|title=Bernie Sanders kicks off 3 days of rallies for like-minded candidates|last=Weigel|first=David|author-link=David Weigel|date=February 22, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} Kucinich lost the primary to Richard Cordray, 62.3% to 22.9%.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/08/us/elections/results-ohio-primary-elections.html | title=Ohio Primary Election Results | work=The New York Times| date=May 9, 2018}}

{{main|2021 Cleveland mayoral election}}

In December 2020, Kucinich announced his candidacy for mayor of Cleveland in the 2021 election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/2020/12/dennis-kucinich-files-paperwork-to-raise-money-for-potential-cleveland-mayoral-run-in-2021.html|title=Dennis Kucinich files paperwork to raise money for potential Cleveland mayoral run in 2021|date=December 5, 2020}} Though seen as likely to qualify in the seven-way nonpartisan primary for the two runoff spots, Kucinich finished in third place with 16.54%.{{cite web |url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/cuyoh/LiveResults/en/Index_16.html | title=Election Night Results }}

{{main|Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign}}

In May 2023, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign announced that Kucinich had been selected as its campaign manager.{{cite web |title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. picks former Rep. Dennis Kucinich as his campaign manager|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/18/politics/robert-kennedy-dennis-kucinich-campaign-manager/index.html |website=CNN |date=May 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526164745/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/18/politics/robert-kennedy-dennis-kucinich-campaign-manager/index.html |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |url-status=live |author=Iyer, Kaanita}} He served until October 2023, shortly after the campaign switched from Democratic to independent.{{Cite news |last1=O’Brien |first1=Rebecca Davis |last2=Epstein |first2=Reid J. |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Dennis Kucinich Leaves Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Presidential Campaign |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/us/politics/rfk-campaign-dennis-kucinich.html |access-date=October 14, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

In January 2013, Kucinich joined Fox News Channel as a regular contributor.{{cite web|author=Daniel Strauss|title=Kucinich joins Fox News Channel|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/139475-kucinich-joins-fox-news-channel/|newspaper=The Hill|date=January 16, 2013}}Brian Stelter, [https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/dennis-kucinich-signs-as-fox-news-contributor/ Dennis Kucinich Signs as Fox News Contributor], The New York Times (January 16, 2013). He appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and other Fox News shows.Ed Kilgore, [https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/01/the-eternal-recurrence-of-dennis-kucinich-candidate.html The Eternal Recurrence of Dennis Kucinich, Candidate for Office], New York (January 30, 2018). Kucinich quit Fox News in January 2018 as he announced plans to run for governor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dennis-kucinich-to-formally-announce-campaign-for-ohio-governor-next-week|title=Dennis Kucinich to formally announce campaign for Ohio governor next week|last=Pappas|first=Alex|date=January 8, 2018|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=January 12, 2020}} Since running for governor, Kucinich has reappeared on the network, in 2019 discussing Democratic primary debates,{{Cite web|url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/6053715049001/|title=Dennis Kucinich on 2020 Democratic debates|date=June 29, 2019|website=Fox News|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020}} and has appeared on Larry King's PoliticKING program, speaking against the Democrats' push to impeach President Trump.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xuGIoUDpg-0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200830071354/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuGIoUDpg-0&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=Democrat Dennis Kucinich; Impeachment Not Helping US: Let Voters Decide Trump's Fate| date=December 5, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuGIoUDpg-0|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020}}{{cbignore}}

After being elected to Congress in 1996, Kucinich began to position himself on the left.Lisa Mascaro and Ian Duncan, [https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-mar-07-la-na-kucinich-gone-20120308-story.html Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich hailed by colleagues after primary loss], Los Angeles Times, March 7, 2012 Based on his voting record in Congress, the American Conservative Union (ACU) gave Kucinich a conservative rating of 9.73%,{{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2007house.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028160409/http://www.acuratings.org/2007house.htm |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |title=2007 U.S. House Votes |publisher=American Conservative Union |access-date=August 26, 2011}} and for 2008, the liberal Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) gave him a liberal rating of 95%.{{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2008.pdf|title=ADA Congressional Voting Record 2008|work=ADA Today|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|access-date=March 26, 2009|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021185800/http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2008.pdf|url-status=dead}} He was often regarded as one of the most liberal members of the United States House of Representatives.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1917525,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821113512/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1917525,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2009|title=The GOP Has Become a Party of Nihilists|last=Klein|first=Joe|date=August 20, 2009|access-date=August 20, 2009|magazine=Time magazine}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/18/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5249795.shtml|title=Artist Behind Obama "Joker" Picture Revealed|last=Hechtkopf|first=Kevin|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=August 20, 2009|work=CBS News}}{{cite news|title=Kucinich Hit Stage As Cleveland Mayor|last=March|first=William|date=November 29, 2003|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|page=15}} Describing his views in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he said, "I'm from the universal-health-care wing of the Democratic Party. I'm from the Roe v. Wade-litmus-test wing of the Democratic Party. I'm from the abolish-the-death-penalty wing of the Democratic Party."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3070837|title=Kucinich spices up the race|last=Curry|first=Tom|date=July 14, 2008|access-date=August 20, 2009|work=NBC News}}

Until 2002, Kucinich's voting record was strongly anti-abortion, but he maintained a pro-abortion rights stance thereafter. In 1996, he was quoted as saying that "life begins at conception", and he voted in favor of banning partial birth abortion and preventing the transport of minors to undergo abortion procedures. He said in a 2003 interview that he had a "journey" on the abortion issue that "caused me to break from a voting record that had not been pro-choice".David Enrich, [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-enrich060903.asp Kucinich's Continued Evolution] National Review, June 9, 2003

{{Main|Movement to impeach George W. Bush}}

File:George W. Bush and Dennis Kucinich.jpg in 2002]]

On June 10, 2008, Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush on the floor of the House of Representatives.{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25068638/|title=Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution|date=June 10, 2008|publisher=AP News/MSNBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613035124/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25068638/|archive-date=June 13, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=June 10, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE21FOVAfMfEbAE5LDwiYm8fGh4QD916SHJ01|title=Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution|access-date=August 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610174554/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE21FOVAfMfEbAE5LDwiYm8fGh4QD916SHJ01|archive-date=June 10, 2008|url-status=dead|agency=Associated Press}}[http://metavid.ucsc.edu/wiki/index.php/Stream:House_proceeding_06-09-08_01/0:01:26/0:48:09 video]{{dead link|date=September 2011}} On June 11, the resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Calling it "a sworn duty" of Congress to act, co-sponsor Robert Wexler said, "President Bush deliberately created a massive propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq to the American people, and the charges detailed in this impeachment resolution indicate an unprecedented abuse of executive power."{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flb3bdigest06113sbjun11,0,5100560.story|title=sun-sentinel.com, U.S. Rep. Wexler calling for impeachment of President Bush|publisher=Sun-sentinel.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709090748/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flb3bdigest06113sbjun11%2C0%2C5100560.story|archive-date=July 9, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=May 24, 2010}} On July 10, 2008, Kucinich introduced an additional article of impeachment accusing Bush of misleading Congress into war.{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/-26571-1.html|title=Kucinich to Introduce Sole Impeachment Resolution|date=July 10, 2008|publisher=Roll Call|access-date=August 27, 2013}}rtsp://video1.c-span.org/15days/e071008_kucinich.rm{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} On July 14, 2008, Kucinich introduced a new resolution of impeachment against Bush, charging him with manufacturing evidence to sway public opinion in favor of the war in Iraq. This resolution was also sent to the judiciary committee.

{{main|Attempted impeachment of Dick Cheney}}

On April 17, 2007, Kucinich sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues saying that he planned to file an impeachment resolution against Dick Cheney, then Vice President of the United States.{{cite news| last =Ann Akers| first =Mary| title =Articles of Impeachment To Be Filed On Cheney| newspaper=The Washington Post| date =April 17, 2007|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/04/articles_of_impeachment_to_be.html| access-date =April 30, 2007| url-status =dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510052219/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/04/articles_of_impeachment_to_be.html| archive-date =May 10, 2007}} Kucinich planned to introduce the impeachment articles on April 24, 2007, but in light of Cheney's visit to his doctor for an inspection of a blood clot, Kucinich postponed the press conference "until the vice president's condition is clarified."{{cite news|title =Cheney returns to work after leg check-up| work=Reuters|date=April 24, 2007|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2439727520070424| access-date =April 30, 2007}}

Kucinich held a press conference on April 24, 2007, revealing House Resolution 333 and the three articles of impeachment against Cheney. He charged Cheney with manipulating the evidence of Iraq's weapons program, deceiving the nation about Iraq's connection to al-Qaeda, and threatening aggression against Iran in violation of the United Nations charter. Kucinich opened his press conference by quoting from the Declaration of Independence, and said, "I believe the Vice President's conduct of office has been destructive to the founding purposes of our nation. Today, I have introduced House Resolution 333, Articles of Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney. I do so in defense of the rights of the American people to have a government that is honest and peaceful."{{cite news| title =Kucinich Introduces Impeachment Articles Against Cheney| newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 24, 2007|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042401542.html| access-date =November 7, 2007}}

On November 6, 2007, Kucinich used special parliamentary procedure and moved for a vote on impeaching Cheney.{{cite web| title =Brady Supports Kucinich Move to Impeach Cheney| publisher =The Philadelphia Bulletin| date =November 7, 2007|url=http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18997962&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6| url-status =dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116014223/http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18997962&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6| archive-date =November 16, 2007}} House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Speaker Pelosi opposed the measure and stood by previous comments that "impeachment is not on our agenda", and they initially moved to table the bill. When that attempt failed, Hoyer moved to refer the bill to the House Judiciary Committee. That motion succeeded.

In March 2011, Kucinich said that President Obama's decision to approve air strikes against Gaddafi's forces in the Libyan Civil War was an "impeachable offense."{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/03/kucinich-libya-action-impeachable-051668|title=Kucinich: Libya action 'impeachable'|work=Politico|access-date=February 23, 2018}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/146612/dennis-kucinich-serious-run-governor-ohio|title=Is Dennis Kucinich Serious?|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}}

During his 2004 presidential campaign, Kucinich expressed support for a drug policy that "sets reasonable boundaries for marijuana use by establishing guidelines similar to those already in place for alcohol".{{cite news |title=Presidential Candidate Says Federal Law Should Treat Pot Like Alcohol |url=https://norml.org/news/2003/12/04/presidential-candidate-says-federal-law-should-treat-pot-like-alcohol |access-date=December 27, 2019 |work=NORML |date=December 4, 2003}} He stated: "Most marijuana users do so responsibly, in a safe, recreational context. These people lead normal, productive lives–pursuing careers, raising families and participating in civic life."{{cite web |title=Marijuana Decriminalization |url=http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php |website=kucinich.us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205060845/http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php |archive-date=December 5, 2003 |url-status=dead}} Kucinich also released a detailed plan for cannabis policy reform during his 2018 campaign for Ohio governor.{{cite news |last1=Tobias |first1=Andrew J. |title=Dennis Kucinich, candidate for Ohio governor, says legalizing marijuana can help with opioid crisis |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2018/03/dennis_kucinich_candidate_for.html |access-date=December 27, 2019 |work=cleveland.com |date=March 7, 2018}}

Kucinich has opposed the USA PATRIOT Act since its inception. He voted against the act in 2001, and against its renewal in 2006. He voted for an amendment to the constitution outlawing flag burning and desecration, but later took the opposite stance, voting against a similar amendment in 2005.[http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=318ivil_Rights.htm Representative Dennis J. Kucinich], VoteSmart.org

In 2007, Kucinich voted to require the Department of Defense to present a detailed plan for transferring prisoners out of Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Kucinich has praised and defended President Donald Trump in Fox News appearances. He praised Trump's inaugural speech, calling it "GREAT" and a "message of unity".{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/01/dennis_kucinich_cheers_preside.html|title=Dennis Kucinich cheers President Donald Trump|work=cleveland.com|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/08/ohio-governors-race-former-u-s-rep-dennis-kucinich-run-democrat/1014165001/|title=Ohio governor's race: former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich officially enters Democratic primary|work=Cincinnati.com|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en}}

According to The Washington Post, Kucinich "was a rare left-wing voice attacking 'the deep state' for undermining the president." On Sean Hannity's show, Kucinich said he believed that a deep state intelligence community worked against Trump and that it was "very dangerous to America", "a threat to our republic" and "a clear and present danger to our way of life." In February 2017, Kucinich defended Michael Flynn, saying that the intelligence community had treated him unfairly; in December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/ex-rep_dennis_kucinich_says_in.html |title=Ex-Rep. Dennis Kucinich says intelligence community schemed against Michael Flynn |work=cleveland.com|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}} Kucinich defended Trump's claims that he was being wiretapped, saying that he himself had been wiretapped.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/media/323846-dennis-kucinich-on-trumps-wiretap-charge-it-happened-to-me/|title=Dennis Kucinich on Trump's wiretap charge: 'It happened to me'|last=Balluck|first=Kyle|date=March 14, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en}} He also defended Trump's efforts to improve relations with Russia.

Kucinich criticized some House Democrats for attempting to start impeachment proceedings against Trump.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/impeachment-trump-green-sherman.html |title=House Democrats Can't Impeach Trump, but They're Willing to Try|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|date=October 12, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} He said, "The Democratic Party had best be identified with something more than impeachment." He said that efforts to assess Trump's mental and physical fitness to be president were "destroying the party as an effective opposition."

After the January 6 United States Capitol attack that attempted to overturn Trump's defeat, Kucinich denounced the storming as "an affront to the U.S. Constitution".{{cite news|url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/ohio-politicians-react-to-domestic-terrorists-storming-the-capitol/95-74702a9d-e5d7-44fb-b68b-3d66de6e6644|title=Ohio politicians react to protestors, angry supporters of President Trump who stormed the Capitol

|author=Kierra Cotton, Mark Naymik, Tyler Carey, Hope Sloop|date=January 6, 2021|publisher=WKYC}}

Kucinich had a 100% rating during 2005 and 2006 from the League of Conservation Voters, indicating pro-environment votes.[http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=468 Representative Dennis J. Kucinich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025052747/http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=468 |date=October 25, 2020 }}, LCV.org He has said that clean water is "a basic human right".[https://web.archive.org/web/20071110010910/http://www.time.com/time/2007/candidates_books/kucinich/ Dennis Kucinich: The Candidates in Print] Time.com

As mayor of Cleveland, Kucinich favored the city's existing Municipal Light System and opposed construction of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant and Perry Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Erie. He opposed a planned regional radioactive waste dump, and has long advocated renewable energy and efficient energy use.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080121/wasserman |title=New Hampshire's Nuclear Primary |publisher=Thenation.com |access-date=May 24, 2010}}

Kucinich was involved in efforts to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, requiring radio stations to give liberal and conservative points of view equal time, which he and other critics of talk radio argue is not presently the case. Fellow Democrat Maurice Hichney, Vermont's independent Senator Bernie Sanders, and others have joined him in this effort.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} Conservatives have criticized these plans, alleging that what they believe to be a liberal-dominated Hollywood, academia, new media, and mainstream media would not be subject to these regulations.{{cite web |url=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=17793 |title=John Berlau: Is the Fairness Doctrine on its Way Back?, October 31, 2006 |publisher=Humanevents.com |date=September 15, 2006 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013175227/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=17793 |archive-date=October 13, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm |author=Hunter, Derek |title='Fairness Doctrine' Anything but Fair |date=May 17, 2007 |publisher=Politico |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200821/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/35081 |first=George F. |last=Will |title=Fraudulent 'Fairness' |magazine=Newsweek|date=May 7, 2007 }}

Kucinich is a supporter of a non-interventionist foreign policy and has called war a profitable racket.{{cite magazine|last=Kucinich |first=Dennis |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-foreign-policy-establishment-spoiling-for-more-war-look-at-their-donors/ |title=Why Is the Foreign Policy Establishment Spoiling for More War? Look at Their Donors. |magazine=The Nation |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2019}}

Kucinich voted against the authorization of military force against Iraq in 2002. He also voted consistently against funding the war.[http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=318&type=category&category=47&go.x=18&go.y=17 Use of Military Force Against Iraq] VoteSmart.org

In a visit to the rest of the Middle East in September 2007, Kucinich said he did not visit Iraq because "I feel the United States is engaging in an illegal occupation."{{cite news |title=US Democratic hopeful Kucinich meets Assad, blasts Bush |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1188392553023&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |access-date=September 10, 2007 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Dennis Kucinich by Gage Skidmore.jpg (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 27, 2015.]]

Kucinich objected to the 2011 military intervention in Libya missile strikes and suggested they were impeachable offenses. He also asked why Democratic leaders didn't object when Obama told them of his plan for US participation in enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone. He said Obama's action in Libya was "a grave decision that cannot be made by the president alone", and that failing to first seek Congress's approval was unconstitutional.[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51595.html Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libya action]; Politico; March 19, 2011[http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/dennis-kucinich-calls-says-libya-attack-an-impeachable-offense-for-obama.php Dennis Kucinich: Obama's Libya Attack An Impeachable Offense]; Talking Points Memo; March 21, 2011

On August 31, Al Jazeera reported that a document had been found in the Libyan intelligence agency's headquarters that according to the author appeared to be a summary of a conversation between Kucinich and an intermediary for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in which Kucinich asks for information about the anti-Gaddafi National Transitional Council (NTC), possible links between it and al-Qaeda, and evidence of corruption, to lobby US lawmakers to put an end to NATO airstrikes and suspend their support for the NTC.Elshayyal, Jamal (August 31, 2011). [http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/08/2011831151258728747.html Secret files: US officials aided Gaddafi.] Al Jazeera. Accessed August 31, 2011 It also listed information necessary to defend al-Islam against International Criminal Court war crimes charges. Kucinich defended himself in a message to The Atlantic Wire, saying that the document was simply a summary of Kucinich's public positions on the Libyan campaign by a Libyan bureaucrat who never consulted Kucinich. "Al Jazeera found a document written by a Libyan bureaucrat to other Libyan bureaucrats. All it proves is that the Libyans were reading The Washington Post... Any implication I was doing anything other than trying to bring an end to an unauthorized war is fiction."Uri Friedman (August 31, 2011). [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/08/report-suggests-kucinich-worked-qaddafi-regime-block-libyan-intervention/41953/ Al Jazeera Says Kucinich Worked With Qaddafis, Kucinich Denies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914184113/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/08/report-suggests-kucinich-worked-qaddafi-regime-block-libyan-intervention/41953/ |date=September 14, 2011 }} The Atlantic Wire

In March 2011, Kucinich criticized the Obama administration's decision to participate in the NATO intervention in Libya without Congressional authorization. He also called it an "indisputable fact" that Obama's decision was an impeachable offense since he believes the U.S. Constitution "does not provide for the president to wage war any times he pleases", but he did not introduce a resolution to impeach Obama.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kucinich-says-obama-crossed-the-line-calls-attacks-on-libya-an-indisputable-impeachable-offense/|title=Kucinich says Obama "crossed the line," calls attacks on Libya an "indisputable" impeachable offense|last=Condon|first=Stephanie|date=March 21, 2011|work=CBS News|access-date=March 14, 2010}} In response, Libyan officials invited Kucinich to visit that country on a "peace mission", but he declined, saying that he "could not negotiate on behalf of the administration."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/25/libya-letters-gaddafi-nato-obama|title=Gaddafi's desperate bid to save regime revealed|last=Harding|first=Luke|date=August 25, 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=August 25, 2011|location=London}}

Kucinich was criticized for his visit to Syria in 2007 and praise of President Bashar al-Assad on Syrian national TV."[http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1189674512182260.xml&coll=2 Dennis Kucinich's Syria follies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012161058/http://www.cleveland.com/editorials/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fopinion%2F1189674512182260.xml&coll=2 |date=2007-10-12 }}", an editorial of The Plain Dealer, September 13, 2007. He praised Syria for taking in Iraqi refugees. "What most people are not aware of is that Syria has taken in more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees," Kucinich said. "The Syrian government has actually shown a lot of compassion in keeping its doors open, and being a host for so many refugees."[https://archive.today/20120709092229/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1188392553023 US Democratic hopeful Kucinich meets Assad, blasts Bush], The Jerusalem Post, September 6, 2007

Kucinich has met with Assad on several occasions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-usa-fox/fox-news-interviews-assad-with-help-of-u-s-ex-lawmaker-kucinich-idUSBRE98H18H20130918|title=Fox News interviews Assad with help of U.S. ex-lawmaker Kucinich|date=September 18, 2013|work=Reuters|access-date=February 23, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/former_rep_dennis_kucinich_aga.html|title=Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich again meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad|work=cleveland.com|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/09/syrias_bashar-al_assad_denies.html|title=Bashar-al Assad tells Dennis Kucinich that jihadists used chemical weapons in Syria (video)|work=cleveland.com|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}} He has supported Assad, citing him as a lesser evil in the Syrian Civil War. Asked by Tucker Carlson how he could defend a war criminal, Kucinich said the choice was to let ISIS take over Syria or "try to stabilize the region and let the people of Syria make their own decisions about who their leaders are going to be". He helped Fox News get an interview with Assad.

In October 2016, Kucinich warned against a prospective United States military intervention against Russia in Syria.{{cite news|last1=Kucinich|first1=Dennis|author-link=Dennis Kucinich|title=Why Is the Foreign Policy Establishment Spoiling for More War? Look at Their Donors.|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-foreign-policy-establishment-spoiling-for-more-war-look-at-their-donors/|access-date=October 27, 2016|work=The Nation|date=October 26, 2016}} He argued that "a concerted effort is being made through fearmongering, propaganda, and lies to prepare our country for a dangerous confrontation, with Russia in Syria"{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-foreign-policy-establishment-spoiling-for-more-war-look-at-their-donors/|title=Why Is the Foreign Policy Establishment Spoiling for More War? Look at Their Donors.|last=Kucinich|first=Dennis|date=October 25, 2016|work=The Nation|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0027-8378}} and said that Russia was being demonized as part of a "calculated plan to resurrect a raison d'être for stone-cold warriors trying to escape from the dustbin of history by evoking the specter of Russian world domination."

Kucinich is graded "F" by the NRA Political Victory Fund, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. He also received a 100% lifetime rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.[http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=318&type=category&category=37 Interest Group Ratings - Gun Issues] VoteSmart.org

Kucinich believes that health care is a "right in a democratic society".{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104050477|title=White House Looks For Ways To Lower Health Care Costs|last=Martin|first=Michel|date=May 12, 2009|access-date=August 20, 2009|publisher=National Public Radio}} He is a critic of the for-profit health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and is concerned about the large number of uninsured and underinsured in the United States. He contends that if the for-profit insurance system's overhead, such as "stock options, executive salaries, [and] advertising", were used for medically necessary care, there would be enough money in the system to cover everyone at no extra cost.

In July 2009, the House Education and Labor Committee approved an amendment by Kucinich to its version of the unsuccessful America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 by a vote of 27-19, with 14 Democrats and 13 Republicans voting for it.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/real-win-single-payer-advocates|title=A Real Win for Single-Payer Advocates|last=Nichols|first=John|date=July 17, 2009|work=The Beat|access-date=August 18, 2009|publisher=The Nation}} The amendment empowers the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive the federal law that preempts state law on employee-related health care, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, in response to state requests.{{cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id47.html|title=Kucinich Amendment Grants ERISA Waiver for Single Payer States.|publisher=Center for Policy Analysis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818020658/http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id47.html|archive-date=August 18, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=August 18, 2009}} It has been speculated that the amendment's bipartisan support was for its appeal to states' rights in supporting progressive legislation. In the past, states attempting to enact single-payer reforms had been sued and stopped under ERISA. It has also been speculated that the law would open up vital new avenues for promoting and implementing a single-payer system, as newly unbound states would show single-payer's success, just as Saskatchewan did for Canada. But the Kucinich Amendment was stripped from the merged House bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that it would have violated Obama's promise that Americans who liked their health insurance could keep it.{{Cite news|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/05-6|title=Pelosi: Single-Payer Amendment Breaks Obama's Health Care Promise|last=Grim|first=Ryan|date=November 6, 2009|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=Common Dreams NewsCenter}}

In March 2010, Kucinich announced that he supported the Affordable Care Act, after previously indicating opposition.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/03/rep_dennis_kucinichs_health_ca.html|title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich's health care switch encourages Democrats|work=cleveland.com|access-date=May 16, 2018|language=en-US}} According to The Washington Post, his switch was the first in a vital flurry of holdout representatives switching to yes votes.{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Ceci |date=March 23, 2010 |title=How Obama revived his health-care bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/22/AR2010032203729.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024113039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/22/AR2010032203729.html |archive-date=October 24, 2010 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=The Washington Post}}

Kucinich supports same-sex marriage.Tom Diemer and Sabrina Eaton, [http://www.cleveland.com/kucinich/plaindealer/index.ssf?/kucinich/more/1058348272157840.html Kucinich supports marriage for same-sex couples] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120232902/http://www.cleveland.com/kucinich/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fkucinich%2Fmore%2F1058348272157840.html |date=January 20, 2016 }}, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 16, 2003 He voted for the expansion of hate crime laws in the United States and against banning LGBT adoption in Washington, D.C.[http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/final_candidates_positions.pdf 2008 Presidential Candidates' Positions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208015333/http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/final_candidates_positions.pdf |date=February 8, 2012 }} TheTaskForce.org

Kucinich has consistently opposed free trade, claiming that it costs American jobs and enables abusive working conditions in other countries.[http://www.cfr.org/publication/14762/#264 The Candidates on Trade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519042407/http://www.cfr.org/publication/14762/#264 |date=May 19, 2010 }} Council on Foreign Relations

In a Democratic debate during the 2008 Presidential Election, Kucinich and Mike Gravel were the only two candidates to favor lowering the legal drinking age to 18. Kucinich also supported lowering the voting age to 16.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3708133 |title=Group Stirs Debate on Legal Drinking Age |first=Jennifer |last=Parker |date=October 9, 2007 |work=ABC News |access-date=January 18, 2010 |quote=Of course, they should be able to drink at age 18, and they should be able to vote at age 16}}

{{main|Electoral history of Dennis Kucinich}}

In 2003, Kucinich received the Gandhi Peace Award, an annual award bestowed by the Religious Society of Friends-affiliated organization Promoting Enduring Peace. In 2010, the US Peace Memorial Foundation awarded him The US Peace Prize "in recognition of his national leadership to prevent and end wars".{{cite web |title=Congressman Dennis Kucinich Awarded The US Peace Prize |url=https://www.uspeacememorial.org/PEACEPRIZE.htm |publisher=US Peace Memorial Foundation |access-date=January 7, 2020}}

After Kucinich lost to Marcy Kaptur in the 2012 Democratic primary, Representative Keith Ellison said of Kucinich, "At the end of the day, we're really going to miss Dennis. Dennis is a transformative leader. He stood up and spoke eloquently, passionately about Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran. He was a consistent voice for peace... He almost didn't vote for the health care bill because it wasn't good enough."{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73757_Page2.html| author=Jonathan Allen and Alex Isenstadt| title=Dennis Kucinich loss is end of an era| publisher=Politico| date=March 7, 2012}}

File:Kuciniches.JPG

Kucinich was baptized a Roman Catholic. He married Sandra Lee McCarthy in 1977; they had a daughter, Jackie, in 1981 and divorced in 1986.{{cite news|title=Recommend E-Mail Dennis J. Kucinich|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/k/dennis_j_kucinich/index.html|work=The New York Times Topics|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=November 20, 2010|first=Melena|last=Ryzik}} He married his third wife, British citizen Elizabeth Harper, on August 21, 2005. They met while Harper was working as an assistant for the Chicago-based American Monetary Institute, which brought her to Kucinich's House of Representatives office for a meeting.{{cite news |first=Evelyn |last=Theiss |title=How Kucinich Found Love |url=http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1130669287141800.xml&coll=2 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=October 30, 2005 |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-date=February 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209175927/http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fliving%2F1130669287141800.xml&coll=2 | url-status=dead}} Kucinich, a vegan since 1995, is an advocate of veganism, like Elizabeth.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/12/21/dennis-kucinich-wants-to-give-a-vegan-chocolate-chip-brownie-to-the-world/|title=Dennis Kucinich Wants To Give Vegan Chocolate Chip Brownies To The World|website=Ecorazzi|date=December 21, 2009|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227035735/http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/12/21/dennis-kucinich-wants-to-give-a-vegan-chocolate-chip-brownie-to-the-world/|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/10/kucinich-wants-dc-to-changefrom-a-red-meat-state-to-vegan-081969|title=Kucinich wants D.C. to go vegan|first=Patrick|last=Gavin|website=Politico|date=October 3, 2012|access-date=February 26, 2018}}

Kucinich was raised with four brothers and two sisters. Perry Kucinich, the youngest brother, died in December 2007.[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/19/kucinichs-brother-found-dead/ Kucinich's brother found dead in home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221194545/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/19/kucinichs-brother-found-dead/ |date=December 21, 2007 }}, CNN, December 19, 2007 His youngest sister, Beth Ann Kucinich, died in November 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2008/11/beth_ann_kucinich_48_musician.html|title=Beth Ann Kucinich, 48, musician, artist, sister of Congressman Dennis Kucinich|last=McRae|first=Sarena|date=November 11, 2008|work=Cleveland Plain Dealer|access-date=March 26, 2009}}

In 2011, Kucinich sued a Capitol Hill cafeteria for damages after a 2008 incident in which he claimed to have suffered a severe injury biting into a sandwich and breaking a tooth on an olive pit. The broken tooth became infected, and complications led to three surgeries for dental work. The lawsuit, for $150,000 in punitive damages, was settled with the defendant agreeing to pay Kucinich's costs.{{cite news|last=Rucker|first=Philip|title=The tortured tale of Rep. Dennis Kucinich and his olive pit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/29/AR2011012902128.html|access-date=March 22, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 29, 2011}}

• The Courage To Survive {{ISBN|9781597775687}}
• A Prayer for America
• The Division Of Light And Power (June 2021) {{ISBN|9781638772347}}

• Kucinich Resolution
• List of peace activists

{{reflist|30em}}

{{sister project links|auto=1|b=y}}

• [https://www.Kucinich.com Dennis Kucinich for Congress 2024 official website]
• [http://www.kucinich.us/ Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206050045/http://www.kucinich.us/ |date=February 6, 2004 }} official campaign site
• {{CongLinks | congbio=k000336 | votesmart=318 | fec= | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|45684}}
• [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/dennis-j-kucinich Column archive] at The Huffington Post
• [http://www.thepeacealliance.org/ The Peace Alliance]
• [http://www.pr.com/article/1112 Dennis Kucinich] Interview at PR.com, November 17, 2008

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