Mike Simpson

Michael Keith Simpson (born September 8, 1950) is an American politician and former dentist serving as the U.S. representative for Idaho's 2nd congressional district since 1999.

The district covers most of the eastern portion of the state, including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Sun Valley, Twin Falls and the northern two-thirds of Boise.

He graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1968, Utah State University in Logan in 1972, and the dental school of Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1977.

He was elected to the Blackfoot City Council in 1980 and to the state legislature in 1984, the first of seven terms.

He was the Speaker of the Idaho House before his election to Congress.

A member of the Republican Party, Simpson was first elected to public office in 1984, and was elected to the House in the 1998 elections, succeeding Mike Crapo.

He defeated former Democratic Congressman Richard H. Stallings, who held the seat from 1985 to 1993, in the general election with 52% of the vote.

He has never faced another contest that close; Stallings was the last Democrat to win even 40% of the vote.

He served as Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998.

Generally regarded as a centrist, Simpson supports DACA, work visas for illegal immigrant farm workers, and was one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times.

Born in Burley, Simpson was raised in Blackfoot, where his father was a dentist.

Simpson practiced dentistry in Blackfoot until his election to Congress in 1998.

Simpson entered the 1998 campaign for the U.S. House seat vacated by Mike Crapo, who was running for United States Senate.

Simpson did not face serious opposition in 2000, 2002, or 2004.

In 2006, Simpson defeated former Democratic state representative Jim D. Hansen, son of former Republican Congressman Orval H. Hansen, with 61% of the vote.

Simpson defeated two primary challengers with 85.2% of the vote.

He defeated Democratic nominee Debbie Holmes with 71% of the vote.

During the 2008 presidential primaries, Simpson was an early supporter of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and a member of his Congressional Whip Team.

In the Republican primary, Simpson defeated Chick Heileson of Iona and Russ Mathews of Idaho Falls.

Simpson defeated Democratic nominee Mike Crawford and Independent candidate Brian Schad with 68.8% of the vote.

In the Republican primary, Simpson defeated Chick Helieson with 69.6% of the vote.

He defeated Democratic nominee Nicole LeFavour with 65.1% of the vote.

In the Republican primary, Simpson defeated lawyer Bryan Smith with 61.8% of the vote.

He defeated former congressman Richard H. Stallings in the general election with 61.4% of the vote.

In the Republican primary, Simpson defeated perennial candidate Lisa Marie with 73% of the vote.

He defeated Jennifer Martinez and Anthony Tomkins in the general election with 62.9% of the vote.

[[File:2022 Idaho 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Results.svg|thumb|2022 GOP primary results by county: {{legend|#E27F7F|Simpson}}

{{legend|#FFB2B2|40–50%}}

{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}

{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}

{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}

{{legend|#ff9955|Smith}}

{{legend|#ffb380|40–50%}}]]

When the Republican Party regained control of the House of Representatives in 2010, Simpson began once again to serve frequently as Speaker Pro Tempore.

In the 111th United States Congress Simpson became the Ranking Member on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

He also serves as the small state representative on the 33-member House Republican Steering Committee.

In the Republican primary Simpson once again defeated his 2014 opponent Bryan Smith, this time by 54.6% to 32.7%, with three other candidates splitting the rest of the vote.

While the Republican Party held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Simpson often served as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, particularly during debates on controversial legislation, due to his command of House procedure.

Simpson is known to have broken several sounding boards with the gavel while calling the House to order.

This inspired him to have a number of sounding boards produced in Idaho, which he presented to then Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert as a joke.