Robert Patrick Casey Jr
Robert Patrick Casey, Jr. is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party, serving as the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania since 2007. Born on April 13, 1960, he is the son of former Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, Sr. Casey holds degrees from the College of the Holy Cross and the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America. He began his political career as Pennsylvania's Auditor General before successfully running for the U.S. Senate, where he notably defeated incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum in 2006 by a significant margin, marking a historic Democratic victory.
Throughout his Senate tenure, Casey has served on several influential committees, including those focused on finance, agriculture, and intelligence. His political positions have evolved over time; he began as a pro-life conservative but later shifted to supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Casey has been actively involved in healthcare reform, advocating for the Affordable Care Act and addressing issues within underrepresented communities. He has also shown a commitment to environmental issues, opposing oil drilling in sensitive areas and promoting alternative energy sources. Additionally, inspired by gun violence incidents, Casey has transitioned from a pro-gun rights stance to advocating for gun reform.
Robert Patrick Casey, Jr.
Democrat Robert "Bob" Patrick Casey, Jr. has served in the US Senate as a Senator from Pennsylvania since January 2007. Casey's father, Bob Casey, Sr., was the forty-fourth governor of the state. A former lawyer, Casey has served the state of Pennsylvania in politics and government for over fifteen years.
Background & Education
Casey was born on April 13, 1960, the eldest of eight children born to Ellen Harding Casey and Bob Casey, Sr. He graduated from Scranton Preparatory School in 1978. Casey graduated from his father's alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, in 1982. In 1988, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Political Career
Casey worked as a lawyer in Scranton, Pennsylvania, until 1996, when he was elected as Pennsylvania state auditor general. In this role, Casey worked to ensure that state tax revenues were spent in an efficient manner.
In 2006, Casey was encouraged to run for a seat in the US Senate by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. When compared to his Democratic primary challengers, Casey held more conservative views on social issues such as abortion. He, nonetheless, won the primary election by a large majority.
Casey faced incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum in the general election. Casey won the election, earning 18 percent more of the total vote – the largest margin of victory for a Democratic Party candidate in the history of Pennsylvania Senate elections. Casey became the first member of the Democratic Party to be elected to a full Senate term in Pennsylvania since 1962. During his first term, Casey sat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
In 2012, Casey won reelection, defeating Republican challenger Tom Smith, and in 2018, Casey was reelected to his Senate seat in his win over Republican Lou Barletta. In his 2108 term, Casey served on the Committees on Finance, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and the Select Committee on Intelligence. In addition, Casey was the Chair of the Special Committee on Aging.
On the Issues
On the issue of abortion, Casey was strongly pro-life and believed that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. He did support measures that would provide support for unplanned pregnancies. He also supported increased the availability of emergency contraception. In his third term, while still loosely pro-life, Casey has changed to supporting abortion rights for women.
Casey supports same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.
In 2007, Casey voted in support of the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007. The measure, which was voted down in Congress, offered a path to legal citizenship for illegal immigrants living and working in the US. Casey was critical of President Trump’s controversial immigration policies.
Casey has opposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He is also a proponent of increased development of alternative energy sources and measures to decrease emissions that cause global warming. Casey remained cognizant of the impact of climate change in his third term.
Casey supported the Affordable Health Care Act and has been vocal about providing healthcare to underrepresented communities.
Throughout his career, and inspired by several mass shootings in the United States, Casey transformed from a pro-gun rights Senator to an ardent supporter of gun reform.
Personal Life
Casey is married to Terese Foppiano. The couple has four children.
Bibliography
"About Bob." Senator Bob Casey, 2023, www.casey.senate.gov/about/bob. Accessed 4 Apr. 2023.
"Bob Casey on the Issues." OnTheIssues.org, 2022, www.ontheissues.org/senate/Bob‗Casey.htm. Accessed 4 Apr. 2023.