→Political career: I don't believe that a book he didn't write is notable in his bio. |
→Potential caucus affiliation: What Nate Silver thought a month ago isn't really relevant now we now have two sources where he lays out his plans in a tied senate |
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===Potential caucus affiliation=== |
===Potential caucus affiliation=== |
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Due to the close nature of the [[United States Senate elections, 2014|2014 Senate elections]], Orman could play the role of [[kingmaker]] in choosing the [[Senate Majority Leader]].<ref name=upheaval>[http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/upheaval-in-the-kansas-senate-race-is-making-our-chart-kinky/]Fivethirtyeeight.org (Sept. 4, 2014)</ref> He has proposed to [[Party caucuses and conferences in the United States Congress|caucus]] with whichever party has the majority in the Senate.<ref name=DLefler>{{cite news| |
Due to the close nature of the [[United States Senate elections, 2014|2014 Senate elections]], Orman could play the role of [[kingmaker]] in choosing the [[Senate Majority Leader]].<ref name=upheaval>[http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/upheaval-in-the-kansas-senate-race-is-making-our-chart-kinky/]Fivethirtyeeight.org (Sept. 4, 2014)</ref> He has proposed to [[Party caucuses and conferences in the United States Congress|caucus]] with whichever party has the majority in the Senate, saying that "it's in the best interests of the voters of Kansas that they have a senator in the majority".<ref name=DLefler>{{cite news|author=Dion Lefler|title=Pat Roberts, Greg Orman display their differences in first debate|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article1706107.html|accessdate=18 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=couldcaucus>{{cite news|author=Dion Lefler|title=Orman: I Could 'Absolutely' Switch Parties After Picking Senate Side|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/orman-i-could-absolutely-switch-parties-after-picking-senate-side-n219636|date=October 6, 2014|accessdate=October 7, 2014}}</ref> In the event that Orman holds the tiebreaking vote in the Senate, he has stated that he will ask both parties to commit to issues including immigration and tax reform and caucus with whichever agrees.<ref name=mystery/> He said in October 2014 that if, after caucusing with one party for four or five months he finds that "they're engaged in the same old partisan politics", he would "absolutely" consider caucusing with the other party to give them the majority instead.<ref name=couldcaucus/> He explained: "Ultimately, this is about solving problems. This is about the voters of Kansas saying - the status quo doesn't work anymore."<ref name=couldcaucus/> |
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Orman states that his lack of political affiliations will allow him to "vote on the merits of the legislation instead of how party bosses demand" and "seek common sense solutions while maintaining his independence from either the Republicans or Democrats."<ref>[http://www.ormanforsenate.com/issues With Which Party Will You Caucus?]. Campaign website. Retrieved: 16 September 2014.</ref> |
Orman states that his lack of political affiliations will allow him to "vote on the merits of the legislation instead of how party bosses demand" and "seek common sense solutions while maintaining his independence from either the Republicans or Democrats."<ref>[http://www.ormanforsenate.com/issues With Which Party Will You Caucus?]. Campaign website. Retrieved: 16 September 2014.</ref> |
Revision as of 00:55, 7 October 2014
Greg Orman | |
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Personal details | |
Born | Mankato, Minnesota, U.S. | December 2, 1968
Political party | Independent |
Alma mater | Princeton University |
Website | Campaign website |
Gregory John "Greg" Orman (born December 2, 1968) is an American entrepreneur and an Independent candidate running to represent Kansas in the United States Senate in the 2014 election.
Background
Orman was born and raised in Mankato, Minnesota, the second-oldest of six children.[1] His mother, Darlene Gates, was a registered nurse and he has five siblings.[2] When he was 3 his parents divorced; his father, Tim, moved to Stanley, Kansas, Kansas, in southern Johnson County, and opened a furniture store. He lived with his mother during the school year; during the summers he worked in his father's warehouse.[3] His mother was a Democrat, his father a Republican and Orman admired Ronald Reagan.[1]
Orman graduated from Mankato East Senior High School in 1987.[4] In 1986, he was the national President of the Boys Nation and met President Reagan at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.[5]
Orman graduated from Princeton University in 1991 with a degree in economics.[6] He was a member of the Princeton College Republicans[7] and worked for George H. W. Bush's presidential campaign in 1988.[5] However in 1992, he supported Independent Ross Perot.[1]
Business career
After graduating, Orman worked for consultancy firm McKinsey & Company before he founded Environmental Light Concepts in 1992, which designs and installs energy-efficient lighting systems for commercial and industrial companies.[1] He sold a majority of the company to Kansas City Power and Light in 1996 and left the company in 2002.[1] He has since invested in 15 companies, including boxing equipment manufacturer Combat Brands of Kansas.[1] In 2004, Orman co-founded private equity firm Denali Partners LLC.[6]
Orman has professional and personal ties to convicted insider trader and former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta. The two are friends and both are listed as owners of Exemplar Wealth Management.[8] Orman also served as Gupta's designated representative on the board of New Silk Route, a private equity fund, from April 2013 until March 2014.[9][10] Gupta's family has contributed $26,000 to Orman's campaign, with the most recent contribution coming in June 2014.[11] Orman has said that "He is a friend of mine, he made a huge mistake, and he's paying the price for it. It shocked me like it shocked a lot of people when it came out that he was charged with those things."[1]
Political career
At various times Orman has been registered as a Republican and a Democrat. He has been unaffiliated with a party since 2010. After a debate in 2014 he stated, "I've tried both parties; and, like most Kansans, I've been disappointed."[12]
Orman contributed in 2007 to Democratic Senator Harry Reid, in 2008 to Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's campaigns, and in 2010 to Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown, U.S. Representative Todd Akin and the National Republican Congressional Committee.[1][12] According to The Hill, Orman has contributed "much more to Democrats" than to Republicans.[13] Orman has replied that since Obama's election, he has moved away from the Democratic Party. He has stated that he voted for Obama in 2008 but voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.[1]
In 2010 he founded the Common Sense Coalition to promote the voices of "the sensible middle"[3] and in 2012 he donated $25,000 to the independent political organization Americans Elect.[1]
2008 U.S. Senate election
Orman was briefly a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Kansas' 2008 United States Senate election, but dropped out before the primary.[12]
2014 U.S. Senate election
Orman is an Independent candidate in Kansas's 2014 United States Senate election. The campaign gathered enough signatures to get on the ballot as a candidate for the general election.[6] Orman, a supporter of term limits, has promised to serve no more than two terms.[14]
He is facing incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts in the November general election. Orman has been the main rival to Roberts ever since Democrat Chad Taylor dropped out of the race on September 3 over concerns that he and Orman would split votes from Independent and Democratic voters not breaking for Roberts.[15]
The group Traditional Republicans for Common Sense endorsed Orman on September 3, 2014. This group is composed of approximately 70 former Republican elected officials. Jim Yonally, chairman of the group, stated "We believe Greg Orman is the best qualified candidate for the office of United States senator from Kansas," although some other members of the group expressed their support for Pat Roberts following the announcement.[16]
Political positions
According to Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon, Orman and the Democratic Party have similar views in support of certain gun controls, reproductive rights, and other matters. Asked if there is a key issue on which Orman differs from state Democrats, Wagnon identified his support for term limits, but did not recall any other differences. However, the Democrats have not come out in support of Orman.[17] Orman has described himself as "a problem solver, not a partisan" and describes his ideology as "fiscally responsible and socially tolerant". He supports "broad tax reform", is concerned about the impact entitlement spending is having on the federal deficit and agrees with some of the ideas of Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.[3]
Illegal immigration
Orman believes that the U.S. needs to secure its borders by "continu[ing]" its commitment to the agents stationed there along with determining if "recent advances in technology can help us tighten our borders."[18] He also supports a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in America, provided they register with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by a certain date, pay a fine or perform community service as an acknowledgment that they’ve broken the law, hold down a job, pay taxes, and obey the law. If his proposed path to citizenship is implemented, Orman also would fully implement the e-verify system and hold employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers who have not registered with ICE.[18]
Reproductive rights
On his campaign website Orman states, "I know the women of Kansas are smart, and I trust them to make their own decisions about their reproductive health."[19]
Veterans' affairs
On his campaign website, Orman states: "We should restructure the VA rules to allow veterans in rural areas or those who have had to wait months for care to receive treatment at critical access facilities, which would benefit financially while providing critical care to those in need. Doing so would strengthen rural health care in Kansas, while at the same time aiding veterans."[20]
Keystone Pipeline
Orman has declined to take a stance on whether the Keystone Pipeline should be constructed, saying that he doesn't have enough information to make a decision.[3]
Gun rights
Orman favors strengthening restrictions on gun ownership, but has declined to say whether he would support a ban on assault weapons.[3]
According to his campaign website he stated: "I own two handguns. I believe in Second Amendment rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. Both times that I bought a handgun, I was required to go through a mandatory background check to ensure that I was a U.S. citizen who hadn’t been convicted of domestic violence, subject to a restraining order for harassing, stalking, or threatening behavior, incarcerated for longer than a year, dishonorably discharged from the military, or determined to be mentally defective.[21]
Potential caucus affiliation
Due to the close nature of the 2014 Senate elections, Orman could play the role of kingmaker in choosing the Senate Majority Leader.[22] He has proposed to caucus with whichever party has the majority in the Senate, saying that "it's in the best interests of the voters of Kansas that they have a senator in the majority".[23][24] In the event that Orman holds the tiebreaking vote in the Senate, he has stated that he will ask both parties to commit to issues including immigration and tax reform and caucus with whichever agrees.[1] He said in October 2014 that if, after caucusing with one party for four or five months he finds that "they're engaged in the same old partisan politics", he would "absolutely" consider caucusing with the other party to give them the majority instead.[24] He explained: "Ultimately, this is about solving problems. This is about the voters of Kansas saying - the status quo doesn't work anymore."[24]
Orman states that his lack of political affiliations will allow him to "vote on the merits of the legislation instead of how party bosses demand" and "seek common sense solutions while maintaining his independence from either the Republicans or Democrats."[25]
Personal life
Orman lives in Olathe with his wife, Sybil.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Mystery Candidate Shaking Up Kansas Politics". The Atlantic. September 27, 2014.
- ^ http://www.ormanforsenate.com/about
- ^ a b c d e "Greg Orman, a political enigma, faces growing scrutiny in Kansas Senate race". The Washington Post. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ Hancock, Peter (September 20, 2014). "Orman travels unique path to enter Kansas politics". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Staking the Senate on Kansas?". The Washington Post. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d Hancock, Peter (2014-07-28). "Senate challenger says he has enough signatures to get on ballot as independent candidate". Lawrence Journal-World.
- ^ Sullivan, Sean (4 September 2014). "Meet Greg Orman, the man who could decide the Senate majority". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ Lowry, Bryan (September 17, 2014). "Greg Orman maintains professional ties with ex-Goldman Sachs board member convicted of securities fraud". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Raghavan, Anita (December 5, 2013). "Gupta Suit Against Partner Is Dismissed". New York Times: Dealbook. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Tim Carpenter, "Orman's link to jailed investor deeper than first portrayed," Topeka Capital-Journal (Sept. 21, 2014) [1]
- ^ Opensecrets.org[2]
- ^ a b c "Roberts and Orman square off at state fair". KSN.com. 2014-09-06.
- ^ Alexandra Jaffe, "Report: Kansas Senate candidate's ties to convicted investor run deep," The Hill (Sept. 22, 2014)[3]
- ^ Helling, Dave (19 September 2014). "Pat Roberts and Greg Orman see several issues differently in the U.S. Senate race in Kansas". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Democrat sees path to upset in Kansas Senate race". Associated Press. 2014-08-17.
- ^ Carpenter, Tim. September 3, 2014. Republican group endorses Orman for Senate. Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved: 18 September 2014
- ^ "Independent Senate Candidate Orman of Kansas Draws Scant Democratic Support," Wall Street Journal (Sept. 26, 2014) [4]
- ^ a b Illegal Immigration. Campaign website. Retrieved: 7 September 2014.
- ^ Reproductive Rights. Campaign website. Retrieved: 7 September 2014.
- ^ Veterans' Affairs. Campaign website. Retrieved: 7 September 2014.
- ^ The Second Amendment. Campaign website. Retrieved: 30 September 2014.
- ^ [5]Fivethirtyeeight.org (Sept. 4, 2014)
- ^ Dion Lefler. "Pat Roberts, Greg Orman display their differences in first debate". Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Dion Lefler (October 6, 2014). "Orman: I Could 'Absolutely' Switch Parties After Picking Senate Side". Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ With Which Party Will You Caucus?. Campaign website. Retrieved: 16 September 2014.