564:. While he was reelected four more times after that, Stenholm never won more than 60 percent of the vote, and he was nearly defeated in 1996 and 2002. During this time, Republicans gradually whittled away the Democratic advantage at the local level. By the end of the 20th century, Stenholm was the only Democrat elected above the county level in much of the 17th district. The district had swung so heavily to the GOP downballot by then that many observers thought it likely that Stenholm would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.
543:. They shepherded the 2002 Farm Bill through Congress, in which Texas got the largest increase in subsidies of any state, doubling the amount received. During this period, the wealthiest 10% of farmers received 74% of the subsidies, which were directed at agribusiness. The 15 states that received 74% of the subsidies paid only 24% of the cost in their taxes, thus gaining a major federal handout.
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In 1994, however, Stenholm was held to 53 percent of the vote by a then relatively unknown
Republican candidate, Phil Boone. When his children heard the initial returns, they were so certain that he'd lost that they traveled to the family farm to console him. That same election saw Republicans win
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Stenholm chose to run in the reconfigured 19th. The new district contained 60 percent of
Neugebauer's former territory, a disadvantage which Stenholm could not overcome, despite his 13 terms of seniority. He lost by 18 percentage points in the November 2004 election, gaining slightly more than 40
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industry. In 2006, he was the most visible lobbyist for three foreign-owned horse-slaughter plants in the U.S., which were fighting regulatory legislation that would have resulted in their having to close. Meat from such horses was consumed as food by residents of some
European Union countries,
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Although the 17th's voters had begun splitting their tickets and voting
Republican in presidential and U. S. Senate elections from the 1970s onward, the Republican Party had little support at the local level at the time. Conservative Democrats continued to hold most local offices in the 17th's
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Stenholm was born in 1938 in
Ericksdahl, Texas (sometimes identified as Stamford), a farming community in Jones County that was settled in the early 20th century largely by Swedish immigrants, including his grandparents. His parents Lambert and Irene Constance Stenholm raised him on their
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to aid small farmers in staying on their land. Under the 1996 farm bill, from 1996 to 2002, Stenholm as a farmer received $ 39,000 in subsidies. At least ten of his colleagues, both
Republicans and Democrats, also received substantial farm subsidies during this period.
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footprint well into the 1990s. Proving this, Stenholm faced no major-party opposition from 1980 to 1990. He ran unopposed in 1980 and from 1984 to 1990. Notably, he was elected unopposed in years when
Republican presidential candidates carried the 17th in landslides.
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Stenholm took over his family farm, raising cotton and also having a cattle ranch. He operated the large cotton farm in
Stamford for many years. He also worked as a vocational teacher. He married Cynthia Watson and they had three children together.
384:. In 1992 he supported an amendment to require the federal government to have balanced budgets. He prioritized rural and agriculture issues and is considered one of the leading architects of federal farm policy.
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requiring the federal government to keep to such budgets. He is considered one of the leading architects of federal farm and agricultural policy during the late 20th
Century and early 21st Century.
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pushed for a new map. Stenholm's district was dismantled and split among four districts. Most of his former territory, including his home in
Abilene, was thrown into the heavily Republican
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during the 1980s, and Chair of the Conservative Democratic Forum from 1981 until about 1993. In 1981, Stenholm was one of the more prominent Democratic supporters of Republican President
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percent of the vote. To date, this is the only time since Combest claimed the 19th for the GOP in 1984 that a Democrat has garnered even 40 percent of the vote in the district.
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After leaving Congress when defeated by a Republican in 2004, Stenholm stayed in Washington, DC. He worked as a lobbyist for food and agricultural interests, primarily with
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357:. After establishing himself as owner-operator of a large cotton farm, he entered politics and was elected to Congress in his first run for office. Stenholm was a
687:, on May 17, 2023, at the age of 84. Upon his death, many notable political leaders offered public tribute to Stenholm, including former Secretary of Agriculture
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during his administration; he voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against him. But Stenholm was also a severe critic of the succeeding Republican
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Stenholm had gotten increasingly interested in politics. In 1965 he became a lobbyist for the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association. In late 1978 longtime
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As a large farmer, Stenholm was chiefly interested in agriculture and also in budget matters. In 1992 he supported a
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Like many Texas politicians, Stenholm was conservative on certain social issues; he opposed both abortion and
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Stenholm established a reputation as one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, and belonged to the
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He began a career in agricultural politics when he was appointed to be member of the Texas State
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Stenholm later returned to Tarleton State University where he taught Agriculture Policy.
408:, with a B.S. (1961) and an M.S. (1962) in Agriculture Education. He was a member of the
838:"Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm – D Texas, 17th, Defeated, Died, May 17, 2023 – Biography"
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permanent, as by then he strongly opposed cutting taxes unless the budget was balanced.
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Stenholm was considered a major target of the Republican-dominated House in the
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social positions, helping garner conservative Democratic support for President
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and the top leaders on the U.S. House and Senate committees on Agriculture.
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Japan, and Mexico; it was also used for zoo food and medical purposes.
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474:'s tax-cut package. A decade later, he said he regretted that support.
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481:. In 1990 he was one of three House Democrats who voted against the
746:"Charlie Stenholm, Democratic architect of farm policy, dies at 84"
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In addition, for eight years, Stenholm was ranking Democrat on the
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From 2005, Stenholm was a senior policy advisor and lobbyist with
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dozens of offices at the local level. Afterward, Stenholm ran for
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349:(October 26, 1938 – May 17, 2023) was an American businessman and
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455:. Seeing an opportunity, Stenholm ran in his first campaign as a
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768:"The Texas Congressman Behind the Amendment/Charles Stenholm"
649:, representing various agricultural interests, including the
958:"Board Members – Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget"
447:, a vast and mostly rural district which stretched from
535:, the committee's chairman and a fellow farm owner, a
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Stenholm frequently clashed with Democratic President
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Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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redrawing of Texas's congressional districts in 2003
713:"Former representative Charlie Stenholm dies at 84"
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Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
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990:"National Farmers Union presents leadership award"
668:. He also served on the board of directors of the
664:Stenholm was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of
603:, represented by Combest's successor, Republican
353:politician from a rural district of the state of
996:, September 27, 2004. Accessed January 27, 2006
443:decided to resign from his office representing
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582:U.S. House of Representatives Majority leader
391:, a law and lobbying firm in Washington, DC.
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816:. Boston: South End Press. pp. 82–83.
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744:Jim Webster; Philip Basher (May 18, 2023).
496:'s fiscal policy. He voted against making
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670:Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
645:After leaving Congress, Stenholm became a
228:January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2005
171:January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2005
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890:Stenholm as lobbyist for slaughterhouses.
864:Stenholm: I want to be more than one vote
766:Hinds, Michael deCourcy (June 11, 1992).
547:Electoral success and demographic changes
203:U.S. House of Representatives
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1228:Members of Congress who became lobbyists
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483:Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
423:during the administration of President
400:plantation-scale, 2000-acre farm near
363:United States House of Representatives
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1188:20th-century American businesspeople
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1035:Texas's 17th congressional district
541:Texas's 19th congressional district
445:Texas's 17th congressional district
367:Texas's 17th congressional district
531:Stenholm worked very closely with
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1198:21st-century American politicians
1193:20th-century American politicians
576:, following the 2000 census. The
977:"Charles Stenholm (id: S000851)"
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1203:American cooperative organizers
45:needs additional citations for
27:American politician (1938–2023)
944:"ReFormers Caucus – Issue One"
451:to the western fringes of the
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1030:U.S. House of Representatives
1013:U.S. House of Representatives
711:Burns, Sarah (May 18, 2023).
683:Stenholm died at his home in
539:representing the neighboring
494:George W. Bush Administration
1223:Texas Tech University alumni
1238:People from Granbury, Texas
1233:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members
1218:People from Stamford, Texas
1063:House Agriculture Committee
924:"Olsson, Frank & Weeda"
601:19th congressional district
521:House Agriculture Committee
453:Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
365:for 13 terms, representing
159:House Agriculture Committee
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466:. He was a leader of the
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1080:Party political offices
975:United States Congress.
902:"Professional Directory"
810:Zepezauer, Mark (2004).
633:Secretary of Agriculture
395:Early life and education
929:Food & Drink Weekly
869:March 29, 2012, at the
627:Post-Congressional life
347:Charles Walter Stenholm
271:Charles Walter Stenholm
1061:Ranking Member of the
157:Ranking Member of the
876:Abilene Reporter-News
406:Texas Tech University
372:He was known for his
326:Texas Tech University
994:Southwest Farm Press
904:. Olsson Frank Weeda
431:Congressional career
54:improve this article
932:. January 17, 2005.
880:September 22, 1996.
558:House Minority Whip
410:Sigma Alpha Epsilon
369:from 1979 to 2005.
18:Charles W. Stenholm
1213:Farmers from Texas
1149:(Administration),
1144:Served alongside:
1137:Blue Dog Coalition
1108:(Administration),
1103:Served alongside:
1096:Blue Dog Coalition
659:Olsson Frank Weeda
504:Agriculture policy
464:Blue Dog Coalition
389:Olsson Frank Weeda
69:"Charles Stenholm"
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1157:Succeeded by
1142:2003–2005
1116:Succeeded by
1101:1999–2001
1070:Succeeded by
1042:Succeeded by
823:978-0-89608-706-4
637:Nebraska Governor
615:, represented by
578:Texas Legislature
568:Reelection defeat
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382:agribusiness
374:conservative
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296:(2023-05-17)
294:May 17, 2023
246:Succeeded by
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189:Succeeded by
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52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1183:2023 deaths
1178:1938 births
1139:for Policy
1098:for Policy
1000:Appearances
908:October 23,
479:gun control
234:Preceded by
177:Preceded by
1172:Categories
1160:Jim Cooper
1151:Baron Hill
1147:Jim Turner
1129:Allen Boyd
1119:Allen Boyd
1110:Chris John
1067:1997–2005
1039:1979–2005
695:References
651:horse meat
537:Republican
449:San Angelo
437:Democratic
312:Democratic
277:1938-10-26
80:newspapers
842:LegiStorm
666:Issue One
585:Tom DeLay
318:Education
224:In office
167:In office
867:Archived
777:June 11,
647:lobbyist
609:Amarillo
457:Democrat
217:district
110:May 2023
946:. 2023.
848:May 22,
724:May 18,
611:-based
599:-based
597:Lubbock
591:-based
589:Houston
587:of the
512:to the
402:Abilene
94:scholar
1004:C-SPAN
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286:, U.S.
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101:JSTOR
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818:ISBN
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726:2023
718:KTXS
291:Died
267:Born
214:17th
73:news
1002:on
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703:^
672:.
619:.
485:.
334:MS
332:,
330:BS
985:.
960:.
912:.
878:,
852:.
826:.
781:.
752:.
728:.
336:)
328:(
279:)
275:(
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
20:)
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