Herbert Kohl (senator)

This article refers to Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI). For the article about Herbert Kohl, the educator and author, see Herbert Kohl (education).

Herbert H. Kohl (born February 7, 1935) is an American politician and the senior senator from the state of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Personal Life

Senator Kohl was born to Jewish parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956, and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1958. He served in the United States Army Reserve between 1958 and 1964. He served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin between 1975 and 1977. He has served in the United States Senate since his election in 1988. He was reelected in 1994 and 2000.

Before his election to the Senate, Kohl helped build his family-owned business, Kohl's grocery and department stores. He served as President from 1970 through the sale of the corporation in 1979. In 1985 he bought the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team to ensure the basketball team remained in Milwaukee and is recognized as an avid sportsman. Kohl is one of the nation's wealthiest politicians. Fairly conservative estimates put his wealth at $111 million, while he could be worth more than $250 million. This has inspired his use of the catchphrase "Nobody's Senator but yours" on campaign commercials, implying that he is immune to bribery, whereas other senators may not be.

United States Senate

Senator Kohl remains active in Wisconsin charitable activities. In 1990 he established the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Achievement Award Program, which provides annual grants totaling $100,000 to 100 graduating seniors, 100 teachers and 100 schools throughout Wisconsin. In 1995, Kohl donated $25 million to UW-Madison for a new sports arena, the Kohl Center.

Kohl has a fairly moderate voting record. He has voted in favor of most lawsuit reform measures as well as for rules tightening personal bankruptcy. He has long supported amending the Constitution to require a balanced budget. He was one of the few Democrats to vote for the tax cut passed in 2001. He is strongly pro-choice and opposes the death penalty. In 2005 he secured a victory for one of his main causes: requiring handguns to be sold with child safety locks. The amendment was attached to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, with every Democrat voting in favor of the amendment as well as many Republicans including the Senate Majority leader, Bill Frist.

2006 re-election campaign

Kohl is running for re-election in 2006.

On March 24, 2006, Republican Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker quit the race for governor, citing fundraising problems. Walker urged former Governor Tommy Thompson to disavow any more interest in the gubernatorial contest and look instead at the Senate. Walker said he won't jump into the contests for Lieutenant Governor or U.S. Senate.

The filing deadline is July 11, 2006; the primary is on September 12, 2006. ^*

Committee assignments

Electoral history

2000 Race for U.S. Senate
- Herb Kohl (D) (inc.), 62%
- John Gillespie (R), 37%
1994 Race for U.S. Senate
- Herb Kohl (D) (inc.), 58%
- Bob Welch (R), 41%
1988 Race for U.S. Senate
- Herb Kohl (D), 52%
- Susan Engeleiter (R), 48%
1988 Race for U.S. Senate (Democratic Primary)
- Herb Kohl (D), 47%
- Tony Earl (D), 38%

External links