Judd Gregg
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United States Senator from New Hampshire
Incumbent
AssumedÊoffice: January 5, 1993
Serving with Jeanne Shaheen
PrecededÊby: Warren Rudman
86th Governor of New Hampshire
InÊoffice: January 4, 1989 - January 7, 1993
PrecededÊby: John H. Sununu
SucceededÊby: Steve Merrill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd district
InÊoffice: January 3, 1981 - January 3, 1989
PrecededÊby: James C. Cleveland
SucceededÊby: Charles Douglas III
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget
InÊoffice: January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2007
PrecededÊby: Don Nickles
SucceededÊby: Kent Conrad
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
InÊoffice: January 3, 2003 - January 3, 2005
PrecededÊby: Ted Kennedy
SucceededÊby: Mike Enzi
Born: February 14, 1947 in Nashua, New Hampshire
PoliticalÊparty: Republican
Spouse: Kathleen MacLellan Gregg
Children: Molly Gregg, Sarah Gregg, Joshua Gregg
Residence: Rye, New Hampshire
AlmaÊmater: Columbia University, Boston University
Occupation: Politician, Attorney
Religion: Congregationalist
Judd Alan Gregg (born February 14, 1947) is a former Governor of New Hampshire and current United States Senator serving as ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party and was a businessman and attorney in Nashua before entering politics. Gregg was nominated for Secretary of Commerce in the Cabinet by President Barack Obama, but withdrew his name on February 12, 2009.
Biography
Born in Nashua, he is the son of Hugh Gregg, who was Governor from 1953 to 1955. Gregg graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1965. Gregg received his baccalaureate from Columbia University in 1969 and, from Boston University School of Law, a Juris Doctor in 1972 and a Master of Laws in 1975.
Elected office
The second elective office held by Gregg was a seat on the Executive Council of New Hampshire, a post which he held from 1978 to 1980. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1980, and was reelected in 1982, 1984 and 1986. He declined to run for reelection in 1988, and ran for Governor of New Hampshire instead. He won that election and was reelected in 1990, New Hampshire being one of two states (Vermont is the other) that continues to elect its governors to two year, rather than four year, terms. He served in that position until 1993.
Senate
In 1992, Gregg decided to run for a Senate seat. He successfully defeated Democrat John Rauh, and took his seat as a United States Senator in 1993. He was reelected to a second term in 1998 after defeating George Condodemetraky, and ran for a third term. That year, 2004, he defeated campaign finance activist Doris ''Granny D'' Haddock, the then 94 year old Democratic nominee, by 66% to 34%.
In January 2005, Gregg was elected to chair the U.S. Senate Committee on Budget by the Senate Republican Conference. While chairman of this committee Gregg has been a steadfast supporter of lower spending. Throughout his Senate career he has been highly supportive of lower taxes as well.
Gregg has a moderate record on social issues. In June 2006 he joined six of his fellow Republicans in voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment. In April 2007 he was among the breakaway Republicans to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. However, his record on the issue of abortion is a solidly pro-life one. Gregg has voted for some gun control measures and against others. He voted against the Brady Bill, but in recent years has voted for trigger control locks on firearms and in favor of the ban on assault weapons.
During the 2004 Presidential Election, Gregg stood in for John Kerry during practice sessions held by George W. Bush in preparation for the 2004 United States Presidential Election Debates. Four years earlier he had played the part of Al Gore for the same purpose.
On October 29, 2007, Gregg endorsed Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States.
After withdrawing from his nomination to become United States Secretary of Commerce in the presidential administration of Democrat Barack Obama on February 12, 2009, Gregg said he would ''probably not'' seek reelection in 2010, when his term of office is set to expire.