Boehner, John Andrew

Related Category: U.S. History: Biographies

(bā´nər), 1949–, American politician, b. Cincinnati. A business executive and a Republican member (1985–90) of the Ohio house of representatives, he first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990, and became an ally of Newt Gingrich. House Republican Conference chairman from 1995 to 1999, he also chaired (2001–6) the House committee on education and the workforce. Boehner has subsequently served as House majority leader (2006–7), succeeding Tom DeLay, who resigned as a result of a campaign finance scandal, and as House minority leader (2007–).