Jeb Hensarling
Thomas Jeb Hensarling (born May 29, 1957) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 5th congressional district from 2003 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he chaired the House Republican Conference from 2011 to 2013 and House Financial Services Committee from 2013 until 2019. The Los Angeles Times described Hensarling, "a fervent believer in free market ideology" and that he was "a pivotal player in the GOP effort to reduce financial regulation in the Trump Era".[1] The Wall Street Journal called him "a driver of economic policy in the house".[2] Hensarling has close ties to Wall Street, having received campaign donations from every major Wall Street bank as well as various payday lenders.[3][4]
Jeb Hensarling
Melissa Hensarling
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On October 31, 2017, Hensarling announced that he would not seek reelection in 2018.[5] In 2019, he revealed he was joining UBS Group AG as executive vice chairman for the Americas region.[6] In 2023, he stepped down from that position.
Early life[edit]
Hensarling was born in Stephenville, the seat of government of Erath County in Central Texas; he was reared on the family farm in College Station.[7] He is the son of Mary Ann (Brock) and Charles Andrew "Chase" Hensarling (1928–2014), a 1949 graduate of Texas A&M University and a United States Army officer, who was engaged in the poultry business. His parents married in 1953.[7] Jeb Hensarling has one brother, James Andrew Hensarling (born 1954) now deceased, and a sister, Carolyn Hensarling Arizpe.[8] He is a Christian.
Like his late father,[9] Jeb Hensarling graduated from Texas A&M University; he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1979.[10] In 1982, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin.[11]
House leadership[edit]
In 2008, Hensarling was mentioned as a possible candidate for Republican Conference Chairman, then the number three position in the House Republican leadership. However, Hensarling instead endorsed former Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence, a longtime friend and ally.[44] After the 2010 elections, Pence stepped down from the House to run for Governor of Indiana. Hensarling succeeded Pence as Conference Chairman, becoming the fourth-ranking Republican, as the Republican Party had won control of the House of Representatives in 2010. Hensarling stepped down from leadership after the 2012 elections to become Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.[45][46]
Prior to Eric Cantor's primary defeat, Hensarling was mentioned as a potential rival to Cantor to succeed John Boehner as leader of the House Republicans.[47][48]