Joe the Plumber
Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher (/ˈwɜːrzəlbɑːkər/ WUR-zəl-bah-kər; December 3, 1973 – August 27, 2023), commonly known as "Joe the Plumber", was an American conservative activist and commentator. He gained national attention during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign season when, during a videotaped campaign stop in Ohio by Democratic nominee Barack Obama, Wurzelbacher raised concerns that Obama's tax policy would increase taxes on small business owners. Wurzelbacher was a member of the Republican Party.
Joe the Plumber
August 27, 2023 (aged 49)
- Political activist
- businessman
- plumber's assistant
- Republican (before 2009, from 2011)
- Independent (2009–2011)
Katie Schanen
4
After he expressed to Senator Obama that he was interested in purchasing a small plumbing business, Wurzelbacher was given the moniker "Joe the Plumber" by the McCain–Palin campaign. The campaign brought him in to make several appearances in campaign events in Ohio and McCain often referenced "Joe the Plumber" in campaign speeches and in the final presidential debate, as a metaphor for middle-class Americans.[1][2]
Wurzelbacher became a prominent conservative activist, commentator, author, and motivational speaker. In 2012, he ran on the Republican ticket to represent Ohio's 9th congressional district in the House of Representatives, losing to Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur.
Early life and background[edit]
Wurzelbacher was born on December 3, 1973, in Toledo, Ohio, to Kay and Frank Wurzelbacher.[3] The family moved to Florida when he was young, then returned to Toledo when he was in the middle of high school. After high school, Wurzelbacher enlisted in the United States Air Force, and chose plumbing (Air Force Specialty Code 3E451, or Utility Systems Specialist) as his area of training.[4] He was stationed in Alaska and North Dakota. Wurzelbacher left the Air Force in 1996 and worked as a plumber's assistant, but then switched careers and started working for the telecommunications company Global Crossing.[3]
2012 congressional election[edit]
Draft movement[edit]
After his meeting with Barack Obama, a campaign to draft Wurzelbacher to run for the United States House of Representatives in the 2010 election started with the website joewurzelbacher2010.com.[78] The Washington Times and the Boston Herald reported that the campaign's goal was to draft Wurzelbacher to run against Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio's 9th congressional district,[79][80] although the possibility also existed for Kaptur to choose to run for the Senate seat being vacated by George Voinovich.[81] The website was created by Trevor Lair (then-chairman of the Massachusetts College Republicans),[82] Derek Khanna,[83] and the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans.[84] It encouraged visitors to sign an online petition that supported Wurzelbacher's run for office.[82][85] Laura Ingraham asked Wurzelbacher, on October 24, 2008, if he would run against Kaptur. Wurzelbacher responded that he had considered the run and would be "up for it".[86]
Personal life and death[edit]
Wurzelbacher was married twice. He had one child from his first marriage and three from his second, to Katie Schanen.[3]
In 2022, Wurzelbacher was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[100] He died at home in Campbellsport, Wisconsin, on August 27, 2023, at the age of 49.[3][101]