John Laesch
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John Laesch (born January 29, 1974) was the 2006 Democratic candidate for US Representative of the 14th District of Illinois. He ran against Republican incumbent Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House. Laesch is member of the Fighting Dems, former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are running for election to the Congress in 2006.
John Laesch was born in Monrovia, Liberia to missionary parents. A veteran of the US Navy, he enlisted in 1995 and graduated first in his class from the Great Lakes Training Naval Center in 1996. He served as an intelligence analyst in the Middle East.[1] Following his honorable discharge from the military, Laesch earned a degree in history from Northern Illinois University.
Laesch has held various leadership roles in Democratic campaigns in his state. In 2004, Laesch served as the campaign manager for David Gill in the Illinois 15th Congressional District.
Laesch is employed as a union carpenter for Local 195. He works for progressive issues. He is endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the AFL-CIO, among other organizations.
He frequently posts messages on the Daily Kos blog. In his free time he enjoys biking, fishing, chess, and working on the family farm.
In October 2006, Laesch's opponent, Dennis Hastert, was linked to the 2006 Mark Foley scandal, which may have influenced the election to Laesch's favor[1], but not enough to defeat Hastert.
On November 7, 2006, Laesch lost in his bid to unseat Dennis Hastert, with Hastert winning 59.75% to Laesch's 40.25%. [2]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website for Laesch's campaign
- The Fighting Dems
- Can Democrat John Laesch Take Down Hastert?, Josh Harkinson, Mother Jones, October 5, 2006.
- DCCC Bio John Laesch
