29 Facts About Charles Stenholm

Charles Walter Stenholm was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician from a rural district of the state of Texas.

Charles Stenholm was known for his conservative social positions, helping garner conservative Democratic support for President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts in 1981, and gaining passage of a new farm bill in 2002 that doubled farm subsidies for Texas agribusiness.

Charles Stenholm prioritized rural and agriculture issues and is considered one of the leading architects of federal farm policy.

Charles Stenholm worked as a lobbyist for food and agricultural interests, primarily with Olsson Frank Weeda, a law and lobbying firm in Washington, DC.

Charles Stenholm was born in 1938 in Ericksdahl, Texas, a farming community in Jones County that was settled in the early 20th century largely by Swedish immigrants, including his grandparents.

Charles Stenholm was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Charles Stenholm took over his family farm, raising cotton and having a cattle ranch.

Charles Stenholm operated the large cotton farm in Stamford for many years.

Charles Stenholm married Cynthia Watson and they had three children together.

Charles Stenholm began a career in agricultural politics when he was appointed to be member of the Texas State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.

Charles Stenholm served as an executive of the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association before being elected to Congress.

Charles Stenholm established a reputation as one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, and belonged to the Blue Dog Coalition.

Charles Stenholm was a leader of the Boll Weevils during the 1980s, and Chair of the Conservative Democratic Forum from 1981 until about 1993.

In 1981, Charles Stenholm was one of the more prominent Democratic supporters of Republican President Ronald Reagan's tax-cut package.

Charles Stenholm frequently clashed with Democratic President Bill Clinton during his administration; he voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against him.

Charles Stenholm voted against making Bush's tax cuts permanent, as by then he strongly opposed cutting taxes unless the budget was balanced.

Charles Stenholm is considered one of the leading architects of federal farm and agricultural policy during the late 20th Century and early 21st Century.

Charles Stenholm was among members who personally benefited from the subsidy program, originally authorized during the Great Depression to aid small farmers in staying on their land.

Charles Stenholm worked very closely with Larry Combest, the committee's chairman and a fellow farm owner, a Republican representing the neighboring Texas's 19th congressional district.

Charles Stenholm ran unopposed in 1980 and from 1984 to 1990.

In 1994 Charles Stenholm was held to 53 percent of the vote by a then relatively unknown Republican candidate, Phil Boone.

The district had swung so heavily to the GOP downballot by then that many observers thought it likely that Charles Stenholm would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.

Charles Stenholm was considered a major target of the Republican-dominated House in the redrawing of Texas's congressional districts in 2003, following the 2000 census.

Charles Stenholm lost by 18 percentage points in the November 2004 election, gaining slightly more than 40 percent of the vote.

From 2005, Charles Stenholm was a senior policy advisor and lobbyist with Olsson Frank Weeda, a Washington law and lobbying firm that specializes in representing food, drug, and agriculture interests before federal agencies.

Charles Stenholm was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.

Charles Stenholm served on the board of directors of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Charles Stenholm later returned to Tarleton State University where he taught Agriculture Policy.

Charles Stenholm died at his home in Granbury, Texas, on May 17,2023, at the age of 84.