25 Facts About Darin LaHood

Darin McKay LaHood is an American attorney and politician who has served as a US representative from Illinois since 2015.

Darin LaHood previously served in the Illinois Senate from the 37th legislative district from 2011 to 2015, before being elected to Congress in a special election following the resignation of Aaron Schock.

Darin LaHood graduated from Loras College in Iowa and received his Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School.

Darin LaHood was a prosecutor in the Tazewell County state's attorney's office and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Darin LaHood ran for Peoria County state's attorney in 2008, losing to incumbent Kevin Lyons, 43,208 votes to 36,449.

Darin LaHood was involved in several other Republican campaigns, including Bill Brady's 2010 campaign for governor and Dan Rutherford's campaign for Illinois Treasurer.

Darin LaHood was appointed to the Illinois Senate on February 27,2011, at age 42.

Darin LaHood was sworn in by House Speaker John Boehner on September 17,2015.

Darin LaHood has called himself a fiscal conservative focused on budget issues.

Darin LaHood serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

On May 25,2016, Darin LaHood introduced legislation through the Science, Space, and Technology Committee that approved the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016.

Darin LaHood drew criticism from constituents for declining to hold an open town hall during the February 2017 recess.

Darin LaHood is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership and the Republican Study Committee.

Darin LaHood voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Darin LaHood opposes net neutrality and believes that revoking it has "zero effect" on privacy or data collection.

In December, Darin LaHood voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which, according to the Congressional Budget Office, will add $1.414 trillion to the national debt.

Darin LaHood was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

Darin LaHood is "100 percent supportive" of increasing the number of people allowed to immigrate to the US.

Darin LaHood has an "F" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.

Darin LaHood opposes the legalization of marijuana, even for medicinal purposes.

Darin LaHood opposes veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence.

Darin LaHood believes the legalization of medical marijuana increases its illegal use and abuse by teenagers and that it is addictive.

In 2017, Darin LaHood said that President Donald Trump should release his tax returns and would vote in favor of requiring such disclosure if a bill mandating it was presented to the House.

In December 2020, LaHood was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated Trump.

That evening, Darin LaHood voted to certify Biden as the 46th President-elect.