103 Facts About Mike Huckabee

Michael Dale Huckabee is an American Baptist minister, political commentator, and former politician who served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.

Mike Huckabee was a candidate for the Republican Party presidential nomination in both 2008 and 2016.

Mike Huckabee is the host of the talk show Huckabee, which ran on the Fox News Channel from 2008 to 2015, and has run on TBN since October 2017.

Mike Huckabee paused the show in January 2015 in order to explore a potential bid for the presidency.

From April 2012 through December 2013, he hosted a daily radio program, The Mike Huckabee Show, on weekday afternoons for Cumulus Media Networks.

Mike Huckabee is the author of several best-selling books, co-founder of the Kids Guide to Fighting Socialism, an ordained Southern Baptist minister noted for his evangelical views, a musician, and a public speaker.

Mike Huckabee was a political commentator on The Huckabee Report.

Mike Huckabee ran again for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election, but withdrew early in the primary following a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucus.

Mike Huckabee is the father of Sarah Mike Huckabee Sanders, who is a former White House Press Secretary and the current governor of Arkansas.

Mike Huckabee is of English, German, and Scots-Irish ancestry, with roots in America dating to the Colonial Era.

Mike Huckabee has cited his working-class upbringing as the reason for his political views; his father worked as a fireman and mechanic, and his mother worked as a clerk at a gas company.

Mike Huckabee was elected governor of Arkansas by his chapter of the American Legion-sponsored Boys State program in 1972.

Mike Huckabee has one sister, Pat Harris, a middle school teacher.

Mike Huckabee entered the ministry in 1972 at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church in Hope.

Mike Huckabee graduated from Ouachita Baptist University on May 8,1978, completing his bachelor's degree in religion before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mike Huckabee dropped out of the seminary after one year in order to take a job in Christian broadcasting.

At age 21, Mike Huckabee was a staffer for televangelist James Robison.

Mike Huckabee started 24-hour television stations in both Pine Bluff and Texarkana, where he produced documentaries and hosted a program called Positive Alternatives.

Mike Huckabee encouraged the all-white Immanuel Baptist Church to accept black members in the mid-1980s.

In 1989, Mike Huckabee ran against Ronnie Floyd of Springdale for the presidency of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

Mike Huckabee won and served as president from 1989 to 1991.

Mike Huckabee has received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Humane Letters, received from John Brown University in 1991, and a Doctor of Laws from Ouachita Baptist University in 1992.

In 1993, Republican state chairman Asa Hutchinson urged Mike Huckabee to run in the special election for lieutenant governor held on July 27.

Mike Huckabee became the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as Arkansas lieutenant governor, the first having been Maurice Britt from 1967 to 1971.

In 1994, Mike Huckabee was re-elected to a full term as lieutenant governor, beating Democratic candidate Charlie Cole Chaffin with nearly 59 percent of the vote.

Mike Huckabee then announced he was running for the open seat and moved ahead in the polls, but ultimately dropped out of the race to lead the state after incumbent governor Jim Guy Tucker resigned following his fraud and conspiracy convictions.

In January 1996, Mike Huckabee campaigned in televised ads paid for by the Republican National Committee and the Arkansas Republican Party against a highway referendum.

Mike Huckabee then announced he would quit the Senate race and instead fill the unexpired term of Tucker.

In November 1998, Mike Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term by defeating retired colonel Gene McVay in the primary and Jonesboro attorney Bill Bristow in the general election, becoming the state's third elected Republican governor since Reconstruction.

In 2001, Mike Huckabee was named "Friend of a Taxpayer" by Americans for Tax Reform for his cut in statewide spending.

In November 2002, Mike Huckabee was reelected to his 2nd 4-year term by defeating State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher, garnering 53 percent of the vote.

Mike Huckabee's reelection came despite the defeat in the general election of fellow Republican US Senator Tim Hutchinson.

Mike Huckabee received widespread praise for his state's rapid response to Hurricane Katrina.

In December 2008, Mike Huckabee became a honorary member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Mike Huckabee said that did not have time to join a fraternity in college because he had to "cram four years into a little more than two".

Mike Huckabee's handling of clemency petitions received national attention in November 2009 with the case of Maurice Clemmons, who had committed burglary without a weapon at 16.

Mike Huckabee defended his actions, stating that the recommendation to reduce the sentence was unanimous and supported by the trial judge, that the decision to parole him was made by the parole board, not him, and that Clemmons had been re-arrested and the decision not to file charges then had nothing to do with him.

Mike Huckabee announced his run for the White House on Meet the Press on January 28,2007.

Mike Huckabee spent $57.98 per vote in the Straw Poll, which is the lowest among the top three finishers.

Mike Huckabee drew attention with an unconventional ad featuring Chuck Norris.

In November 2007, Mike Huckabee drew endorsements from a large number of religious activists, including Billy McCormack, a pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a director and vice president of the Christian Coalition of America, founded in 1988 by a previous presidential candidate, Pat Robertson.

Mike Huckabee has credited God with some of his political success.

On January 8,2008, Mike Huckabee finished in third place in the New Hampshire primary, behind John McCain in first place, and Mitt Romney who finished second, with Mike Huckabee receiving one more delegate for a total of 18 delegates, gained via elections, and 21 total delegates, versus 30 total for Romney, and 10 for McCain.

On January 15,2008, Mike Huckabee finished in third place in the Michigan Republican primary, 2008, behind John McCain in second place; Mitt Romney, who finished first; and ahead of Ron Paul, who finished in fourth place.

On January 19,2008, Mike Huckabee finished in second place in the South Carolina Republican primary, 2008, behind John McCain, who finished first and ahead of Fred Thompson, who finished third.

On January 29,2008, Mike Huckabee finished in fourth place in the Florida primary, behind Rudy Giuliani in third, Mitt Romney in second, and John McCain in first place.

On January 21,2008, Mike Huckabee received the endorsement of 50 African American leaders in Atlanta, Georgia.

On March 4,2008, Mike Huckabee withdrew from seeking the candidacy as it became apparent he would lose in Texas, where he had hoped to win, and that John McCain would get the 1,191 delegates required to win the Republican nomination.

Former president Bill Clinton has praised Mike Huckabee and stated that he is a rising star in the Republican Party.

Clinton and Mike Huckabee have collaborated on initiatives such as the fight against childhood obesity.

Mike Huckabee took stances opposed to the nature of the incumbent president, Barack Obama.

On May 14,2011, Mike Huckabee announced on his FNC show that he would not be a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.

Political commentators speculated that Mike Huckabee might be ready for another presidential run in 2016.

Mike Huckabee was limited by a lack of money in 2008 but with changes to federal election law allowing SuperPACs to pour large sums of money into a race he might be better positioned to stay in the race.

Mike Huckabee has in addition earned personal wealth since 2008 on the lecture circuit and his TV and radio shows.

Mike Huckabee ended his daily radio show in December 2013, which strengthened speculations about a presidential bid.

Mike Huckabee indicated in September 2014 that he would make the decision on whether to run early in 2015.

In January 2015, Mike Huckabee ended his show on FNC to prepare for his possible run in the 2016 presidential election.

On March 30,2015, Mike Huckabee supporters launched a Super PAC to make preparations for his run for the Presidential ticket in 2016.

On May 5,2015, in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas, Mike Huckabee announced a campaign to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2016 election.

On February 1,2016, after a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucus Mike Huckabee decided that he was going to suspend his campaign.

However, Mike Huckabee later announced that he was declining to run in the 2018 Florida Gubernatorial election.

In January 2018, Mike Huckabee praised Doha, Qatar as being "surprisingly beautiful, modern, and hospitable" after a trip there, but did not reveal that a foreign agent for Qatar had paid $50,000 to a corporation run by Mike Huckabee as a "honorarium for visit".

Mike Huckabee hosted a weekend show, Mike Huckabee, on Fox News Channel, which premiered Saturday, September 27,2008, at 8 PM EST.

For six weeks in summer 2010, Fox test-ran The Mike Huckabee Show for the syndicated market; Mike Huckabee was joined by guest co-hosts in the daily spin-off, among them Bob Barker of The Price Is Right fame.

Mike Huckabee ended on January 3,2015, so that Mike Huckabee could consider the possibility of running for president.

On November 27,2013, Mike Huckabee announced that the show will have its final broadcast on December 12,2013, stating that he and Cumulus Media mutually decided not to renew the contract.

In October 2017, the Mike Huckabee show was relaunched, now produced by and aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Mike Huckabee opposes any public funding for abortion, and believes that abortion should be legal only when the life of the mother is at risk.

Mike Huckabee believes that it would "most certainly" be a good day for America if Roe v Wade were reversed.

Mike Huckabee opposed Obama's health care plan, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Mike Huckabee stated that he wants to "give citizens more control over their own health care choices".

Mike Huckabee says that it is important for Republicans such as himself to reach out to black voters, and in 2015, he ramped up efforts to win those votes.

In 2015, on an episode of Meet the Press, Mike Huckabee stated that the confederate flag issue was for South Carolinians to decide, "not an issue for a person running for president", and days later, he congratulated Gov.

Mike Huckabee believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, and he opposes both same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Mike Huckabee says that adoptions should be child focused and opposes "gay adoptions".

Mike Huckabee, expounding upon his view on homosexuality, said the following:.

Mike Huckabee has voiced his belief in intelligent design and he has stated that he does not believe that Darwin's theory of evolution is valid.

In September 2014, Mike Huckabee said, "Fire the ones who refuse to hear not only our hearts, but God's heart".

Mike Huckabee's plan included building a border fence, increased border patrol personnel, and increased visas for skilled workers who enter the country legally.

Mike Huckabee has previously stated he is opposed to using military resources for border patrol.

Mike Huckabee has voiced his support for self-defense and the Castle Doctrine, and has generally taken an anti-gun control stance.

Mike Huckabee believes that the concealed carrying of weapons should be allowed.

Mike Huckabee has received support from African-American leaders, praise from a liberal New York Times columnist, criticism from gay rights groups and pundits.

Mike Huckabee has made controversial public statements that have brought criticism.

Mike Huckabee apologized for at least three statements and has admitted that his love for metaphors and tendency to use hyperbole to make a point has backfired on him.

Mike Huckabee plays the electric bass guitar in his classic-rock cover band, Capitol Offense.

In 2007, Mike Huckabee was given the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants for his music education advocacy.

Mike Huckabee was made the chair of the Southern Governors' Association in 1999 and served in capacity through 2000.

Mike Huckabee has chaired the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Technology Council, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and the Education Commission of the States.

Mike Huckabee is a member of the Republican Governors Association and former chairman of the National Governors Association.

Mike Huckabee is chairman of the conservative political action committees Vertical Politics Institute and Huck PAC.

In July 2010, Mike Huckabee became a fundraiser on behalf of for-profit Victory University in Memphis, Tennessee, and was designated Chancellor of the Victory University Foundation.

Mike Huckabee acknowledges that he has weighed as much as 300 pounds.

Mike Huckabee has publicly recounted his previous burdens as an obese man: the steps of the Arkansas capitol from the entrance of the building up to the Governor's office were so long and steep that he would be out of breath and exhausted by the time he reached the top of the stairs.

Mike Huckabee has discussed his weight loss and used health care reform as a major focus of his governorship.

At an August 2007 forum on cancer which was hosted by Lance Armstrong, Mike Huckabee said that he would support the imposition of a federal smoking ban, but since then, he has stated that he believes that the issue is best addressed by state and local governments.

Mike Huckabee has completed several marathons: the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon, the 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathon, and the 2006 New York City Marathon.

Mike Huckabee completed the marathon in 4:38:31, defeating Vilsack by 50 minutes.

Mike Huckabee wrote a book chronicling his weight-loss experience, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork.

Mike Huckabee was one of 10 recipients of a 2006 AARP Impact Award acknowledging his work as a "health crusader".

In 2009, Mike Huckabee acknowledged that he had gained back a quarter of his weight due to a foot condition that prevented him from running.

Mike Huckabee has written or co-authored several books including Do The Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America which became a New York Times Best Seller, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork and God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy.