Ray LaHood

Ray LaHood
Born	Raymond H. LaHood December 6, 1945
Birthplace	Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, government official
Known for	16th United States Secretary of Transportation
Education	Bradley University (BS)
Spouse(s)	Kathy LaHood
Children	4
Awards	Portrait unveiling at U.S. Department of Transportation

Raymond H. LaHood (born December 6, 1945) is an American politician who served as the 16th United States Secretary of Transportation from 2009 to 2013 under President Barack Obama. A member of the Republican Party, LaHood was one of the few GOP officeholders to serve in the Obama cabinet, a role that reflected his long reputation as a practitioner of bipartisan cooperation during his fourteen years representing Illinois's 18th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009. Before his congressional career, LaHood briefly served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1982 to 1983. During his tenure as Transportation Secretary, LaHood became a prominent voice on issues ranging from automobile safety to infrastructure investment and distracted driving. His career in public service spanned more than three decades, rooted in the central Illinois community where he was born and raised. LaHood is of Lebanese descent and has been recognized as a prominent Arab American in public life.

Early Life

Raymond H. LaHood was born on December 6, 1945, in Peoria, Illinois. He grew up in the Peoria area, a mid-sized city in central Illinois that would remain the geographic and political center of his career throughout his decades of public service. LaHood is of Lebanese heritage and has been identified among notable Arab Americans in the field of politics by the Arab American Institute.

Details regarding LaHood's childhood and family background in publicly available sources are limited. What is well documented is that LaHood maintained deep ties to the Peoria community throughout his life, eventually representing the region at both the state and federal levels of government. His roots in central Illinois informed much of his political identity, and he was closely associated with the area's civic and political institutions from an early age.

Education

LaHood attended Spoon River College before transferring to Bradley University in Peoria, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Bradley University, a private institution located in his hometown, provided LaHood with an educational foundation that he would later build upon as he entered careers in education and public service. His educational background at institutions close to home underscored his lifelong connection to the Peoria area.

Career

Early Career and Illinois House of Representatives

Before entering elected office, LaHood worked in a variety of roles that connected him to government and public service in central Illinois. He served as a staffer for several political figures, gaining experience in the legislative process and constituent services that would later define his approach to governing.

LaHood's first experience as an elected official came in 1982, when he was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 72nd district. He succeeded Ben Polk in the seat on May 1, 1982, and served until January 11, 1983, when he was succeeded by Bob DeJaegher. Although his time in the state legislature was brief, it provided LaHood with direct experience in the legislative process and introduced him to the workings of state government.

Following his stint in the Illinois House, LaHood continued to be involved in politics in central Illinois. He served as chief of staff to Congressman Robert Michel, the longtime Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives who also hailed from Peoria. This position gave LaHood an intimate understanding of congressional operations and legislative strategy at the highest levels, and it positioned him as a natural successor when Michel decided to retire from Congress.

United States House of Representatives (1995–2009)

When Robert Michel announced his retirement from Congress, LaHood ran for the open seat in Illinois's 18th congressional district, a largely rural and suburban district centered on Peoria. He won the seat in the 1994 election and took office on January 3, 1995. LaHood would go on to serve seven consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 18th district until January 3, 2009.

Throughout his congressional career, LaHood was known for his bipartisan approach to legislating. He cultivated relationships across the political aisle and was frequently cited as a Republican willing to work with Democrats on matters of mutual concern. This disposition was consistent with the tradition established by his predecessor and mentor, Robert Michel, who had been known for his collaborative leadership style as House Republican Leader.

LaHood served on several important House committees during his tenure. He developed expertise in transportation and infrastructure issues that would later prove central to his post-congressional career. He was also involved in agricultural policy, a matter of significant importance to his largely rural constituency in central Illinois.

In the 2006 midterm elections, LaHood won reelection to his seat in the 18th district, continuing his string of electoral victories in the solidly Republican district.

LaHood's voting record drew attention from various political organizations. The Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative advocacy group, included LaHood in its 2007 congressional scorecard, reflecting its assessment of his votes on economic and spending issues. Citizens Against Government Waste also rated LaHood's voting record in its 2007 congressional ratings.

In July 2007, LaHood announced that he would not seek reelection to his congressional seat, setting the stage for a transition in the representation of the 18th district. He was succeeded by Aaron Schock, a young Republican from Peoria who won the seat in the 2008 election.

During his time in Congress, LaHood earned a reputation as a skilled presiding officer of the House. He was frequently called upon to preside over contentious floor debates, including serving as chairman during the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton in 1998. His ability to maintain order and fairness during heated exchanges was recognized by members of both parties.

United States Secretary of Transportation (2009–2013)

In December 2008, President-elect Barack Obama nominated LaHood to serve as the 16th United States Secretary of Transportation. The appointment of LaHood, a Republican, to the cabinet of a Democratic president was seen as a gesture of bipartisanship by the incoming administration. LaHood was confirmed by the United States Senate and took office on January 23, 2009, succeeding Mary Peters in the role.

As Transportation Secretary, LaHood oversaw the Department of Transportation during a period of significant activity, including the implementation of transportation-related provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which directed substantial federal investment toward infrastructure projects across the country. LaHood became a vocal advocate for infrastructure spending as a means of job creation and economic recovery during the Great Recession.

One of the most high-profile episodes of LaHood's tenure came in early 2010, when Toyota Motor Corporation faced a major recall crisis involving reports of unintended acceleration in several of its vehicle models. LaHood initially advised owners of affected Toyota vehicles not to drive their cars, a statement that attracted significant media attention and had an immediate impact on public perception of the recall's severity. The incident placed LaHood at the center of a national conversation about automobile safety and regulatory oversight. His handling of the situation drew both praise for his concern for public safety and criticism from those who believed his initial remarks were overly alarming.

LaHood also made distracted driving a signature issue during his time as Secretary. He launched a national campaign against texting while driving and the use of handheld devices behind the wheel, organizing summits and pursuing regulatory measures aimed at reducing distracted driving fatalities. This effort became one of the defining policy initiatives of his tenure at the Department of Transportation.

In addition to automobile safety, LaHood was involved in aviation policy. He appointed key officials within the Federal Aviation Administration and addressed various issues related to air travel safety and air traffic control modernization.

LaHood was an advocate for high-speed rail development in the United States, promoting the Obama administration's vision for expanded passenger rail service as part of a broader transportation strategy. He directed federal funding toward high-speed rail corridors and championed the concept as a means of reducing highway congestion and carbon emissions. This advocacy drew both support from transit advocates and criticism from fiscal conservatives who questioned the cost-effectiveness of high-speed rail investment.

LaHood also promoted livable communities initiatives, advocating for transportation policies that integrated walking, cycling, and public transit options into urban and suburban planning. He argued that transportation policy should not focus exclusively on automobile travel but should accommodate a variety of modes of transportation.

In October 2011, LaHood indicated that he planned to serve only one term as Transportation Secretary and did not intend to continue in the role if President Obama won reelection in 2012. True to his word, LaHood departed the position on July 2, 2013, and was succeeded by Anthony Foxx.

In December 2009, during his tenure as Transportation Secretary, LaHood appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to discuss transportation policy and his role in the Obama administration.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from the Department of Transportation, LaHood remained active in public policy discussions, particularly on matters related to transportation and infrastructure. In 2015, he published Seeking Bipartisanship: My Life in Politics, co-authored with Frank H. Mackaman of The Dirksen Congressional Center. The book was published by Cambria Press and offered LaHood's perspective on his decades in public life and his commitment to cross-party cooperation.

Ethics Investigation and Non-Prosecution Agreement

In 2017, LaHood admitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation that while holding federal office he had accepted a $50,000 payment from a foreign national, which he used for personal home repairs. LaHood acknowledged that he had violated federal government ethics requirements by failing to report the payment on his Office of Government Ethics Form 278, a mandatory financial disclosure form for senior government officials. In 2019, government prosecutors and LaHood reached a Non-Prosecution Agreement that required LaHood to admit responsibility for the violation, repay the $50,000 loan, and pay a $40,000 fine to the United States government.

Personal Life

Ray LaHood is married to Kathy LaHood. Together they have four children, including their son Darin LaHood, who followed his father into politics and was elected to represent Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same seat his father had held for fourteen years.

LaHood has maintained his residence in the Peoria, Illinois area throughout his career. He is of Lebanese descent, and his heritage has been recognized by the Arab American Institute, which has listed him among notable Arab Americans in the field of politics.

Recognition

LaHood's service in government has been recognized in several ways. Legislation was proposed to rename a portion of Interstate 74 in Illinois after LaHood, reflecting his contributions to transportation policy and his long association with the central Illinois region the highway traverses.

Following his departure from the Department of Transportation, LaHood was honored with the unveiling of an official portrait at the department's headquarters, a customary recognition for former Secretaries of Transportation.

LaHood's reputation as a bipartisan figure was a central feature of his public identity throughout his career. His selection by a Democratic president to serve in the cabinet, despite his Republican Party affiliation, was itself a form of recognition of his cross-party credibility. His willingness to work across party lines was frequently cited in media coverage and political commentary about his career.

Legacy

Ray LaHood's career in public service is notable for its emphasis on bipartisan cooperation at a time when American politics became increasingly polarized. His service as a Republican in the cabinet of a Democratic president placed him in a small group of politicians who bridged partisan divides at the highest levels of the executive branch. His tenure at the Department of Transportation was marked by initiatives on distracted driving, high-speed rail, and infrastructure investment that reflected broader policy debates about the role of the federal government in transportation planning.

LaHood's connection to the Peoria, Illinois area remained a defining element of his career. From his early days as a state legislator and congressional staffer to his seven terms in the U.S. House and his service as Transportation Secretary, LaHood's political identity was rooted in central Illinois. The succession of his son, Darin LaHood, to the same congressional seat underscored the family's deep ties to the region and its political life.

His ethics violation and subsequent Non-Prosecution Agreement, however, became a notable chapter in his post-government career, drawing scrutiny to the intersection of public service and personal financial conduct. The matter resulted in financial penalties and a formal acknowledgment of wrongdoing, adding complexity to LaHood's public record.

LaHood's memoir, Seeking Bipartisanship, articulated his belief that effective governance requires cooperation across party lines, a theme that defined his decades in public life and continued to resonate in discussions about the state of American political discourse.