Mike Lee

Michael Shumway Lee is a Republican U.S. Senator from Utah, first elected in 2010 during the Tea Party movement and taking office in January 2011. Born in Mesa, Arizona, and raised in Provo, Utah, and McLean, Virginia, he is the son of Rex E. Lee, who served as the U.S. Solicitor General under President Ronald Reagan. Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1994 and earned his Juris Doctor from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1997, where he served as student body president during his undergraduate years. Before his election to the Senate, Lee had an extensive legal career, including serving as a law clerk for Judge Dee Benson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah and then-Judge Samuel Alito on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He worked in private practice at Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C., and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City from 2002 to 2005. Lee also served as general counsel to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. before returning to clerk for Justice Alito at the U.S. Supreme Court from 2006 to 2007. In the Senate, Lee has focused on constitutional law, fiscal policy, and criminal justice reform. One of his most notable legislative accomplishments was his role as a lead architect and co-sponsor of the FIRST STEP Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill signed into law in 2018. He has held leadership positions on several committees, including serving as the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and holding influential roles on the Judiciary and the Energy and Natural Resources Committees.

Senator Mike Lee is known for his commitment to constitutional originalism and limited government. In economic policy, he is a staunch advocate for fiscal restraint, frequently proposing a balanced budget amendment and supporting the REINS Act to increase congressional oversight of federal regulations. On healthcare, he has consistently supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), advocating for market-based reforms and personal health savings accounts. Regarding immigration, Lee prioritizes border security and interior enforcement; while he initially participated in the 'Gang of Eight' negotiations, he ultimately opposed their comprehensive bill, preferring an issue-by-issue approach. He has also worked across the aisle on specific reforms like the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act to eliminate per-country green card caps. His foreign policy views emphasize a strong national defense and support for Israel, alongside opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and a push for reclaiming congressional war powers. Additionally, he has been a vocal advocate for civil liberties, co-authoring the USA FREEDOM Act to reform government surveillance and end the bulk collection of phone records.