Editing Sam Brownback (section)

{{Short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sam Brownback
| image               = Sam Brownback official photo.jpg
| office              = 5th [[United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom]]
| president           = [[Donald Trump]]
| term_start          = February 1, 2018
| term_end            = January 20, 2021
| predecessor         = [[David Saperstein (rabbi)|David Saperstein]]
| successor           = [[Rashad Hussain]]
| order1              = 46th [[List of governors of Kansas|Governor of Kansas]]
| lieutenant1         = Jeff Colyer
| term_start1         = January 10, 2011
| term_end1           = January 31, 2018
| predecessor1        = [[Mark Parkinson]]
| successor1          = [[Jeff Colyer]]
| jr/sr2              = United States Senator
| state2              = [[Kansas]]
| term_start2         = November 7, 1996
| term_end2           = January 3, 2011
| predecessor2        = [[Sheila Frahm]]
| successor2          = [[Jerry Moran]]
| state3              = [[Kansas]]
| district3           = {{ushr|KS|2|2nd}}
| term_start3         = January 3, 1995
| term_end3           = November 7, 1996
| predecessor3        = [[Jim Slattery]]
| successor3          = [[Jim Ryun]]
| office4             = [[Kansas Department of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture of Kansas]]
| governor4           = [[John W. Carlin]]<br />[[Mike Hayden]]<br />[[Joan Finney]]
| term_start4         = September 18, 1986
| term_end4           = July 30, 1993
| predecessor4        = Harland Priddle<ref name=kansasmemory>{{cite web |title=Harland E. Priddle |url=http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203655 |website=Kansas Memory |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-date=March 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322203247/http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203655 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| successor4          = Philip Fishburn<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203653|title=Philip A. Fishburn - Kansas Memory|website=www.kansasmemory.org|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005812/http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203653|url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_name          = Samuel Dale Brownback
| birth_date          = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1956|9|12}}}}
| birth_place         = [[Garnett, Kansas]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Mary Stauffer|1982}}
| children            = 5
| education           = [[Kansas State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Kansas]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature           = Sam Brownback Signature.svg
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Sam Brownback on the Death of Sen. Robert Byrd.ogg|title=Sam Brownback's voice|type=speech|description=Sam Brownback on the death of his Senate colleague, [[Robert Byrd]]<br/>Recorded June 30, 2010}}
| caption             = Official portrait, 2018
}}
'''Samuel Dale Brownback''' (born September 12, 1956) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Kansas]] from 1996 to 2011 and as the [[List of governors of Kansas|46th governor of Kansas]] from 2011 to 2018. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Brownback also served as the [[United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom]] during the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|administration]] of President [[Donald Trump]] and was a candidate for the [[2008 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican nomination]] for President in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]].

Born in [[Garnett, Kansas]], Brownback grew up on a family farm in [[Parker, Kansas]]. He graduated from [[Kansas State University]] with a degree in agricultural economics in 1978 and received a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of Kansas]] in 1982. He worked as an attorney in [[Manhattan, Kansas]], before being appointed Secretary of Agriculture of Kansas in 1986 by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] governor [[John W. Carlin]]. Brownback [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1994|ran for Congress in 1994]] and defeated Carlin in the general election in a landslide. He represented Kansas's 2nd congressional district for a single term before running in a [[1996 United States Senate special election in Kansas|1996 special election]] for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by [[Bob Dole]]. He won the election and was reelected by large margins in [[1998 United States Senate election in Kansas|1998]] and [[2004 United States Senate election in Kansas|2004]]. Brownback [[Sam Brownback 2008 presidential campaign|ran for president in 2008]], but withdrew before the [[2008 Republican Party presidential primaries|primaries]] began and endorsed eventual Republican nominee [[John McCain]].<ref name="rasmussenreports1">{{cite web |title=Election 2010: Kansas Governor – Rasmussen Reports |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_governor |publisher=Rasmussenreports.com |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304115057/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_governor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=183 |title=Election 2010 |publisher=CQ Politics |access-date=August 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825075820/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=183 |archive-date=August 25, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/governors/raceratings_2010-02-04_10-04-22.php |title=The Cook Political Report – Charts – 2010 Governors Race Ratings |publisher=Cookpolitical.com |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028142644/http://cookpolitical.com/charts/governors/raceratings_2010-02-04_10-04-22.php |archive-date=October 28, 2010 }}</ref>

Brownback declined to run for reelection [[2010 United States Senate election in Kansas|in 2010]], instead running for governor. He was elected governor of Kansas [[2010 Kansas gubernatorial election|in 2010]] and took office in January 2011. As governor, Brownback signed into law one of the largest income tax cuts in Kansas history, known as the [[Kansas experiment]].<ref name="kansas.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/24/2346375/kansas-small-business-owners-say.html |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Kansas small-business owners say elimination of income tax is a big help |work=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=May 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234642/http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/24/2346375/kansas-small-business-owners-say.html |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tax cuts caused state revenues to fall by hundreds of millions of dollars and created large budget shortfalls.<ref name=fivethirtyeight>{{cite news|last1=Casselman|first1=Ben|last2=Koerth-Baker|first2=Maggie|last3=Barry-Jester|first3=Anna Maria|last4=Cheng|first4=Michelle|title=The Kansas Experiment Is Bad News For Trump's Tax Cuts|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-kansas-experiment-is-bad-news-for-trumps-tax-cuts/|access-date=October 4, 2017|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|date=June 9, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051642/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-kansas-experiment-is-bad-news-for-trumps-tax-cuts/|url-status=live}}</ref> A major budget deficit led to cuts in areas including education and transportation.<ref name="ks_legis_approves_2017_06_06_cjonline_com">[http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-05-02/kansas-legislature-approves-budget-deal-after-lawmakers "Kansas Legislature approves budget deal, after lawmakers deliver blistering critiques of state finances,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034640/http://cjonline.com/news-state-government-local-state/2016-05-02/kansas-legislature-approves-budget-deal-after-lawmakers |date=October 4, 2017 }} May 2, 2016, ''[[Topeka Capital-Journal]]''</ref><ref name="ks_republicans_sour_2017_02_24_the_atlantic">[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/the-republican-blowback-against-sam-brownback-kansas/517641/ "Kansas Republicans Sour on Their Tax-Cut Experiment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035353/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/the-republican-blowback-against-sam-brownback-kansas/517641/ |date=October 4, 2017 }} February 24, 2017, ''The Atlantic''</ref> In a repudiation of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], in 2013 Brownback turned down a $31.5 million grant from the U.S. [[Department of Health and Human Services]] to set up a public health insurance exchange for Kansas.<ref name="Politico.Com">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60967.html |title=Kansas returns $31.5M exchange grant – Jason Millman and Kate Nocera |date=August 9, 2011 |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126122859/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60967.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2013, he signed a bill that blocked tax breaks for abortion providers, banned sex-selection abortions, and declared that life begins at fertilization.<ref name="kansascity.com">{{cite news|title=Brownback signs sweeping anti-abortion bill|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/19/4191877/kansas-gov-brownback-signs-sweeping.html|access-date=April 25, 2013|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=April 19, 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421160123/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/19/4191877/kansas-gov-brownback-signs-sweeping.html|archive-date=April 21, 2013}}</ref> In the run-up to the [[2014 Kansas gubernatorial election|2014 gubernatorial election]], over 100 former and current Kansas Republican officials criticized Brownback's leadership and endorsed his Democratic opponent, [[Paul Davis (Kansas politician)|Paul Davis]].<ref name="davis_secures_2014_07_15_wichita_eagle">[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1148593.html "Paul Davis secures endorsement of more than 100 former and current Republican officials,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127062617/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1148593.html |date=November 27, 2017 }} July 15, 2014, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]''</ref><ref name="some_in_kansas_2017_06_06_wsj_com">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-in-kansas-gop-break-with-gov-brownback-endorse-democratic-opponent-1405441534 "Some in Kansas GOP Break With Gov. Brownback, Endorse Democratic Opponent,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131092207/https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-in-kansas-gop-break-with-gov-brownback-endorse-democratic-opponent-1405441534 |date=January 31, 2018 }} July 15, 2014, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''</ref><ref name="nyt-experiment">{{cite news |work= [[The New York Times]] |title= Conservative Experiment Faces Revolt in Reliably Red Kansas |date= September 14, 2014 |access-date= September 15, 2014 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/us/conservative-experiment-faces-revolt-in-reliably-red-kansas.html |first= John |last= Eligon |archive-date= September 15, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140915125612/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/us/conservative-experiment-faces-revolt-in-reliably-red-kansas.html |url-status= live }}</ref> Despite this, Brownback was narrowly reelected.<ref name= closerace>[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article3565951.html Sam Brownback prevails over Paul Davis for second term as Kansas governor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728074305/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article3565951.html |date=July 28, 2017 }}, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Byron Lowry & Suzanne Perez Tobias, November 4, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.</ref> In June 2017, the Kansas Legislature repealed Brownback's tax cuts, overrode Brownback's veto of the repeal, and enacted tax increases.<ref name="theatlantic_tax_experiment_dead_2017"/> Brownback left office as one of the least popular governors in the country.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/27/539825404/kansas-governor-ends-tenure-as-one-of-least-popular-in-country|title=Kansas Governor Ends Tenure As One Of Least Popular In Country|last=Koranda|first=Stephen|date=July 27, 2017|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=March 22, 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322180859/https://www.npr.org/2017/07/27/539825404/kansas-governor-ends-tenure-as-one-of-least-popular-in-country|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 26, 2017, the Trump administration announced that Brownback would be nominated as the new [[United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom|U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom]].<ref name="NYTimesRelAmb07262017">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Mitch |last2=Fortin |first2=Jacey |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas Will Be Nominated as Religious Ambassador |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/politics/sam-brownback-kansas-ambassador-international-religious-freedom.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=us&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York City |access-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105819/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/politics/sam-brownback-kansas-ambassador-international-religious-freedom.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=us&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article |url-status=live }}</ref> Brownback was confirmed in January 2018 in a party-line vote; Vice President [[Mike Pence]] cast the necessary tie-breaking votes to end a filibuster and to confirm his nomination.<ref name=pends>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/370556-pence-ends-filibuster-on-brownback-nomination/|title=Pence ends filibuster on Brownback nomination|first=Brandon|last=Conradis|date=January 24, 2018|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125024239/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/370556-pence-ends-filibuster-on-brownback-nomination|url-status=live}}</ref> Brownback resigned as governor of Kansas effective January 31, 2018,<ref name=resigning>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kansas-gov-sam-brownback-resigns-to-take-trump-administration-role |title=Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback resigns to take Trump administration role |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2018 |first=Alex |last=Pappas |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125172838/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/25/kansas-gov-sam-brownback-resigns-to-take-trump-administration-role.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom on February 1, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ksnt.com/2018/02/01/brownback-sworn-in-as-u-s-ambassador-at-large-for-international-religious-freedom/|title=Brownback sworn in as U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom|last=Dulle|first=Brian|date=February 1, 2018|work=KSNT|access-date=August 13, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207013354/http://ksnt.com/2018/02/01/brownback-sworn-in-as-u-s-ambassador-at-large-for-international-religious-freedom/|url-status=live}}</ref> His ambassadorial tenure ended in January 2021.