Editing Jim Ramstad

{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (1946–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Jim Ramstad
| image name          = Jim Ramstad Portrait.jpg
| state               = [[Minnesota]]
| district            = [[Minnesota's 3rd congressional district|3rd]]
| birth_name          = James Marvin Ramstad
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1946|5|6}}
| birth_place         = [[Jamestown, North Dakota]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2020|11|5|1946|5|6}}
| death_place         = [[Wayzata, Minnesota]], U.S.
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| term_start          = January 3, 1991
| term_end            = January 3, 2009
| preceded            = [[Bill Frenzel]]
| succeeded           = [[Erik Paulsen]]
| office1             = Member of the [[Minnesota Senate]]
| constituency1       = 43rd district (1981–1983)<br>45th district (1983–1991)
| term_start1         = January 6, 1981
| term_end1           = January 3, 1991
| predecessor1        = [[Emily Anne Staples]]
| successor1          = [[Judy Traub]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Kathryn Mitchell|2005}}
| occupation          = attorney, political assistant
| education           = [[University of Minnesota]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[George Washington University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| branch              = [[United States Army Reserve]]
| serviceyears        = 1968–1975
| rank                = [[First Lieutenant]]
| children            = 1
}}

'''James Marvin Ramstad''' (May 6, 1946 – November 5, 2020) was an American lawyer and politician who represented [[Minnesota's 3rd congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1991 to 2009. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Ramstad served in the [[Minnesota Senate]] from 1981 to 1991.

Ramstad was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1981 and was reelected until [[1990 United States House of Representatives elections|1990]], when he was elected to represent Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ramstad won reelection in the suburban congressional district eight times, all by landslide margins.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-28 |title=Former US Rep. Jim Ramstad, champion of recovery, dies at 74 |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-jim-ramstad-mental-health-minneapolis-minnesota-b1ac699cccde59117322a039d3ad82c5 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> He had a reputation as a [[Moderate Republicans (modern United States)|moderate Republican]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-06 |title=With Jim Ramstad's death, Minnesota has lost a committed recovery advocate |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2020/11/with-jim-ramstads-death-minnesota-has-lost-a-committed-recovery-advocate/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> Ramstad chose to retire and not seek reelection in [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections|2008]]. He was succeeded by Republican State Representative [[Erik Paulsen]]. Throughout his legislative career and later life, Ramstad, empowered by his prior struggles with alcoholism, was a notable advocate for addiction recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Rep. Jim Ramstad has died at 74 |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/05/longtime-rep-jim-ramstad-a-champion-for-addiction-help-has-died |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=MPR News |date=November 6, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, Ramstad died from [[Parkinson's disease]] at the age of 74.

==Early life and education==
Ramstad was born in [[Jamestown, North Dakota]] on May 6, 1946.<ref name=name-birthdate>{{cite web|title = Candidate Biography: Jim Marvin Ramstad|publisher=Fox News|url = http://elections.foxnews.com/candidate/jim-marvin-ramstad/|access-date = 2008-10-24}}</ref> He was educated at the [[University of Minnesota]] and the [[George Washington University Law School]]. He was an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974.<ref name="navyleague">{{cite web| title = Veterans in the US House of Representatives 109th Congress| publisher=Navy League| url = http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/HouseVets.pdf | access-date = 2006-12-09 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626235918/http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/HouseVets.pdf |archive-date = 2007-06-26}}</ref> He also worked as a private practice attorney and as a legislative aide to the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]].

==Career==
He served on the Wayzata-Plymouth Chemical Health Commission, Plymouth Human Rights Commission, and the Minnesota State Human Rights Advisory Committee from 1979 to 1980.

Ramstad was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Minnesota State Senate]] from 1981 to 1990 before entering the [[U.S. Congress]]. He served in the [[102nd United States Congress|102nd]], [[103rd United States Congress|103rd]], [[104th United States Congress|104th]], [[105th United States Congress|105th]], [[106th United States Congress|106th]], [[107th United States Congress|107th]], [[108th United States Congress|108th]], [[109th United States Congress|109th]], and [[110th United States Congress|110th congresses]], beginning on January 3, 1991. He first defeated former [[Minneapolis]] city councilman Lou DeMars in the 1990 election.

===Tenure===
Ramstad was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1991 until 2009, representing [[Minnesota's 3rd congressional district]], one of eight [[Minnesota Congressional Districts|congressional districts in Minnesota]]. On September 17, 2007 Ramstad announced he would not seek reelection in 2008.<ref name="retirement">{{cite web| last =Fred Frommer| first =Fred| title =Ramstad announces his retirement from Congress| publisher=Minnesota Public Radio| date =2007-09-17| url =http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/09/17/ramstad/| access-date = September 17, 2007}}</ref> He reiterated his statement on December 19, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ramstad Says He Has No 'Plans' To Seek Re-Election |publisher=WCCO |date=2007-12-19 |url=http://wcco.com/local/jim.ramstad.no.2.614336.html |access-date=2007-12-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221175836/http://wcco.com/local/jim.ramstad.no.2.614336.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 }}</ref>

Ramstad considered ending discrimination against those suffering from mental health and addiction problems a major part of his legacy. He worked under both Republican and Democratic majorities to pass a Mental Health Parity Bill. Mental Health Parity was eventually passed and signed into law in December, 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title =Interview with IOP Fellow Jim Ramstad| publisher =Harvard Citizen| date =2009-04-29| url =http://harvardcitizen.com/2009/04/29/interview-with-iop-fellow-jim-ramstad/| access-date =2009-12-03| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://archive.today/20110817175709/http://harvardcitizen.com/2009/04/29/interview-with-iop-fellow-jim-ramstad/| archive-date =August 17, 2011| df =mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/06/nation/former-us-representative-jim-ramstad-champion-recovery-dies-74 | title=Ramstad Obituary  | website=Boston Globe}}</ref>

[[Image:Jim Ramstad.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Congressman Jim Ramstad on the steps of the U.S. Capitol | Congressman Jim Ramstad on the steps of the U.S. Capitol w/ Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Kennedy, Majority Leader Hoyer and David Wellstone, son of the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone.]]

Ramstad was mentioned as a possible candidate for [[Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy]] in the administration of President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Drug Czar Ramstad? |publisher=Minnesota Independent |date=2008-12-03 |url=http://minnesotaindependent.com/19097/drug-czar-ramstad |access-date=2008-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206065121/http://minnesotaindependent.com/19097/drug-czar-ramstad |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }}</ref> However, the position eventually went to former [[Seattle]] [[police chief]] [[Gil Kerlikowske]].

Ramstad considered running for [[Governor of Minnesota]] in the [[Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010|2010 election]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/06/good-or-bad-gops-jim-ramstad-could-be-ultimate-man-middle-2010-governors-rac |title=For good or bad, GOP's Jim Ramstad could be the ultimate man in the middle of 2010 governor's race |publisher=MinnPost |author=Doug Grow |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> but decided not to.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2009/07/gops-jim-ramstad-decides-not-enter-governors-race |title=GOP's Jim Ramstad decides not to enter governor's race |publisher=MinnPost |author=Doug Grow |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref>

At the time of his death, Ramstad was a resident fellow at the [[Harvard Institute of Politics]] where he was leading a study group titled The Policy and Politics of Addiction.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=526170| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213171807/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=526170| archive-date = 2009-02-13| title = The Harvard Crimson :: News :: IOP Names Spring Fellows}}</ref>

===Political positions===
Ramstad was a member of The [[Republican Main Street Partnership]]. He was [[pro-choice]] and supported embryonic [[stem cell research]]. He was opposed to [[Same-sex marriage|gay marriage]].<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Jim_Ramstad.htm Jim Ramstad on the Issues] Retrieved October 24, 2006</ref> He voted in favor of an amendment to a whistleblower protection bill that would have allowed the government to influence stem-cell research.<ref>Clerk of the House: [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll150.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 150]</ref>

He was considered to be the most moderate Republican member of the Minnesota delegation in the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]], scoring 68 percent conservative by a conservative group<ref>{{cite web | title = ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006| publisher=American Conservative Union | year = 2006 | url = http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN | access-date = 2007-09-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070903043949/http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-03}}</ref> and 21% [[Progressivism|progressive]] by a liberal group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leading with the Left |publisher=Progressive Punch |url=http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN3 |access-date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929031638/http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN3 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ramstad was a recovering alcoholic. For a time, he was Rep. [[Patrick J. Kennedy]]'s [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] sponsor.<ref>{{cite news|title =Challenging the Second 'A' in A.A.|work=New York Times|date=May 6, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/fashion/08anon.html|access-date=2016-01-25|last1=Colman|first1=David}}</ref> He was a long-time advocate for addiction treatment and recovery services, and at the time of his death he had been [[Sobriety|sober]] for 39 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/06/nation/former-us-representative-jim-ramstad-champion-recovery-dies-74 | title=Ramstad Obituary  | website=Boston Globe}}</ref>

Ramstad's sister, Sheryl Ramstad, is a Tax Court judge in Minnesota. Ramstad was a member of the [[United Church of Christ]].

On February 25, 2008, it was announced that Ramstad had been elected to the board of directors of the [[National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University]].<ref>{{cite web|title =U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad Elected to CASA Board of Directors|publisher=CASA Columbia|url =http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=517&zoneid=66|access-date = 2008-02-25}}</ref>

In 2010, Ramstad joined [[alliantgroup]] as a senior advisor on their Strategic Advisory Board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/article/alliantgroup-bolsters-top-tax-talent-congressman-jim-ramstad |title=Alliantgroup Bolsters Top Tax Talent with Congressman Jim Ramstad &#124; Minnesota Business Magazine &#124; Minnesota Business Blogs &#124; Minnesota Business |access-date=2011-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422131410/http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/article/alliantgroup-bolsters-top-tax-talent-congressman-jim-ramstad |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

He died of [[Parkinson's disease]] on November 5, 2020, aged 74, at his home in [[Wayzata, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/05/longtime-rep-jim-ramstad-a-champion-for-addiction-help-has-died |title=Longtime Rep. Jim Ramstad, a champion for addiction help, has died |publisher=Mprnews.org |date=2020-11-05 |access-date=2020-11-06}}</ref>

==Committee assignments==
* Ways and Means Committee
** Subcommittee on Oversight (Ranking Member)
** Subcommittee on Health
* Co-chair of the Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus
* Co-chair of the Disabilities Caucus
* Co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus
* Co-chair of the Medical Technology Caucus

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Minnesota|3|}}: Results 1990–2006<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 25, 2007 }}</ref>
!|Year
!
!|[[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|[[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1990|1990]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Lou Demars
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |96,395
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |33%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |195,833
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |67%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Write-in candidate|Write-ins]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |624
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1992|1992]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Paul Mandell
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |104,606
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |33%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |200,240
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |64%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Dwight Fellman
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Grass Roots
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |9,164
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Write-in candidate|Write-ins]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |721
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1994|1994]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bob Olson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |62,211
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |26%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |173,223
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |73%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Write-in candidate|Write-ins]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,097
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1996|1996]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Stan J. Leino
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |87,350
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |30%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |205,816
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 1998|1998]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Stan J. Leino
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |66,505
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |23%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |203,731
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Derek W. Schramm
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Minnesota Taxpayers
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |12,823
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |5%
|
|
|
|
|
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2000|2000]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Sue Shuff
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |98,219
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |30%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |222,571
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |68%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Bob Odden
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,302
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%
|
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |Arne Niska
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |[[Constitution Party (United States)|Constitution]]
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |2,970
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |1%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2002|2002]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Darryl Stanton}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |82,575
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |28%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |213,334
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2004|2004]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Deborah Watts
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |126,665
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |231,871
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |65%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2006|2006]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Wendy Wilde
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |99,588
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Ramstad'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |184,333
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |65%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |'''*'''
|}
{{refbegin}}Write-in and minor candidate notes:  In 1996, write-ins received 417 votes.  In 1998, write-ins received 250 votes.  In 2002, write-ins received 309 votes.  In 2004, write-ins received 356 votes.  In 2006, write-ins received 323 votes.
{{refend}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{MN-legdb|10549}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=r000033 | votesmart= | fec=H0MN00013 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004484 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Jim_Ramstad.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/jimramstad Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|18226}}
* [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/congress/ramstad/ MPR – Campaign 2006: Jim Ramstad] profile from ''Minnesota Public Radio''

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{{US House succession box|
  state=Minnesota|
  district=3|
  before=[[Bill Frenzel]]|
  after= [[Erik Paulsen]] |
  years=January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2009|
}}
{{S-end}}
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{{MNRepresentatives}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramstad, Jim}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Republican Party Minnesota state senators]]
[[Category:George Washington University Law School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota alumni]]
[[Category:People from Jamestown, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Military personnel from North Dakota]]
[[Category:United Church of Christ members]]
[[Category:People from Minnetonka, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Harvard Fellows]]
[[Category:21st-century Minnesota politicians]]
[[Category:Phi Delta Theta members]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Minnesota Legislature]]