Ensign, John Eric (1958-…), served in the United States Senate from 2001 to 2011. Ensign, a Republican, represented Nevada. Before being elected to the Senate, Ensign served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ensign was born in Roseville, California, on March 25, 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in 1981. Ensign attended Colorado State University, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1985. Ensign later settled in Las Vegas, where he opened the city’s first 24-hour animal hospital. He also managed two casinos.
In 1994, Nevada voters elected Ensign to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1996. During his two terms as a representative, Ensign focused on lowering taxes and reducing government spending. He also supported laws that made prisoners work during their prison sentences and pay some of the money they earned to their victims. In 1997, Ensign fought against the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, which proposed storing large amounts of radioactive waste in Nevada.
In 1998, Ensign campaigned for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but he lost to his Democratic opponent. Ensign ran again in 2000 and was elected. He was reelected in 2006. In April 2011, Ensign announced that he would step down from his Senate seat in May. Ensign then returned to the practice of veterinary medicine.
