Portman, Rob (1955-…), served as a United States senator from 2011 to 2023. Portman, a Republican, represented Ohio. Prior to becoming a senator, Portman served 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served in the administrations of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
Robert Jones Portman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Dec. 19, 1955. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1979 and received a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1984. He then worked for law firms in Washington, D.C., and in Cincinnati.
From 1989 to 1991, Portman served under President George H. W. Bush. He worked first as associate counsel to the White House, and later as director of the Office of Legislative Affairs. In 1993, Portman won an election to fill the House seat of U.S. Representative Bill Gradison, Jr., who had resigned. Portman was reelected every two years from 1994 to 2004. As a congressman, Portman became known for his efforts to reduce federal budget deficits (shortages).
In 2005, Portman left Congress to become U.S. trade representative under President George W. Bush. In 2006, Portman became director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB reviews government programs and makes recommendations on government spending. Portman stepped down from the position in 2007, when he went to work for a private law firm. Portman won election to a U.S. Senate seat in 2010. He was reelected in 2016.
As a senator, Portman focused on such issues as unemployment and drug addiction. He served on the Senate committees on the Budget; Energy and Natural Resources; Finance; Foreign Relations; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Portman became a strong supporter of providing aid to Ukraine after Russia invaded that country in early 2022. He retired from the Senate in January 2023.
