Kasich, John (1952-…) is an American politician. Kasich, a member of the Republican Party , served as governor of Ohio from 2011 to 2019. Prior to serving as governor, Kasich worked as a television commentator and an investment banker. For 18 years, he represented a district near Columbus , Ohio, in the United States House of Representatives .
John Richard Kasich was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1952. In 1974, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University. After graduation, Kasich worked as a legislative aide in the Ohio state Senate . In 1978, he won election to the Ohio Senate. In 1982, he was elected to represent Ohio’s 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected every two years through 1998. As a congressman, Kasich gained notice for serving as chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee. He also served on the House Armed Services Committee.
After leaving Congress in 2001, Kasich became a managing director of a division of Lehman Brothers, an investment bank. From 2001 to 2007, Kasich hosted “From the Heartland with John Kasich,” a political commentary program on the Fox News cable television network.
In 2010, Kasich defeated incumbent governor Ted Strickland in a close race. He took office in 2011 and was reelected by a large margin in 2014. As governor, Kasich backed many policies supported by conservatives . For example, he cut taxes, favored business deregulation, and supported restrictions on abortion. He also gained notice for promoting programs to help the state’s poor residents. He angered many in his party by expanding Medicaid —a federal medical assistance program—in his state under the health care law popularly known as Obamacare . In July 2015, Kasich began a campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination for president. He ended his campaign in May 2016, having fallen far behind businessman Donald J. Trump in the race for delegates. Trump became the party’s official presidential nominee in July.
Kasich has written several books, including Courage Is Contagious (1998); Stand for Something: The Battle for America’s Soul (2006); Every Other Monday: Twenty Years of Life, Lunch, Faith, and Friendship (2010); and Two Paths: America Divided or United (2017). Term limits prevented Kasich from seeking another term as governor in 2018.
