Michael Cloud Explained

State:Texas
Term Start:July 10, 2018
Predecessor:Blake Farenthold
Birth Date:13 May 1975
Birth Place:Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Party:Republican
Children:3
Education:Oral Roberts University (BS)

Michael Jonathan Cloud (born May 13, 1975) is an American politician representing Texas's 27th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2018. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and career

Cloud graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in mass media communications.[1] At Oral Roberts, he was on the cross country and track teams.[2] He chaired the Victoria County Republican Party from 2010 to 2017.[3]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018 special election

See main article: 2018 Texas's 27th congressional district special election. Cloud succeeded Republican Blake Farenthold, who resigned amid controversy due to settling a sexual harassment lawsuit with public money.[4] [5] He won the Republican runoff for the regularly scheduled election with help from the Club for Growth and the endorsement of Ron Paul, who had previously represented parts of the district.[6] On June 30, 2018, he won the special election, defeating Democratic nominee Eric Holguin, 55% to 32%.[7]

2018 regular election

Cloud defeated Holguin again in November, along with independent candidate James Duerr and Libertarian candidate Daniel Tinus, with 60.3% of the vote.

2020

Cloud defeated Democratic nominee Ricardo "Rick" De La Fuente and Libertarian candidate Phil Gray with 63.1% of the vote.[8]

Tenure

Cloud was sworn in on July 10, 2018.[9]

In December 2020, Cloud was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[10] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[11] [12] [13]

During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Cloud and his colleagues were ushered to a secure location. Later, video footage of him surfaced in which he refused to wear a mask, in violation of House rules.[14] [15]

Cloud was one of 12 House Republicans to vote against HR 1085, to award three Congressional Gold Medals to the United States Capitol Police who protected the Capitol on January 6, 2021.[16] [17] [18] In a statement defending his vote, he said, "I have always stood by and supported our brave law enforcement and still do but this bill was not truly about that, despite its name. Instead of simply being about honoring the Capitol Police who bravely protected the Capitol on January 6th, Speaker Pelosi included damaging language that unnecessarily weighs down the bill. The text refers to the Capitol as the temple of democracy. Simply put, it’s not a temple and Congress should not refer to it as one. The federal government is not a god."[19] In June 2021, Cloud and 20 other House Republicans voted against a similar resolution.[20]

On January 3, 2023, at the beginning of the 118th Congress, Cloud voted for Jim Jordan to be the U.S. House Speaker, in rebuke of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.[21]

Cloud voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[22] [23]

Iraq

In June 2021, Cloud was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[24] [25]

Syria

In 2023, Cloud was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[26] [27]

Immigration

Cloud voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 which authorizes DHS to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020.[28] [29]

Cloud voted against the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 1158),[30] which effectively prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement from cooperating with the Department of Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of Unaccompanied Alien Children.

Big Tech

In 2022, Cloud was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.[31] [32]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Cloud was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[33]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Cloud is Protestant.[36]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details. bioguideretro.congress.gov. 2020-03-31.
  2. Web site: ABOUT MICHAEL CLOUD. Feuchtenberger. Hannah. Cloud for Congress Michael Cloud. en-US. 2020-03-31.
  3. News: Svitek . Patrick . Michael Cloud wins special election to fill U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's seat . June 30, 2018 . The Texas Tribune. January 13, 2019.
  4. News: Lawmaker behind secret $84K sexual harassment settlement unmasked. Politico. July 13, 2018.
  5. News: Republican wins Texas special election for House seat . Washington Post . July 13, 2018.
  6. News: Endorsements. Cloud for Congress Michael Cloud. July 13, 2018. en-US.
  7. News: Michael Cloud wins special election to fill U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's seat. Tribune. The Texas. July 1, 2018. The Texas Tribune. July 13, 2018. en.
  8. News: Flores . Rebecca . Rep. Michael Cloud wins District 27 again in race against Ricardo De La Fuente . 12 February 2021 . kvue.com . November 3, 2020.
  9. News: Tribune . The Texas . Republican Michael Cloud sworn in as Texas' newest congressman . July 13, 2018 . The Texas Tribune . July 10, 2018 . en.
  10. Web site: Blood. Michael R.. Riccardi. Nicholas. December 5, 2020. Biden officially secures enough electors to become president. live. December 12, 2020. AP News. December 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa.
  11. News: Liptak. Adam. Adam Liptak. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-12. 0362-4331. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html. live.
  12. Web site: Order in Pending Case. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf. live.
  13. News: Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court. Daniella . Diaz. CNN. December 11, 2020. December 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html. live.
  14. Web site: Republican members of Congress refuse to wear masks during Capitol insurrection. Keri. Enriquez. CNN. January 9, 2021 .
  15. News: Lawmakers may have been exposed to the coronavirus in Capitol lockdown, attending physician says - The Washington Post. The Washington Post.
  16. Web site: 17 March 2021. FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 87. United States House of Representatives.
  17. News: Itkowitz. Colby. A dozen Republicans voted against Congressional Gold Medals for police who protected them on Jan. 6. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-03-18. 0190-8286.
  18. Web site: 2021-03-16. H.R.1085 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To award three congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.. 2021-03-18. www.congress.gov.
  19. Web site: Michael Cloud one of three Texas Republicans to vote against resolution on Capitol police. 2021-05-03. Corpus Christi Caller Times. en.
  20. News: Annie. Grayer. Kristin. Wilson. June 16, 2021. CNN. 21 Republicans vote no on bill to award Congressional Gold Medal for January 6 police officers. June 16, 2021.
  21. Fung, Katherine. Full List of House Republicans Who Voted Against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, Newsweek, January 3, 2023.
  22. News: Demirjian . Karoun . 2023-10-25 . House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-30 . 0362-4331.
  23. Web site: Washington . U. S. Capitol Room H154 . p:225-7000 . DC 20515-6601 . 2023-10-25 . Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session . 2023-10-30 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.
  24. Web site: House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization. NBC News. June 17, 2021 .
  25. Web site: Final vote results for roll call 172. clerk.house.gov. 18 December 2023.
  26. Web site: H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023 . March 8, 2023.
  27. News: House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria . March 8, 2023 . Associated Press.
  28. Web site: Text - H.R.1865 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. December 20, 2019.
  29. Web site: Roll Call 689 Roll Call 689, Bill Number: H. R. 1865, 116th Congress, 1st Session. December 17, 2019.
  30. Web site: H.R. 1158: DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act … -- House Vote #690 -- Dec 17, 2019.
  31. Web site: House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled . . September 29, 2022 .
  32. Web site: H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022 .
  33. Web site: Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no. Jared. Gans. May 31, 2023. June 6, 2023. The Hill.
  34. News: Lindsey. McPherson . As House Republicans Brace for Losses, Freedom Caucus Prepares for Growth . rollcall.com . October 31, 2018 . November 17, 2018 . Potential recruits receiving Freedom Fund money this cycle include Chip Roy in Texas’ 21st District, Yvette Herrell in New Mexico’s 2nd District, Mark Harris in North Carolina’s 9th District, Greg Steube in Florida’s 17th District, Denver Riggleman in Virginia’s 5th District, Mark Green in Tennessee’s 7th District, Russ Fulcher in Idaho’s 1st District, Ron Wright in Texas’ 6th District and Ben Cline in Virginia’s 6th District. .
  35. Web site: Member List. 21 December 2017. Republican Study Committee.
  36. Web site: Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress . Pew Research Center . 6 March 2023.

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