View source for 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>

He married Kathryn Mitchell Ramstad in 2005 and they had one daughter, Christen. 

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> 

In 2022, to honor Jim's legacy and further his ideals with the next generation of leaders, his widow Kathryn Ramstad established the Jim Ramstad Institute for Civility and Youth Leadership in the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. The Ramstad Institute exists to perpetuate the ideals Jim embraced in his political leadership: Bipartisanship and Bridge-Building; Ethics and Integrity; Constituent-Centered Leadership; Compassion and Resilience in Leadership; and Legislative Process and Civic Literacy. Each year, the Institute will help train more than 200 young people to be effective servant leaders - leaders like Jim, who encourage others to work together, to trust each other, to listen to each other and to see a vision of what they could achieve together. The Institute will also help fund professional development workshops for secondary teachers and students focusing on the Y’s Respectful Conversations in Schools model.

==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''

{{S-start}}
{{S-par|us-hs}}
{{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 United States representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Minnesota Legislature]]