Quick Facts
Biography
Lisa Carmella McClain (née Iovannisci; born April 7, 1966) is an American politician who serves as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 9th congressional district since 2021 (known as the 10th congressional district until 2023). A member of the Republican Party, she won election to the state's redrawn 9th district in the 2022 election. On November 15, 2022, McClain was elected to serve in congressional leadership as Secretary of the House Republican Conference.
Early life and career
McClain was born and raised in Stockbridge, Michigan. She graduated from Stockbridge Junior / Senior High School in 1984. She attended Lansing Community College and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University.
McClain worked at American Express for 11 years, and from 1998 to 2019, served the Hantz Group.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2020
After incumbent Congressman Paul Mitchell opted to retire from the United States House of Representatives, McClain announced her candidacy for Michigan's 10th congressional district. She defeated state Representative Shane Hernandez in the August 4 Republican primary and Democratic nominee Kimberly Bizon in the November 3 general election. President Donald Trump endorsed McClain.
2022
On February 7, Former President Donald Trump once again endorsed Lisa McClain in the 2022 midterm elections. McClain won election to the state's redrawn Michigan's 10th congressional district, defeating all other candidates with 63.9% of the vote. Democrat Brian Jaye finished second with 33.2% of the vote.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation
- United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- United States House Committee on the Budget
- United States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education
- Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs
- Chair, United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services
Caucus memberships
- Republican Main Street Partnership
- Republican Study Committee
- House Republican Conference
- Congressional Taiwan Caucus
Political positions
Budget and spending
McClain, along with all other Senate and House Republicans, voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In 2022, McClain voted against the Inflation Reduction Act. McClain joined the majority of the House in voting to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to suspend the debt ceiling.
Marriage
McClain voted against the Respect for Marriage Act codifying Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges, recognizing marriages across state lines regardless of "sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals."
Healthcare
Alongside Representative Elissa Slotkin and Representative John Moolenaar, McClain introduced the Patient Advocate Tracker Act to broaden access to information technology pertinent to patient advocacy in the Veterans Health Administration. President Biden signed the bill into law on September 16, 2022.
Veterans
In August 2021, McClain sponsored a bill to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to 13 service members who were killed by a suicide bomber during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at the Hamid Karzai International Airport during the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021). President Biden signed the bill into law on December 16, 2021.
Gun Control
In June 2022, McClain joined the majority of House Republicans in voting against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
2020 presidential election
On January 6, 2021, McClain voted against accepting Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.
At a 2022 Trump rally, McClain falsely claimed that Trump had "caught Osama bin Laden."
Personal life
McClain and her husband, Mike, have four children and live in Romeo, an outer northern suburb of Detroit. She has raised over $1 million for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. She is a Roman Catholic.
