Mac Thornberry

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Mac Thornberry
Mac Thornberry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 13th district
In office
1995–present
Preceded by Bill Sarpalius
Born July 15, 1958 (1958-07-15) (age 49)
Clarendon, Texas
Political party Republican
Spouse Sally Thornberry
Religion Presbyterian
For other persons named William Thornberry, see William Thornberry (disambiguation).

William McClellan "Mac" Thornberry (born July 15, 1958), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995. He represents the 13th congressional district of Texas, which includes much of the Panhandle and stretches as far east as Wichita Falls (map). He currently serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. He is a candidate for renomination in the Republican primary scheduled for March 4, 2008.

Thornberry is a lifelong resident of Clarendon, the seat of Donley County, some 60 miles (97 km) east of Amarillo. His family has operated a ranch in the area since 1881. He received his B.A. in history from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas Law School. He served as a staffer to two other Texas Republican congressmen, Tom Loeffler and Larry Combest, and as deputy Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs before joining his brothers on the family ranch.

Thornberry defeated Democratic Congressman Bill Sarpalius in the 1994 general election, a heavily Republican year nationwide. He polled 79,416 votes (55.41 percent) to Sarpalius' 63,923 ballots (44.18 percent). Two years earlier in a much higher turnout election, Sarpalius had polled nearly double the votes that he received in 1994. The 13th has always been a somewhat conservative district, but Thornberry's victory is still regarded as an upset.

Since his initial election, Thornberry has consolidated his hold on the district and routinely wins by large majorities in an area that was historically Democratic as recently as the 1970s.

Thornberry is only the third Republican to represent the district since Reconstruction. The previous GOP representatives were Robert D. "Bob" Price of Pampa (1967–1975) and Beau Boulter of Amarillo (1985–1989).

In the 2006 election, Thornberry defeated former Intelligence Officer and Professor Roger Waun.

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Preceded by
Bill Sarpalius (D)		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 13th congressional district
1995 – present		 Incumbent
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