Tom Tancredo | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 6th district |
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In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009 |
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Preceded by | Daniel Schaefer |
Succeeded by | Mike Coffman |
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
In office 1976–1981 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Thomas Gerard Tancredo December 20, 1945 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Political party | Republican (Before 2010; 2011–present) |
Other political affiliations |
Constitution (2010–2011) |
Spouse(s) | Jackie Tancredo |
Alma mater | University of Northern Colorado |
Thomas Gerard "Tom" Tancredo (/tæŋˈkreɪdoʊ/; born December 20, 1945) is an American politician from Colorado, who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, as a Republican. He ran for President of the United States during the 2008 election, and was the Constitution Party's unsuccessful nominee for Governor of Colorado in 2010.
Tancredo was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1976 and served two terms. After working in the United States Department of Education during the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, he was elected to the United States Congress, and served five terms. He decided to not seek re-election in 2008. Tancredo ran for the Republican Party nomination for President in 2008, centering his campaign on the issues of illegal immigration and terrorism. He dropped out of the race in December 2007 to assist former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in his campaign for the nomination.