Darin LaHood
U.S. House · IL-16 · Republicans · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · IL-16
Biography
Overview
Darin LaHood is a Republican U.S. House representative from Illinois's 16th district, serving since 2015. An attorney with experience as a prosecutor, he previously served in the Illinois State Senate. He is the son of former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who previously held the same congressional seat. LaHood is known for his fiscal conservative approach and focus on budget issues.
Career
During his House tenure, LaHood cosponsored the Great American Outdoors Act (116th Congress), which established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. He voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, though he initially said he would only support "revenue neutral" tax bills. He has been active in introducing legislation across areas like workforce development, housing, retirement savings, and advanced AI security. In January 2021, he voted to certify Joe Biden as President-elect following the Capitol riot.
Prior political experience
LaHood was first elected to the U.S. House in a special election on September 10, 2015, defeating Democratic nominee Rob Mellon by a large margin after winning the Republican primary with 69% of the vote against Mike Flynn. In subsequent general elections, he won decisively: in 2016 with 72.1% of the vote against Junius Rodriguez; in 2018 with 67.2% against Rodriguez; and in 2020 with 70.41% against George Petrilli. He was appointed to the Illinois State Senate on February 27, 2011, and won election to a full term in 2012 running unopposed. During the 2022 redistricting, he opted to run in the newly redrawn 16th district.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Darin LaHood
No active campaigns target Darin LaHood right now.
Start a campaign targeting Darin LaHoodOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | U.S. House IL-16 | 2025–present | In progress | Darin LaHood | — |
| 1st | U.S. House IL-16 | 2023–2025 | Term ended | — | Darin LaHood |
Committee assignments
- Work and WelfareHouseChair· 2025–present
- National Security Agency and CyberHouseChairman· 2025–present
- Central Intelligence AgencyHouseVice Chairman· 2025–present
- National Intelligence EnterpriseHouse· 2025–present
- TradeHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist PartyHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 7620
CHEERS Act of 2026
Feb 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7594
Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act of 2026
Feb 17, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7432
Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act
Feb 9, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 6450
Retirement Rollover Flexibility Act
Dec 4, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5470
Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act
Sep 18, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5146
Federal Receivership Fairness Act
Sep 4, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4689
To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the "Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic".
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 3919
Advanced AI Security Readiness Act
Jun 11, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 3401
Retreaded Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act of 2025
May 14, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 3325
CHEERS Act
May 13, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8295
Protecting Families from Fertility Fraud Act of 2026
Apr 15, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8101
Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act (EBITDA)
Mar 26, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8025
Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7769
MINT Act
Mar 3, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7529
Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act
Feb 12, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 7311
Lebanon Election Integrity and Diaspora Voting Protection Act of 2026
Feb 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7296
SAVE America Act
Jan 30, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7008
Stop Insider Trading Act
Jan 12, 2026INTRODUCED - H.R. 6972
Reporting Accountability and Abuse Prevention Act of 2026
Jan 7, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6875
AI OVERWATCH Act
Dec 18, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |