Mark Schauer

Mark Hamilton Schauer (born October 2, 1961) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative for MI's 7th congressional district from 2009 to 2011.

He later graduated summa cum laude from Albion College in 1984, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Gerald R Ford Institute for Public Policy.

Schauer worked as an urban planner for the Calhoun County Planning Department, 1984–1987, while he completed a master's degree in public administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

Schauer was also a founding board member of Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity in 1988 and was honored for fifteen years of service by being named the "2003 Public Official of the Year" by Habitat for Humanity of Michigan.

Schauer has also been actively involved in the supporting the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and the Urban League of Battle Creek.

He also serves on the board of directors of the Kids 'N' Stuff Children's Museum in Albion.

He was a coordinator of the Calhoun County Human Services Coordinating Council, 1992–1997.

In 1993, Schauer ran for a seat on the Battle Creek City Commission and lost by 200 votes.

However, he was later appointed to fill an unexpired term and was then elected to a full term in 1995.

In 1996, Schauer ran for the 62nd district of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Schauer was previously a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and a member of the Michigan Senate from 2003 to 2009, where he served as the Minority Leader from 2007 to 2009.

In each legislative body, he represented Battle Creek and its surrounding region.

He earned a master's degree in political science from Michigan State University in 1997.

Schauer began his career in program development for the Community Action Agency in Battle Creek.

Shortly afterwards, the director left for another position and Schauer was selected to run the CAA, which then consisted of 200 employees, had a 21-member board of directors and offered a broad range of programs for the poor, including home weatherization, a foster grandparent program, food assistance and the local Head Start Program for children.

He won re-election in 1998 and in 2000, with 67% of the vote.

In 1999, he strongly opposed Republican Governor John Engler's plan to appoint a monitor for Detroit Public Schools.

He called it "very dangerous" and it was "receivership."

He served as the Assistant Democratic Leader from 1999 to 2000.

In 2002, Schauer ran for the 19th district of the Michigan Senate.

He defeated Republican State Representative Mickey Mortimer 55%-45%.

He served as the Senate Minority Whip from 2003 to 2006.

In 2004, he supported the MCCA reform.

In 2006, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Elizabeth Fulton 61%-39%.

He became the Senate Minority Leader after the 2006 elections.

In June 2007, Schauer, along with state senators Liz Brater and Gilda Jacobs, and state representative Robert Jones, endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for U.S. president.

In August 2007, Schauer formed a finance committee to challenge freshman Republican U.S. Representative Tim Walberg, who was identified as a top target by the DCCC.

Schauer was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination and his announcement resulted in David Nacht, who had raised $160K in the first quarter, to drop out of the race.

In September 2007, former State Senator Jim Berryman also dropped out of the Democratic race.

Schauer won the Democratic primary by a landslide, defeating Sharon Marie Renier 71%-29%.

In the general election, Schauer defeated Walberg 49%-46%.

He won four of the district's seven counties: Calhoun (56%), Washtenaw (51%), Eaton (50%), and Jackson (48%).

In 2008, he was elected to the House of Representatives, defeating Republican incumbent Tim Walberg.

A moderate Democrat, Schauer was defeated in a rematch with Walberg in 2010 by 50.2% to 45.4%.

Schauer was the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan in the 2014 election.

He was defeated by incumbent Republican Governor Rick Snyder by 51% to 47%.

After the election, Schauer became chairman of PAC Advantage 2020, which aims to help Democrats retake state legislative chambers.

Schauer was born and raised in Howell, Michigan.

His mother, Myra (Trafton), was a registered nurse, and his father, Robert Schauer, was a high school science teacher.

He was valedictorian of his class at Howell High School.