Tom Vilsack
Thomas James Vilsack (/ˈvɪlsæk/; born December 13, 1950) is an American politician serving as the 32nd United States secretary of agriculture in the Biden administration. He previously served in the role from 2009 to 2017 during the Obama administration. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 40th governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007.
Tom Vilsack | |
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Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| Assumed office February 24, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Jewel H. Bronaugh Xochitl Torres Small |
| Preceded by | Sonny Perdue |
| In office January 20, 2009 – January 13, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Kathleen Merrigan Krysta Harden Michael Scuse (acting) |
| Preceded by | Ed Schafer |
| Succeeded by | Sonny Perdue |
| 40th Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 | |
| Lieutenant | Sally Pederson |
| Preceded by | Terry Branstad |
| Succeeded by | Chet Culver |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 49th district | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 11, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Jack W. Hester |
| Succeeded by | Mark Shearer |
| Mayor of Mount Pleasant | |
| In office 1987–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Edward King |
| Succeeded by | Stanley Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas James Vilsack December 13, 1950 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Mount Pleasant, Iowa |
| Education | Hamilton College (BA) Albany Law School (JD) |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |
On November 30, 2006, he formally launched his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2008 election, but ended his bid on February 23, 2007. President-elect Barack Obama announced Vilsack's selection to be Secretary of Agriculture on December 17, 2008. His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent on January 20, 2009. Until his January 13, 2017 resignation one week prior to the end of Obama's second term as president, he had been the only member of the U.S. Cabinet who had served since the day Obama originally took office.
On July 19, 2016, The Washington Post reported that Vilsack was on Hillary Clinton's two-person shortlist to be her running mate for that year's presidential election. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia was ultimately selected. On December 10, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Vilsack to once again serve as secretary of agriculture in the incoming Biden administration. Vilsack was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 23, 2021, by a vote of 92–7. Currently Vilsack is the second longest serving Secretary of Agriculture, only being surpassed by fellow Iowan James "Tama Jim" Wilson.