David E. Bonior

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David Bonior at a reception at Wayne State University in 2004
David Bonior at a reception at Wayne State University in 2004

David Edward Bonior (born June 6, 1945) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served for 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, first representing Michigan's 12th congressional district (1976-1993) and later Michigan's 10th congressional district (1993-2003). Bonior served in the House leadership at various times as Democratic whip (1991-2002). Bonior ran for governor of Michigan in 2002 but was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary, losing to Jennifer Granholm.

Bonior was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan, in 1963 where he excelled in sports. He received a B.A. from the University of Iowa, where he also played football, in 1967. He received a M.A. from Chapman College in Orange, California in 1972. He served in the United States Air Force during the peak of the Vietnam War, from 1968-1972.

Bonior was a Democratic member of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 12th District (based in Macomb County) for the Ninety-fifth and to the twelve succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 2003. After redistricting resulting from the 1990 U.S. Census, he represented Michigan's 10th District from 1993 to 2003. He served as Majority Whip in the 102nd and 103rd Congresses. He was Minority Whip for the 104th through 107th Congresses.

Bonior chose not to run in the 2002 election when his district was made considerably less Democratic during the redistricting following the 2000 U.S. Census. He instead ran for Governor of Michigan, but was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary, losing to Jennifer Granholm.

Bonior is currently chair of American Rights at Work. On December 28, 2006, former U.S. Senator John Edwards announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election and appointed Bonior as his campaign manager.[1]

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Preceded by
James G. O'Hara
United States Representative for the 12th Congressional District of Michigan
19761993
Succeeded by
Sander Levin
Preceded by
Dave Camp
United States Representative for the 10th Congressional District of Michigan
19932003
Succeeded by
Candice S. Miller
Preceded by
William H. Gray III
House Democratic Whip
19912002
Succeeded by
Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by
William H. Gray III
House Majority Whip
19911995
Succeeded by
Tom DeLay
Preceded by
Newt Gingrich
House Minority Whip
19952002
Succeeded by
Nancy Pelosi