Harold Ford, Jr.
From dKosopedia
Categories: Tennessee Democrats | 2006 Tennessee elections
Harold Ford Jr. was born on May 11, 1970 in Memphis Tennessee. After attending the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Law School, Ford Jr. was elected at the age of 26 to serve in the House of Representatives on behalf of the people of Tennessee's Ninth District. He succeeded his father, Harold Ford, Sr., who retired from the House in 1996. He ran for the United States Senate, but lost to Bob Corker, see Tennessee U.S. Senate election, 2006.
Some consider Ford Jr. one of the "rising stars" of the Democratic Party. He is not popular, however, with Democratic insiders, particularly those in Congress, he being regarded as rather arrogant, one who looks out for his own career rather than to the overall fortunes of house Democrats. He irritates the hard left of the party by following a rather centrist, even right-wing path on certain hot-button issues. Ford is the incoming Chairman of the DLC.
Family issues
His father was indicted for bank fraud in 1987, but managed to be acquitted. In 1981, his uncle Emmitt, a state senator, was indicted for insurance fraud, and was forced to resign his seat. In May 2006, another uncle, State Senator John Ford, was indicted for bribery, who will be on trial in October 2006. While Ford junior appears to be squeaky clean, the history of his father and uncles do not help his bid for the US Senate.
Source
Michael Crowley, "Ford's Theater", The Atlantic, July/August 2006, pp. 44-45.