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Raj Goyle

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Raj Goyle
Image of Raj Goyle
Prior offices
State Representative

Education

Bachelor's

Duke University

Law

Harvard University

Personal
Religion
Hindu
Profession
Attorney

Rajeev Kumar "Raj" Goyle is a former Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 87 from 2007 to 2011.

In July of 2009, Goyle announced his candidacy as the Democratic nominee for Kansas' 4th Congressional District, which had been vacated by former Representative Todd Tiahrt who left to run for Kansas' then-open US Senate seat.[1] After defeating Robert Leon Tillman in the August 3, 2010 primary, Goyle faced Republican Mike Pompeo in the November 2nd general election. Despite significant fundraising, and polling from local news agencies which indicated a tight race, Goyle was soundly defeated, 59%-37%.[2]

Biography

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Goyle earned his B.S. from Duke University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. His professional experience includes working for the Center for American Progress, as a Contract Attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union and Lecturer at Wichita State University.[3]

Issues

Goyle's website lists his legislative priorities as "no free lunches from lobbyists, educating our children, reducing health care costs, real solutions on energy, fighting for immigration reform," and "helping small businesses."[4]

He refused to take Project Vote Smart's 2008 Political Courage Test. The test, which is administered to all candidates for presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative offices, asks one central question - "Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?"[5]

Goyle authored the Kansas Funeral Privacy Act, which establishes a 150-foot buffer zone around funerals before, during and after a service to prevent public demonstration by protestors. This was done in direct reaction to members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketing funerals of veterans of the Iraqi invasion and occupation. It was passed unanimously by both houses of the state legislature, signed by then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius, and became effective on April 10, 2008.[6]

Goyle also successfully introduced House Bill 2374, which drew $69 million in federal stimulus money for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

Committee assignments

While a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Goyle served on the following committees:

Elections

2010

On November 2, 2010, Mike Pompeo won election to the United States House. He defeated Raj Goyle (D), Shawn Smith (L), and Susan G. Ducey (Reform) in the general election.[7]

U.S. House, Kansas District 4 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Pompeo 58.8% 119,575
     Democratic Raj Goyle 36.5% 74,143
     Libertarian Shawn Smith 2.3% 4,624
     Reform Susan G. Ducey 2.5% 5,041
Total Votes 203,383

Polls 2010

A KWCH poll commissioned in August 2010 showed a close race between Pompeo and Democratic candidate Raj Goyle.[8]

Kansas' Congressional District 4, 2010
Poll Mike Pompeo (R) Raj Goyle (D)David Moffett (L)Susan Ducey (RP)UndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
SurveyUSA
(August 9-11, 2010)
49%42%4%1%5%+/-4.1604
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

2008

On November 4, 2008, Goyle was re-elected to the 87th District Seat in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Fred Pinaire (R).[9] Goyle raised $96,104 for his campaign, while Pinaire raised $6,595.[10]


Kansas House of Representatives, District 87
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.pngRaj Goyle (D) 6,399 67.3%
Fred Pinaire (R) 3,104 32.6%

Campaign finance summary

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External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Bonnie Huy (R)
Kansas House of Representatives District 87
2007-2011
Succeeded by
Joseph Scapa (R)


Current members of the Kansas House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Daniel Hawkins
Majority Leader:Chris Croft
Minority Leader:Brandon Woodard
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