Biography

Lisa Carmella McClain, born on April 7, 1966, in Stockbridge, Michigan, is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 9th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she previously represented Michigan's 10th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. In November 2024, McClain was elected Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, making her the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives and the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: McClain graduated from Stockbridge Junior/Senior High School in 1984. She attended Lansing Community College and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University.

• Professional Experience: Before entering politics, McClain spent over 30 years in the private sector, including 11 years at American Express and from 1998 to 2019 at the Hantz Group, where she built and grew a top-tier business.

• Political Experience:

  • 2020 Election: McClain announced her candidacy for Michigan's 10th congressional district after incumbent Paul Mitchell retired. She won the Republican primary and defeated Democratic nominee Kimberly Bizon in the general election.
  • 2022 Election: Following redistricting, McClain was elected to represent Michigan's 9th congressional district, securing 63.9% of the vote.
  • 2024 Election: McClain was re-elected to the 9th district, winning 66.8% of the vote.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• House Republican Conference Leadership:

  • Secretary: Elected as Secretary of the House Republican Conference for the 118th Congress.
  • Chairwoman: Elected Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference for the 119th Congress in November 2024.

• Committee Assignments:

  • House Armed Services Committee: Member.
  • Committee on Education and the Workforce: Member.
  • House Budget Committee: Member.
  • House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care & Financial Services: Chairwoman.

• Legislative Initiatives:

  • Congressional Gold Medal: Sponsored a bill to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to 13 service members killed during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in August 2021; the bill was signed into law on December 16, 2021.
  • Patient Advocate Tracker Act: Co-introduced legislation to enhance patient advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration; signed into law on September 16, 2022.

• Caucus Memberships:

  • Republican Main Street Partnership: Member.
  • Republican Study Committee: Member.
  • House Republican Conference: Member.
  • Congressional Taiwan Caucus: Member.

McClain resides in Romeo, Michigan, with her husband, Michael, and their four children. She is a Roman Catholic and has been actively involved in raising funds for multiple sclerosis treatment.