Ken Bentsen Jr.

Ken Bentsen Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 25th district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Michael A. Andrews
Succeeded by	Chris Bell
Personal details
Born	(1959-06-03) June 3, 1959 Houston, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Religion	Presbyterian

Kenneth Bentsen Jr. (born June 3, 1959, in Houston, Texas) is a former congressman from Texas. He is the nephew of former Texas Senator and Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen.

Born in Houston, Texas to Kenneth Sr. and Mary Bentsen, he graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1977, going on to earn a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, Houston in 1982 and an M.P.A. from American University in 1985. From 1983 to 1987, he served on the staff of Congressman Ronald D. Coleman and from 1985 to 1987 was an associate staff member on the House Appropriations Committee. Afterwards, he worked as an investment banker.

Bentsen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and served from 1995 to 2003. As a congressman, he was one of 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq on October 10, 2002. In 2002, Bentsen opted to run for the U.S. Senate to replace Phil Gramm; he then lost the Democratic primary to Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk who lost the general election to Texas Attorney General John Cornyn. In May, 2006, he became president of the Equipment Leasing Association in Washington, D.C.

Bentsen is currently the head of the Washington Lobbyist office of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. He has two daughters with wife Tamra Bentsen: Louise Bentsen and Meredith Bentsen who are both in college. The four reside in Washington, D.C.

External links

• United States Congress. "Ken Bentsen Jr. (id: B000400)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.