Aaron Schock

Aaron Schock Bio

Aaron Jon Schock (born May 28, 1981) is a former American politician who served as the Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 18th congressional district from 2009 to 2015. The district was based in Peoria, Illinois, and included part of Springfield. When he took office in January 2009 at the age of 27, Schock became the youngest member of Congress and the first member of the U.S. House born in the 1980s. He resigned in March 2015 amid a federal investigation into his spending of public and campaign funds.

Before his time in Congress, Schock had served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, where he was also the youngest member of the General Assembly. A member of the Republican Party, he was known for his attention to image and media presence as well as for his work on budget, trade, transportation, and agricultural issues. In 2020, Schock publicly came out as gay and expressed regret for some of his earlier policy positions.

Early Life and Background

Aaron Jon Schock was born on May 28, 1981, in Morris, Minnesota, and raised in Peoria, Illinois, where he has long maintained his residence. He is the son of Richard Schock and Janice Marie (née Joos) Schock. Growing up in central Illinois, he attended Richwoods High School in Peoria, where he became interested in public service and politics at a young age.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Schock decided to run for the Peoria Board of Education because he felt the board needed a more diverse and youthful perspective. Although he initially failed to get on the ballot due to a procedural issue, he later won a seat on the board while still a teenager. He eventually resigned from the school board to focus on his growing responsibilities in public office.

Schock later attended Illinois Central College and Bradley University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His early exposure to local government and his family’s engagement in civic life helped shape his decision to pursue a career in elected office.

Path to US Politics

At the age of 23, Aaron Jon Schock launched his political career by running for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. In the November 2004 general election, he defeated four-term incumbent Democrat Ricca Slone by just 235 votes out of 40,000 ballots cast, becoming the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly in state history. The narrow victory gave him a reputation as a rising political talent in central Illinois.

During his four years in the state legislature, Schock served on two appropriations committees typically reserved for more senior lawmakers, as well as the Financial Institutions, Environment and Energy, and Veteran’s Affairs committees. He was the chief sponsor of 38 bills, 13 of which became law, dealing with education, child protection, prescription drug savings, veterans’ assistance, road construction, and identity theft. He also worked outside government as director of development and construction for Petersen Companies of Peoria.

When longtime Republican Congressman Ray LaHood announced his retirement from Illinois’s 18th congressional district, Schock entered the 2008 race for the seat. He won the Republican primary with 72 percent of the vote and went on to win the general election with 59 percent, defeating Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer.

Aaron Schock Career

Early Career (2004-2008)

Schock’s early political career began with his upset win in the 2004 Illinois House race, where his grassroots campaign and youthful energy attracted statewide attention. He won reelection in 2006 with 58 percent of the vote, earning more than 40 percent of the African-American vote in his district despite his opposition to race-based affirmative action. His legislative productivity and his work across the aisle drew the attention of national Republicans.

By the time he announced his candidacy for Congress in 2008, Schock had built a strong fundraising network and a reputation for policy work on taxes, transportation, and economic development. He was endorsed by 116 mayors across the district, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Journal Star, and the Chicago Tribune. He also spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention, signaling his rising profile within the party.

Congressional Career and Breakthrough (2009-2012)

Aaron Jon Schock took his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2009 and quickly set a fast pace for a freshman lawmaker. During his first year in Congress, he sponsored more passed legislation than any other Republican freshman and secured $40.7 million in funding for projects in Illinois. Two weeks after being sworn in, he proposed an amendment that passed to create a searchable website tracking spending under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

He won reelection in 2010 with 59 percent of the vote and was then appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee at the start of his second term in 2011, where he served on the subcommittees on Trade, Social Security, and Oversight. In 2012, redistricting made his district significantly more Republican, and he cruised to a third term with 74 percent of the vote against Democrat Steve Waterworth.

Schock gained national visibility through his media presence, appearing on The Colbert Report in 2009 and on the cover of Men’s Health in June 2011. He was also a guest judge on Season 7 of Top Chef in 2010. Time magazine later included him in a 2013 poll asking who was the most influential millennial in public life.

Fourth Term and Resignation (2013-2015)

Schock won a fourth term in 2014 with 75 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Darrel Miller. In December 2013, House Speaker John Boehner selected him to lead the congressional delegation to the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, a sign of his standing within the House Republican leadership.

His career came to an abrupt end in early 2015 after The Washington Post reported that his congressional office had been redecorated in a style inspired by the television show Downton Abbey. Subsequent media scrutiny uncovered extensive spending on private flights, sports tickets, and personal items charged to his government account, and The Associated Press matched Instagram photos to private flight records. On March 17, 2015, Schock announced his resignation effective March 31, 2015.

Notable Events and Milestones

Schock’s most notable milestones include becoming the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly in 2004, the youngest member of Congress in 2009, and the first member of the House born in the 1980s. His selection to lead the U.S. delegation to Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013 stood as a high point of his career. His eventual resignation, indictment, and the deferred prosecution agreement in 2019 marked a dramatic fall from a once-celebrated political figure.

Aaron Schock Career Wins

Aaron Jon Schock compiled a string of electoral victories at the state and federal levels, including two wins in the Illinois House of Representatives and four wins in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressional Election Highlights

Schock won his first congressional race in 2008 with 59 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer. He followed that with a 59 percent win in 2010 against Democrat D.K. Hirner, a 74 percent victory in 2012 against Steve Waterworth, and a 75 percent win in 2014 against Darrel Miller. Each victory came in a district centered on Peoria and central Illinois.

Other Wins and Achievements

Beyond electoral wins, Schock passed 13 bills during his time in the Illinois General Assembly and was the leading freshman sponsor of passed legislation in the U.S. House. He also secured $40.7 million in federal funding for Illinois during his first term in Congress. In April 2010, Biofuels Digest listed him among the top ten individuals advancing renewable energy and bioenergy policy in Washington, D.C.

Aaron Schock Family

Family Background and Public Service

Aaron Jon Schock is the son of Richard Schock and Janice Marie (née Joos) Schock. He was born in Morris, Minnesota, and raised in Peoria, Illinois, where his family has long been involved in the local community. His early interest in public service grew out of this family environment and his experiences on the Peoria Board of Education.

Personal Life

Schock largely kept his personal life private during his years in elected office. In March 2020, he came out as gay in an Instagram post and a statement on his website, expressing regret for some of his previous policy positions and saying he would support LGBTQ rights if he were to return to public office. He has continued to reside in Peoria, Illinois.