Steven T. Kuykendall

Steven T. Kuykendall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 36th district
In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Jane Harman
Succeeded by	Jane Harman
Member of the California State Assembly from the 54th district
In office December 5, 1994 – November 30, 1998
Preceded by	Betty Karnette
Succeeded by	Alan Lowenthal
Personal details
Born	(1947-01-27)January 27, 1947 McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	January 22, 2021(2021-01-22) (aged 73) Long Beach, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jan Kuykendall
Children	3
Alma mater	Oklahoma City University (BS) San Diego State University (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1968–1973
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Steven T. Kuykendall (January 27, 1947 – January 22, 2021) was an American politician and Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 36th congressional district from 1999 to 2001 in the 106th Congress. He defeated Democrat Janice Hahn in the 1998 election with 49% of the vote. He was narrowly defeated for re-election in 2000 by his predecessor Jane Harman, who had relinquished her seat to run for Governor in 1998. Kuykendall was the only freshman congressman to be defeated for re-election in 2000.

Life and career

A resident of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Kuykendall was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. He studied at Oklahoma City University and earned his MBA from San Diego State University. Kuykendall also served in the United States Marine Corps for two tours in the Vietnam War.

Political career

Prior to becoming a congressman in 1999, Kuykendall was a member of the California State Assembly between 1994 and 1998. He was elected to the Assembly by defeating incumbent Betty Karnette.

Kuykendall with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

In 1998, he successfully waged a campaign for Congress and served in the 106th Congress from January 3, 1999, to January 3, 2001. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 2000. In the US House, Kuykendall served on the Armed Services, Science, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Kuykendall ran again for the Assembly in 2004 but was unsuccessful. He also served on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council from 1991 to 1994, holding the position of mayor in 1994. His political archives were donated to the California State University, Long Beach library.

In 2012, he ran for the newly created 47th congressional district. He placed third in the jungle primary and did not make the November runoff, which was won by Democrat Alan Lowenthal.

In January 2021, Kuykendall signed a letter calling on Republicans to impeach President Donald Trump after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.

Death

He died of pulmonary fibrosis on January 22, 2021, in Long Beach, California at age 73.

Electoral history

California's 36th congressional district: Results 1998–2000

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1998		Janice Hahn	84,624	47%		Steven T. Kuykendall	88,843	49%		Robin Barrett	Green	3,612	2%		Kerry Welsh	Libertarian	3,066	2%		John R. Konopka	Reform	1,561	1%
2000		Jane Harman	115,651	48%		Steven T. Kuykendall	111,199	47%		Daniel R. Sherman	Libertarian	6,073	3%		John R. Konopka	Reform	3,549	1%		Matt Ornati	Natural Law	2,264	1%

External links

• United States Congress. "Steven T. Kuykendall (id: K000357)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Official site
• CNN candidate profile
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Join California Steven T. Kuykendall