Ted Deutch

Early life, education, and law career

Deutch was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of Jean (née Mindlin) and the late Bernard Deutch, who earned a Purple Heart during World War II. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Belarus, Russia. A graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Deutch graduated from the University of Michigan, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Consider magazine and was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and the University of Michigan Law School.

Florida Senate

As a member of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of United Jewish Communities, Deutch organized over 2,500 people to march on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. with the intent of pressuring Congress on a slate of issues affecting children and the elderly. At the end of his tenure in the state senate, Deutch served as Vice Chair of the Committee on Regulated Industries, and the Policy and Steering Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

2010

In late 2009, Deutch declared himself a candidate in a special election to fill the 19th congressional district seat formerly held by Robert Wexler, who left Congress to lead the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. He won the Democratic primary with 85% of the vote, and on April 13, 2010, won the special election, defeating Republican Edward J. Lynch.

Deutch's district is located on the East coast of Florida. It includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Deutch was challenged by Republican nominee Joe Budd and write-in candidate Stan Smilan. He won the election.

2012

After Florida underwent redistricting in 2012, Deutch filed for re-election in the 21st congressional district. Deutch won the November 6, 2012 general election with no major party opposition.

2014

In the general election, against write-in opposition, Deutch won with 99.6% of the vote.

2016

In December 2015, Florida underwent redistricting due to a Supreme Court ruling, swapping the districts of Deutch and fellow Democrat Lois Frankel of the 22nd congressional district. Deutch and Frankel agreed to run for each other's seats in 2016.

Tenure

Deutch was sworn in as a member of the United States House of Representatives on April 15, 2010.

Legislative record

Shortly after his election, Deutch introduced the Preserving our Promise to Seniors Act, which aims to keep Social Security benefits in line with retirees' costs and gradually raises the cap on FICA taxes over a period of seven years.

During the 2011 debate regarding the debt ceiling, Deutch assembled and brought to the house floor an elaborate, game-show style wheel to illustrate which government services he claimed would be endangered by a default on the U.S. national debt.

On November 19, 2011, Rep. Deutch introduced a resolution proposing "an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the states to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures".

Rep. Deutch’s amendment is a blend of "ideas from "Move to Amend, Free Speech for People, Public Citizen, People For the American Way, Common Cause, and the Center for Media and Democracy".

Committee assignments

Creator of Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance

In 2013, a bipartisan, congressional group of Greek-Israeli members was created by Deutch and Gus Bilirakis, a Republican representative from Florida. The group, called the "Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance," was announced at a special Congressional event. The Greek-Israeli caucus consisted of members of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Personal life

Deutch is vegan.