George Voinovich (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Former U.S. Senator from Ohio George Voinovich died Sunday at the age of 79, according to the Associated Press. His wife Janet confirmed that Voinovich died peacefully in his sleep.
Voinovich, a Republican, was a member of the Senate from 1999 to 2011. Before being elected to the Senate, he was the Governor of Ohio from 1991 until 1998 and the Mayor of Cleveland from 1980 until 1989.
In his 2004 re-election to the U.S. Senate, Voinovich received more than 3.4 million votes, nearly 64 percent. No other candidate in Ohio’s history has received as many votes as Senator Voinovich did in 2004. Also in 2004, he won all 88 of Ohio’s counties, something accomplished only once before.
Voinovich was born in Cleveland and went to law school at Ohio State University.
He was considered a moderate Republican. He questioned the war in Iraq and opposed President George W. Bush’s tax cuts.
