Mike Enzi

Mike Enzi
Official portrait, 2018
United States Senator
from Wyoming
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byAlan Simpson
Succeeded byCynthia Lummis
Member of the Wyoming Senate
from the 24th district
In office
December 13, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byKelly Mader
Succeeded byRichard Erb
Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
from the Campbell County district
In office
1987–1991
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byDavid Shippy
Mayor of Gillette, Wyoming
In office
January 6, 1975[1] – January 1983
Preceded byCliff Davis
Succeeded byHerb Carter
Personal details
Born
Michael Bradley Enzi

(1944-02-01)February 1, 1944
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
DiedJuly 26, 2021(2021-07-26) (aged 77)
Loveland, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Diana Buckley
(m. 1969)
Children3
EducationGeorge Washington University (BS)
University of Denver (MBA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1967–1973
UnitWyoming Air National Guard

Michael Bradley Enzi (/ˈɛnzi/ EN-zee; February 1, 1944 – July 26, 2021) was an American politician who served in the United States Senate from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party from 1997 to 2021. Prior to his tenure in the United States Senate he served as mayor of Gillette, Wyoming, in the Wyoming House of Representatives from Campbell County, and the Wyoming Senate from the 24th district. He was the longest-serving senator from Wyoming since Francis E. Warren.

Enzi was born in Bremerton, Washington, raised in Thermopolis, Wyoming, and educated at Sheridan High School, George Washington University, and the University of Denver. He served in the Air National Guard, and held positions in the American Legion Boys State, DeMolay International, and United States Junior Chamber. He entered politics with his election as mayor of Gillette after being convinced by Alan Simpson to run and defeating incumbent Mayor Cliff Davis. He was elected to the state house in the 1986 election and served until his appointment to the state senate in 1991.

Enzi was elected to the United States Senate in the 1996 election after defeating future senator John Barrasso in the Republican primary and Secretary of State Kathy Karpan in the general election. During his tenure in the Senate he served as chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Budget committees. He served in the Senate until Cynthia Lummis succeeded him in the 2020 election after his retirement. He died in 2021 following injuries resulting from a bicycling accident.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mayor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).