Jerry Moran

Jerry Moran
Born	Gerald Wesley Moran 29 5, 1954
Birthplace	Great Bend, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Senator from Kansas (2011–present), Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2013–2015)
Education	University of Kansas (BS, JD)
Children	2
Website	[Official U.S. Senate website Official site]

Gerald Wesley Moran (born May 29, 1954), known as Jerry Moran, is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Kansas since January 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Moran has built a long political career rooted in the rural communities of western Kansas, rising from county-level legal work and the Kansas state legislature to the United States House of Representatives and ultimately the United States Senate. Before entering the Senate, he represented Kansas's 1st congressional district in the House for seven terms, from 1997 to 2011. As chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 113th United States Congress, Moran led Republican campaign efforts that produced a Senate majority in the 2014 elections — the first Republican majority in the chamber since 2006. He has served as chair and ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee across multiple terms, and in 2025 resumed the chairmanship of that committee. Since the retirement of Senator Pat Roberts in 2021, Moran has been the dean of the Kansas congressional delegation.

Early Life

Gerald Wesley Moran was born on May 29, 1954, in Great Bend, Kansas, a small city in the central part of the state. He was raised in Plainville, Kansas, a rural community in Rooks County with a population of fewer than 2,000 people. Growing up in the agricultural heartland of Kansas shaped Moran's political outlook, and throughout his career he has maintained close ties to the farming and ranching communities of western Kansas.

Moran's upbringing in a small town instilled in him an understanding of the economic challenges facing rural America, including issues related to agriculture, infrastructure, and access to healthcare — themes that would become central to his legislative priorities in both the state and federal legislatures. His family roots in Kansas run deep, and genealogical records trace the Moran family's presence in the state across multiple generations.

Education

Moran attended Fort Hays State University before transferring to the University of Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to attend the University of Kansas School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education prepared him for a career in both private law practice and public service, and he would go on to hold several legal positions in Kansas state government before entering electoral politics.

Career

Early Legal and Political Career

After completing his legal education, Moran entered the practice of law in Kansas. He served as the state special assistant attorney general from 1982 to 1985, gaining experience in state-level legal affairs. He subsequently served as deputy attorney of Rooks County from 1987 to 1995, handling legal matters for the rural county where he had been raised.

In 1988, Moran was elected to the Kansas Senate, representing the 37th district. He took office on January 3, 1989, succeeding Joseph Norvell. During his eight years in the state legislature, Moran established himself as a reliable Republican voice on fiscal and agricultural issues. He rose through the ranks of the chamber's leadership, serving as majority leader of the Kansas Senate during his final two years in office, from 1995 to 1997. His tenure in the state Senate ended on January 3, 1997, when he was succeeded by Larry D. Salmans.

United States House of Representatives (1997–2011)

In 1996, when Pat Roberts vacated Kansas's 1st congressional district to run for the U.S. Senate, Moran ran for the open House seat and won. He took office on January 3, 1997, beginning what would become a fourteen-year tenure in the House of Representatives. The 1st district, often referred to as the "Big First," encompasses the vast western and central portions of Kansas, covering a geographically large but sparsely populated area dominated by agriculture and small towns.

Moran won reelection six more times with little serious electoral opposition, reflecting the solidly Republican character of the district. In the House, Moran focused on issues central to his constituents, including agriculture policy, rural healthcare, veterans' affairs, and transportation infrastructure. He served on several key committees and built a reputation as a pragmatic conservative with deep expertise in the concerns of rural America.

During his House tenure, Moran was an advocate for fiscal restraint and government spending reform. In public statements, he emphasized the need to curb federal spending, a position consistent with his broader conservative philosophy.

2010 Senate Campaign

In 2010, Moran ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sam Brownback, who was leaving to run for governor of Kansas. The Republican primary proved to be a contentious contest between Moran and fellow U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, who represented Kansas's 4th congressional district. The race drew significant attention both within and outside Kansas, as it pitted two sitting congressmen against each other in an intra-party battle that highlighted ideological and stylistic differences within the Kansas Republican Party.

Moran prevailed in the August 2010 primary, defeating Tiahrt and securing the Republican nomination. He went on to win the general election by a wide margin, as recorded in the official results certified by the Kansas Secretary of State's office. Moran succeeded Brownback in the Senate on January 3, 2011.

United States Senate (2011–present)

First Term and NRSC Chairmanship

Upon entering the Senate, Moran quickly assumed a prominent role within the Republican conference. He was named chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for the 113th United States Congress (2013–2015), succeeding John Cornyn in the position. In this capacity, Moran led the party's campaign efforts for the 2014 United States Senate elections, which resulted in Republicans gaining nine seats and securing a 54–46 majority — the first Republican Senate majority since the 109th Congress (2005–2007). He was succeeded as NRSC chair by Roger Wicker.

In the Senate, Moran has focused on a range of policy areas including veterans' affairs, agriculture, technology and entrepreneurship, aviation, and appropriations. He has served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, among others.

Veterans' Affairs

Moran has played a central role on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee throughout his Senate tenure. He first assumed the chairmanship of the committee on January 6, 2020, succeeding Johnny Isakson, who had resigned from the Senate. Moran served as chair until February 3, 2021, when Democrats gained control of the chamber following the January 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections. He then served as ranking member of the committee from February 2021 to January 2025, working opposite Chair Jon Tester.

Following the Republican majority's return in the 119th United States Congress in January 2025, Moran resumed the chairmanship of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, once again succeeding Tester, who had lost his reelection bid in the 2024 elections. In this role, Moran has overseen Senate oversight of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and legislation affecting veterans' healthcare, benefits, and services. During a 2011 tour of a Veterans Health Administration hospital in Topeka, Kansas, Moran examined facilities and met with staff, reflecting his ongoing engagement with veterans' healthcare infrastructure across the state.

Technology and Entrepreneurship

Moran has been an advocate for technology policy and startup-friendly legislation in the Senate, an unusual focus for a senator from a largely rural state. He was a co-sponsor of the Startup Act, legislation aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship through measures such as visa reform for immigrant entrepreneurs and reducing regulatory burdens on new businesses. Moran made multiple appearances at South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual technology and innovation conference in Austin, Texas, to promote the Startup Act. In March 2013, he attended SXSW for the second time to advocate for the Startup Act 3.0, discussing the legislation's provisions with technology industry leaders and entrepreneurs.

His involvement in technology policy drew attention from industry observers. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, discussed Moran's role in supporting innovation-friendly policies in Congress. Moran's engagement with technology policy also extended to internet freedom and intellectual property debates; a 2011 analysis noted his involvement in discussions around these issues.

Moran's technology advocacy was part of broader efforts, including those associated with FWD.us, a political advocacy group founded by technology industry leaders to push for immigration reform, though reporting indicated the organization faced internal challenges and controversies during its early operations.

Aviation Policy

Moran has served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, a role through which he has addressed aviation safety, modernization, and industry regulation. In February 2023, he spoke publicly on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) modernization, addressing the need to update the agency's technology and processes.

In 2025, Moran introduced the bipartisan Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, legislation aimed at streamlining the FAA's type certification process for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. The bill was introduced alongside colleagues in the Senate and sought to position the United States competitively in the emerging AAM sector, which includes electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other next-generation aviation technologies.

Agriculture and Rural Kansas

Throughout his career in both the House and Senate, Moran has maintained a focus on agricultural policy and rural community development, reflecting the economic base of his home state. He has advocated for federal support for farmers and ranchers, particularly in response to natural disasters. In 2025, Moran joined Senator Roger Marshall and Representative Tracey Mann in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide support for farmers and rural communities impacted by wildfires in Kansas, citing significant livestock losses and damage to resources. His office has also published resources directing Kansas farmers and ranchers affected by wildfires to USDA disaster assistance programs.

Judicial Appointments

Moran has been involved in the federal judicial appointment process for Kansas. In 2025, he released a statement applauding President Donald Trump's appointment of Jeffrey Kuhlman and other nominees to federal judicial positions in Kansas, reflecting his role as the senior senator from the state in advising on judicial nominations.

Reelection

Moran was reelected to the Senate in 2016 and again in 2022, each time winning by substantial margins in the reliably Republican state of Kansas. His successive reelections reflected his continued standing among Kansas voters.

In 2012, Moran relocated his Kansas residence from Hays to Manhattan, a move reported by the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Military and Defense

Moran has engaged with military affairs in Kansas, including matters related to the Kansas National Guard. In 2025, he released a statement regarding the retirement of Major General Michael T. Venerdi as Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard, acknowledging Venerdi's service.

Personal Life

Moran has two children. In 2012, he moved his Kansas residence from Hays to Manhattan. He has maintained his connection to the rural communities of Kansas throughout his career, frequently visiting counties across the state and engaging with constituents in small towns and agricultural areas.

Moran's political identity has been closely tied to his Kansas roots. Raised in Plainville and educated at Kansas institutions, he has spent his entire career in public service within the state or representing it in Washington, D.C.

Recognition

As dean of the Kansas congressional delegation since 2021 — the longest-serving member of the state's representation in Congress following Senator Pat Roberts's retirement — Moran holds a position of seniority within the delegation. His leadership of the NRSC during the successful 2014 Republican campaign cycle was noted as a significant organizational achievement within the party. His chairmanship of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee across multiple Congresses has placed him at the center of national policy debates regarding veterans' healthcare and benefits.

Moran's involvement in technology and startup policy earned him recognition from the technology industry, including invitations to speak at SXSW and engagement with organizations such as the Consumer Electronics Association.

His legislative record on human rights issues has been tracked by advocacy organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, which published congressional scorecards rating his votes on issues related to LGBT rights during his House tenure.