Joe Walsh (born William Joseph Walsh on December 13, 1961, in North Barrington, Illinois) is an American conservative political commentator, radio host, and former U.S. Congressman from Illinois. Raised in the affluent suburbs of Chicago's North Shore, he began his career as a social worker in low-income Chicago neighborhoods before transitioning into business and finance as a stockbroker and investment advisor. His political career included unsuccessful runs for the Illinois House in 1996 and U.S. Congress in 1998 and 2002, before winning election to represent Illinois's 8th congressional district in the 2010 Tea Party wave, defeating incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean. He served a single term from 2011 to 2013, known for his outspoken fiscal conservatism, support for the Iraq War, and controversial statements on social issues, though he lost re-election in 2012 to Tammy Duckworth. After leaving Congress, he reinvented himself as a conservative radio talk show host, gaining a national profile on WIND-AM in Chicago and later nationally syndicated programs. He became a vocal critic of Donald Trump following the 2016 election, initially supporting him but later denouncing his leadership style and policies. In 2020, he launched a Republican primary challenge against Donald Trump, positioning himself as a traditional conservative alternative, though his campaign failed to gain traction and he suspended it in August 2020. He has since continued as a media personality, authoring books like 'F*ck Politics: How Ideas Trump Partisanship' and appearing on networks to discuss politics. His career has been marked by personal challenges, including three marriages and financial difficulties, but he remains a fixture in conservative discourse.