Richard John Santorum, commonly known as Rick Santorum, is an American politician, attorney, author, and political commentator. Born on May 10, 1958, in Winchester, Virginia, he grew up in a politically active family with his father, Aldo Santorum, an Italian immigrant and World War II veteran who worked as a clinical psychologist for the Veterans Administration. Santorum attended public schools in Berkeley, California, and later in Pennsylvania, reflecting his family's relocations due to his father's career. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Duquesne University in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from Penn State Law School in 1986. Entering politics as a conservative Republican, Santorum served as a U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 18th district from 1991 to 1995, then as a U.S. Senator from 1995 to 2007, where he rose to become the third-ranking Republican leader in the Senate during his final years. Known for his strong social conservative stances on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and education, he was a key architect of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act but faced criticism for his views, including controversial statements on homosexuality and income inequality that drew widespread media attention.

Santorum's presidential ambitions led him to run in the 2012 Republican primaries, where he unexpectedly won several contests and finished second to Mitt Romney, energizing the evangelical base. He briefly ran again in 2016 before withdrawing to endorse Marco Rubio. After losing his Senate seat in the 2006 Democratic wave, he worked as a Fox News contributor from 2009 to 2013, then as a CNN commentator until 2017. He has authored books like 'It Takes a Family' (2005), promoting traditional family values. Santorum endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 primaries and has remained active in conservative circles, serving as a senior adviser to the America First Policy Institute. His career is marked by controversies, including a 2003 scandal involving his family's use of a D.C. townhouse provided by the Fellowship of Associates of Christians in Service and Missions (C Street Center), raising ethics questions about undisclosed benefits, though no formal charges resulted. He has been criticized for his opposition to no-fault divorce and for remarks suggesting that poverty stems from moral failings, which opponents labeled as out of touch.

Personally, Santorum is a devout Roman Catholic married to Karen Garver Santorum since 1991; they have eight living children after the tragic death of their son Gabriel shortly after birth in 1996, an event that deepened his anti-abortion advocacy. The family resides in Great Falls, Virginia. Santorum's influence networks include evangelical leaders, conservative think tanks, and GOP donors, positioning him as a voice for social conservatism amid evolving party dynamics.