Adam Kinzinger

About

Adam Daniel Kinzinger is a former Republican U.S. representative from Illinois, military veteran, political commentator, author, and founder of the Country First political organization. He was born February 27, 1978, in Kankakee, Illinois, graduated from Illinois State University in 2000, and served on the McLean County Board from 1998–2003. Kinzinger entered the Air Force in 2003 and became a pilot. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and later in the Air National Guard, eventually reaching Lieutenant Colonel. He retired from military service in 2023 after roughly 20 years. Congressional career Kinzinger was elected to the House in 2010 and served from January 3, 2011, to January 3, 2023 — six terms. He initially represented Illinois's 11th Congressional District and, following redistricting, represented the 16th District from 2013 onward. He served in Congress as a Republican. His congressional portfolio was heavily concentrated in two areas: foreign affairs/national security and energy/communications policy. His House committee assignments The three principal committees on which Kinzinger served were: Committee Role / period House Committee on Energy and Commerce Served on it beginning with his first term in the 112th Congress and throughout his House career House Committee on Foreign Affairs Served during most of his congressional career, beginning by the 113th Congress House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Appointed in 2021, during the 117th Congress His first-term Congressional Directory specifically lists Energy and Commerce as his committee assignment. By the 113th Congress, his official congressional materials listed both Energy and Commerce and Foreign Affairs, and those remained his two principal standing committees through his final term. In the 117th Congress, the official Congressional Directory lists all three: Energy and Commerce; Foreign Affairs; and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack. Important subcommittee work This part of his résumé is worth paying attention to because it shows where he developed much of his subject-matter expertise. On Energy and Commerce, Kinzinger worked on areas including: Communications and Technology Energy Earlier, Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade For example, official records show him serving on both Communications and Technology and Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade during the 113th Congress. On Foreign Affairs, his work included Europe/Russia, the Middle East and international security. Most significantly, during the 116th Congress (2019–2021) he was the Republican Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment. That gave him a particularly relevant congressional background on Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Europe, energy security and U.S. foreign policy. January 6 Committee Kinzinger became nationally prominent after the 2020 election. He was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump in January 2021, and subsequently became one of only two Republicans—along with Liz Cheney—to serve on the House January 6 Select Committee. That committee investigated the January 6 Capitol attack and efforts surrounding the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. What he's doing now As of 2026, Kinzinger remains a CNN Senior Political Commentator; CNN was still identifying him in that role in May 2026. He also: Founded and leads Country First, an organization he created following January 6 that describes itself as a pro-democracy, country-over-party movement. Publishes his own political commentary and daily media content. Wrote the 2023 memoir Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country, which became a New York Times bestseller. Continues to speak frequently about national security, Ukraine/Russia, the military, political polarization and the Republican Party.

Office

Jurisdiction

Federal

District / Area Served

Illinois 16th district