Tom Vilsack

Thomas James Vilsack (born December 13, 1950) is an American politician. Vilsack was the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2021 to 2025 during the Joe Biden presidency. He was also the 30th Secretary of Agriculture from 2009 to 2017 during the Barack Obama presidency. He was the Governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007.

Tom Vilsack
30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office February 24, 2021 – January 20, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Deputy	Jewel H. Bronaugh Xochitl Torres Small
Preceded by	Sonny Perdue
Succeeded by	Brooke Rollins
In office January 20, 2009 – January 13, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	Kathleen Merrigan Krysta Harden Michael Scuse (acting)
Preceded by	Ed Schafer
Succeeded by	Sonny Perdue
40th Governor of Iowa
In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007
Lieutenant	Sally Pederson
Preceded by	Terry Branstad
Succeeded by	Chet Culver
Member of the Iowa Senate from the 49th district
In office January 11, 1993 – January 11, 1999
Preceded by	Jack Hester
Succeeded by	Mark Shearer
Mayor of Mount Pleasant
In office 1987–1992
Preceded by	Edward King
Succeeded by	Stanley Hill
Personal details
Born	Thomas James Vilsack (1950-12-13) December 13, 1950 (age 75) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Christie Bell ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	2
Education	Hamilton College, New York (BA) Albany Law School (JD)
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Vilsack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At college, he met and married his wife, Christie. They moved to Iowa after graduation. They have two children.

Vilsack served in the Iowa State Senate before he ran for governor in 1998. He won that election and the next one in 2002. He chose not to run again in 2006.

In December 2006, Vilsack said he would run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. He dropped out of the race a few months later. He endorsed New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

In December 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden nominated Vilsack to serve as Agriculture Secretary for a second time.^[1] On February 23, 2021 the United States Senate confirmed Vilsack's nomination a second time with a 92-7 vote.^[2]