Encyclopedia · Biography
Pat Toomey
American former banker, U.S. senator and Club for Growth president
Personal details
- Full name
- Patrick Joseph Toomey
- Born
- November 17, 1961 · Providence, Rhode Island
- Parents
- Patrick Joseph Toomey; Mary Ann Toomey (Pennsylvania government manual)
- Education
- La Salle Academy (1980); Harvard University, B.A. government (1984)
- Religion
- Roman Catholic (published biographical profile)
- Spouse
- Kris Duncan Toomey (m. 1997)
- Children
- Bridget, Patrick, Duncan
- Political party
- Republican
- Professional career
- Banking and financial services; restaurant co-owner; Club for Growth president
- Public service
- U.S. House (1999–2005); U.S. Senate (2011–2023)
Patrick Joseph “Pat” Toomey (born 1961) is an American former Republican senator from Pennsylvania, financial-services professional and former president of the Club for Growth.
Early life, family and business
Toomey grew up in Rhode Island, attended La Salle Academy and earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard in 1984. He worked for Chemical Bank and Morgan Grenfell, including financial work in Hong Kong, and owned restaurants in Pennsylvania with two brothers. He married Kris Duncan; they have three children.
House and advocacy employment
Toomey served on Allentown’s Government Study Commission in the 1990s, represented Pennsylvania’s fifteenth House district from 1999 through 2004, and led the conservative political organization Club for Growth from 2005 through 2009.
2010 election and Senate service
He unsuccessfully challenged Senator Arlen Specter for the Republican nomination in 2004 and won a Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2010. Senator Jim DeMint backed Toomey early in 2009, when Specter was still a Republican, unlike DeMint’s later endorsements of some other Senate candidates. Toomey served two Senate terms and left office in January 2023.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.