Bart Stupak (born February 29, 1952), American politician, has been a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 1st District of Michigan (map). Stupak earned his Associate's degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a community college in Traverse City in 1972. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State College in 1977, graduating magna cum laude, and he earned a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan in 1981.
Stupak began his career in public service as an Escanaba police officer in 1972. Stupak later served as a Michigan State Police Trooper from 1973 to 1984. Stupak served as a Michigan State Representative from 1989-90, representing Menominee, Delta, and Dickinson counties.
Stupak is especially known for his severe mistrust of Accutane, an anti-acne drug made by Hoffmann-La Roche. He believes unadvertised psychological side effects from the drug drove his teenage son, Bartholomew Thomas "B.J" Stupak Jr., to commit suicide. B.J. Stupak, a student popular amongst his peers and a football player at Menominee High School, shot himself in the head on May 14, 2000 hours after his junior prom .
He is currently one of several strongly pro-life Democrats in the House (others include Tim Holden, James Oberstar, and Dan Boren); his 2004 congressional campaign was endorsed by the National Right to Life committee.
Stupak easily defeated Republican Don Hooper of Iron River in the 2004 and 2002 elections.
