John Abner Race

Who was John Abner Race?

John Abner Race was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin.

He was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and graduated from Fond du Lac High School and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison School for Workers. From 1965-1967 Race served on the House Committee of Interior and Insular Affairs. In 1958, Race was elected to the Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors. He also served on the state vocations board. He came to Congress on the coattails of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 as part of the 89th Congress when the Democrats gained a net of 36 seats. He was defeated for reelection to the 90th United States Congress in 1966 by William A. Steiger and also defeated in his run for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1970.

Race was in the machine tool industry, and was involved in the labor union, serving as chairman of the bargaining and grievance committee of Local Lodge 1420 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He was heavily involved with local units of the Democratic Party. He died in Fond du Lac and is interred at the Estabrooks Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.