Representative Ken Bentsen

Kenneth Edward Bentsen Jr. (born June 3, 1959) is an American lobbyist and former politician from Texas who served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented a Houston-area district during a significant period in American history and is the nephew of former United States senator and secretary of the treasury Lloyd Bentsen. He was born in Houston, Texas, to Kenneth Sr. and Mary Bentsen, growing up in a family with deep political and civic involvement that would shape his later public career.

Bentsen received his early education in Texas before attending Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1977. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1982. Seeking further training in public affairs and government, he pursued graduate study in Washington, D.C., and obtained a Master of Public Administration from American University in 1985. His education combined liberal arts and public administration, providing a foundation for his subsequent work in both government and the private sector.

Bentsen began his professional career on Capitol Hill. From 1983 to 1987, he served on the staff of Congressman Ronald D. Coleman of Texas, gaining experience in legislative procedure and constituent service. Concurrently, from 1985 to 1987, he was an associate staff member on the United States House Committee on Appropriations, where he worked on issues related to federal spending and budget priorities. After leaving congressional staff service, he entered the private sector as an investment banker, applying his knowledge of public policy and finance in the financial industry and building expertise that would later inform his work on economic and regulatory issues.

In 1994, Bentsen was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Texas and took office in January 1995. He served four consecutive terms, remaining in the House until January 2003. During his tenure, he participated actively in the legislative process, representing the interests of his Houston-area constituents and engaging in debates on domestic and foreign policy during a period marked by economic expansion, the end of the Cold War era, and the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. On October 10, 2002, he was one of 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq, a consequential decision in U.S. foreign policy. His service in Congress thus spanned major national developments and reflected his engagement with both fiscal and security issues.

In 2002, rather than seek re-election to the House, Bentsen chose to run for the United States Senate to succeed retiring Senator Phil Gramm of Texas. He entered the Democratic primary but was defeated by Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, who went on to lose the general election to Republican nominee and then–Texas Attorney General John Cornyn. With the conclusion of his House service in January 2003 and the end of his Senate bid, Bentsen transitioned fully back into the private sector and the world of policy advocacy.

Following his congressional career, Bentsen assumed leadership roles in major national trade associations. In May 2006, he became president of the Equipment Leasing Association in Washington, D.C., representing companies involved in equipment finance and leasing and advocating on regulatory and legislative matters affecting the industry. He later joined the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the principal trade group for U.S. securities firms, banks, and asset managers, where he rose to become president and chief executive officer. In that capacity, he has been a prominent voice on financial regulation, capital markets policy, and economic issues, frequently engaging with Congress and federal regulators.

Bentsen’s work as a lobbyist and association executive has earned him recognition in Washington policy circles. He has been named a “Top Lobbyist” by The Hill and listed among “Washington’s Most Influential People” by Washingtonian magazine, reflecting his continued influence on national economic and financial policy well after his departure from elective office. He has also appeared on C‑SPAN and other public affairs forums to discuss legislative and regulatory developments, drawing on his combined experience as a former lawmaker and industry representative.

Bentsen is married to Tamra Bentsen, and they have two daughters. The family resides in Washington, D.C., where he continues his involvement in public policy through his leadership at SIFMA and his ongoing participation in national discussions on finance, markets, and regulation.