Madison Ballentine

From Usgs

Current revision as of 05:33, 3 October 2008

Madison Ballentine (b. September 9, 1984) is the current Junior Senator of New England.

Madison Ballentine
New England Senator - Class 2
In Office: 2023 - present Serves alongside: Robert Adams
Preceded by	Bradley Abbott
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	9 September 1984 Marietta, Georgia
Political Party	Democratic
Spouse	None
Religion	Undeclared

Early History

Madison Ballentine was born and grew up in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. His childhood was relatively average, growing up in an upper-middle class household consisting of his parents and his younger brother, Cameron. During his teenage years, Madison grew to despise the city he was raised in, eventually leading to his leaving Georgia and Dixie entirely. Ballentine has noted on the campaign trial that he grew up in a family with guns, and is both comfortable with and proficient in their use.

Education

Ballentine focused strongly on his studies, attending Sprayberry High School and winning a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally majoring in Geography, he switched after a semester to Medicine, Health, and Society and a minor in Biological Sciences, with firm pre-medicine intent. After graduating cum laude, he enrolled at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.

Médecins Sans Frontières

After finishing medical school, Ballentine did not follow the traditional path of completing residency in a hospital or similar facility. Instead, he joined Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in a new field-residency program and was assigned to Nigeria. After completing his residency, he remained with MSF as a full-time relief physician. Ballentine occasionally references his time in MSF as a formative experience, although he is generally uncomfortable discussing many specific incidents from the program. His notable solid-gray hair appeared early in his time abroad, before his thirtieth birthday.

Political Career

After returning to the United States, Ballentine settled in Portland, Maine and began preparations to start a private practice. However, a friend advised him that the incumbent Democratic Congressman was retiring and, out of a desire to further serve, he entered the race, winning a crowded primary and the general election. Only two months later, upon the resignation of New England Senator Bradley Abbott, Governor James Stewart chose Ballentine to fill the vacant Senate seat for the remainder of the session. The next year, he ran for a full six-year term and defeated Maine Congressman and former Speaker of the House Oliver Perry, winning the race by only five percent.

While in the Senate, Ballentine has served on the Judiciary and Domestic Affairs Committees.