Huffington, Michael, 1947-

Roy Michael Huffington, Jr. (born September 3, 1947), is an American politician, LGBT activist, and film producer. A member of the Republican Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from California's 22nd congressional district from 1993 to 1995.

Born in Dallas, Texas, he attended public and private schools, graduating from from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana before earning B.S. and B.A. degrees from Stanford University and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University. Huffington's interest in politics began in 1968, when he was a summer intern in Washington, D.C. for freshman Congressman George H. W. Bush. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed Huffington as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy, with responsibility for conventional arms control negotiations. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. In 1992, Huffington was elected to the House of Representatives from California's 22nd District. He donated his entire congressional salary to the Partnership for Children of Santa Barbara County in 1993, and to the Partnership for Children of San Luis Obispo County in 1994.

In 1994, after one term in the House, Huffington spent $28 million in an unsuccessful bid for the seat in the United States Senate held by Dianne Feinstein. During 1998, Huffington was co-chairman (with actor and director Rob Reiner) of Proposition 10 in California, which increased the state excise tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per pack. The resulting multi-hundred million dollars of tax revenue was used for prenatal care and for the health care and education of children under six years of age. In the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election, Huffington endorsed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. His ex-wife, Arianna Huffington, was an opposing candidate. She withdrew before the election, although her name remained on the ballot. In 2006, Huffington became the director of It's My Party Too, a group founded by former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. A moderate Republican organization with libertarian leanings, it advocated fiscal conservatism, social progressivism, environmental protection and limited government interference in personal matters. In 2007, It's My Party Too evolved into the Republican Leadership Council.

Huffington found a post-political career as a film producer. From 1991 to 2000, he was co-owner of Crest Films Limited.