Jim Marino was a Democrat who was a candidate for Speaker after the Democrats won the House of Representatives in the 2006 Election.
Dismissed as a "welterweight," he was encouraged to run by the deficit hawks to make a point. President-Elect Matt Santos considered throwing his support behind him to prevent the more conservative Mark B. Sellner from becoming Speaker, and Marino agreed in that case to give Santos and his agenda his full support; however, Santos decided against opposing Sellner, who was ultimately elected.