Last year, Lauren Underwood became the youngest Black woman ever elected to serve in Congress. During her speech on election night, she noted that it had been almost exactly 50 years to the day since Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman ever elected to Congress and that, like Chisholm, she would be “unbought and unbossed.”
In her time serving the people of Illinois’ 14th District, she has done just that.
She has stood up to fight for families in her district and across the country: for an end to the gun-violence epidemic; for an economy where everyone has access to opportunity; and for every person’s right to quality, affordable health care, regardless of pre-existing conditions. As a registered nurse and someone who was inspired to enter public service because of her own experiences with a heart condition, these issues are personal for Lauren.
Lauren is a servant leader who understands that our biggest challenges demand that we meet them together. She inspires Americans to fight alongside and not against one another.
Congresswoman Underwood is blazing a trail for a new generation of unbought and unbossed leaders, and I know that one day soon, another newly elected Congressperson will look back at her example and be inspired to do the same.
Booker, a Senator from New Jersey, is a Democratic presidential candidate