Biography
Cleo C. Fields, born on November 22, 1962, in Port Allen, Louisiana, is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. A member of the Democratic Party, Fields has had a distinguished career in both state and national politics. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, representing Louisiana's 4th District until 1997. In 1995, he became the first African American since Reconstruction to advance to a gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana. After serving multiple terms in the Louisiana State Senate, Fields returned to Congress in 2025, representing the newly redrawn 6th District.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications: Southern University, 1984
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Juris Doctor: Southern University Law Center, 1987
Political Experience
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Louisiana State Senate: Elected in 1986 at age 24, becoming the youngest person ever elected to the State Senate in Louisiana's history.
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U.S. House of Representatives: Represented Louisiana's 4th District from 1993 to 1997.
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1995 Gubernatorial Election: Advanced to the runoff, marking a significant milestone for African American political representation in Louisiana.
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Louisiana State Senate: Served multiple terms, including from 1997 to 2008 and from 2020 to 2025.
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U.S. House of Representatives: Elected to represent Louisiana's 6th District in 2024, taking office in 2025.
Notable Achievements
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Historic Election: In 1986, Fields became the youngest person ever elected to the Louisiana State Senate.
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Gubernatorial Run: His 1995 gubernatorial campaign was historic, as he was the first African American since Reconstruction to advance to a runoff in Louisiana.
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Congressional Return: In 2024, Fields won the election for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, flipping a traditionally Republican seat to Democratic control.
Policy Focus
Fields has been a strong advocate for education reform, economic development, and addressing public health crises. He emphasizes raising the minimum wage, expanding job opportunities in the tech sector to retain graduates in Louisiana, and tackling the fentanyl crisis and mental health issues.
Democrat Cleo Fields Wins Louisiana's 6th Congressional District:
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