Biography
Lisa Blunt Rochester, born on February 10, 1962, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a Democratic politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Delaware since January 3, 2025. She is the first woman and the first African American to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate. Prior to her Senate tenure, Blunt Rochester served four terms as Delaware's at-large representative in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025. Her political career began as an intern for then-Representative Tom Carper, later serving in his gubernatorial administration as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services and Secretary of the Department of Labor. She also held the position of State Personnel Director under Governor Ruth Ann Minner. In 2004, she became the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University
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Master's Degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware
Political Experience
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U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Elected in 2024, succeeding retiring Senator Tom Carper.
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U.S. Representative for Delaware's At-Large District
- Served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Co-founded and co-chaired the bipartisan Congressional Future of Work Caucus.
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Secretary of the Delaware Department of Labor
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Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
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State Personnel Director
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CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League
Notable Achievements
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Historic Election: First woman and first African American to represent Delaware in both the U.S. House and Senate.
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Legislative Initiatives:
- Introduced the Clean Slate Act, aiming to seal federal records of nonviolent offenders to facilitate their reintegration into society.
- Played a key role in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Advocated for environmental justice and was instrumental in passing the Inflation Reduction Act.
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Committee Assignments in the Senate:
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
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Community Engagement: Served as a national co-chair for President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign and was a member of the vetting committee for his vice-presidential selection.
Blunt Rochester's career reflects a commitment to public service, focusing on workforce development, healthcare access, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform.
