Summary
Current Position: US Senator
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: DE Secretary of Labor from 1988 – 2001 & US Representative of DE At-Large since 2017
Featured Quote:
Direct relief for families in the midst of a pandemic shouldn’t be a partisan issue. That’s why I’m introducing the Coronavirus Assistance for American Families Act w/ @RepMcKinley to provide $1,400 for individuals and an additional $1,400 for dependents.
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester’s full speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention
OnAir Post: Lisa Blunt Rochester – DE
News
About
Source: Government page
As the Energy and Commerce Committee’s only former statewide health official, Lisa understands health care from a number of different perspectives – as an implementer at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, negotiator while serving as State Personnel Director, and advocate as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Lisa is focused on reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs for middle-class families, addressing the disparity in outcomes for communities of color, and tackling our nation’s opioid and addiction epidemic. She serves as a Member of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, comprised of more than 100 members united with the common goal of tackling opioid addiction.
Lisa is a leading voice in Congress on economic and future of work-related issues. As former Secretary of Labor and State Personnel Director, Lisa leverages her professional experience to advocate for legislation that boosts start-up business growth, removes barriers for citizens re-entering society, and addresses college affordability and ballooning student debt. She is a Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Future of Work Task Force and serves as the sole Member of Congress on the Aspen Institute’s National Advisory Council for the Future of Work Initiative. She is also the founder of the Congressional Future of Work Caucus.
In the 115th Congress, Lisa was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture – the first Delawarean to serve on the committee in over 120 years. In this role, she helped craft the 2018 Farm Bill, which is a five-year re-authorization that extends U.S. Department of Agriculture programs related to the farm safety net; nutrition programs that feed children, seniors, people with disabilities, and families who rely on the social support programs; land-grant and 1890 universities; and agriculture research.
As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a strong proponent of reforming our criminal justice system, Lisa introduced first-in-the-nation legislation, the Clean Slate Act, sealing the federal records of former nonviolent offenders that remain crime-free and have earned a second chance. This bill would provide new opportunities for Americans to earn a good-paying job, pursue education and training, and rent or own a home. According to estimates by the Center for American Progress, the passage of the Clean Slate Act could boost the U.S. economy by as much as $87 billion per year.
Traveling up and down the state, Lisa is an advocate for the needs of every community, which informs her work in Washington. Having met with homeowners in the South Shore Marina development in North Bethany Beach, she learned of an error in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s coastal mapping unit for the town – preventing homeowners from taking advantage of the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA aid in the event of a disaster. Turning their concerns into action, Lisa reached across the aisle to work with Democrats and Republicans across the country with similarly affected mapping units and introduced the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act. She worked with allies in Delaware and Washington to help usher this critical piece of legislation into law – aiding homeowners and setting aside hundreds of acres for environmental protection.
With deep roots in the First State, Lisa grew up in Wilmington, graduated from Padua Academy, and worked her first job at the McDonald’s on Market Street. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in International Relations and put herself through graduate school as a working mom – earning a master’s degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.
Lisa began her distinguished career in public service as an intern and later Caseworker in a congressional office where she helped Delawareans with their Social Security benefits, disability insurance claims, IRS disputes, and housing needs. Lisa would go on to serve in the cabinets of two Delaware governors and as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League – an action-oriented, public policy research think-tank.
Lisa also served as the Senior Executive Leadership and Systems Manager for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she advocated for people with disabilities in their struggle for equal opportunity and civil rights. During this time, Lisa helped expand the Institute’s global footprint and advised state agencies and employers. In part due to Lisa’s work, she helped build the Institute into a fully-fledged college at the university, the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development — focused on the inclusion of all people.
Lisa currently resides in Wilmington, Delaware near her adult-aged children, Alex and Alyssa, as well as her daughter-in-law, Ebony.
Personal
Full Name: Lisa Blunt Rochester
Gender: Female
Family: Divorced: Alex Bradley; 2 Children: Alyssa, Alex; Widowed: Charles
Birth Date: 02/10/1962
Birth Place: Philadelphia, PA
Home City: Wilmington, DE
Religion: Christian
Source: Vote Smart
Education
Attended, International Relations, Villanova University
MA, Urban Affairs/ Public Policy, University of Delaware, 2000-2003
BA, International Relations, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1982-1985
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Delaware, District At-Large, 2017-present
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Delaware, District At-Large, 2022
Professional Experience
Former Intern/Caseworker, Congressman Tom Carper
Senior Executive Leadership & Systems Manager, Institute for Community Inclusion at UMASS at Boston
Author, THRIVE: 34 Women, 18 Countries, One Goal
Management Consultant, Blunt Consulting, 2006-2015
Former Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, 2004-2007
Former State Personnel Director, State of Delaware, 2001-2004
Former Secretary of Labor, State of Delaware, 1998-2001
Former Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services, State of Delaware, 1993-1998
Offices
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE1724 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4165
WILMINGTON OFFICE1105 N Market St, Ste. 400
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 830-2330
GEORGETOWN OFFICE28 The Circle, Suite 2
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 858-4773
Contact
Email: Government Page
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Election Results
To learn more, go to the wikipedia section in this post.
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
Caucuses
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Future of Work Caucus (Founder / Co-Chair)
- New Democrat Coalition
New Legislation
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
Wikipedia
Lisa LaTrelle Blunt Rochester (née Blunt;[1] born February 10, 1962) is an American politician who is a United States senator-elect from Delaware. She has served as the U.S. representative for Delaware’s at-large congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman, and first African American, to represent Delaware in Congress.[2]
Blunt Rochester began her political career working for Tom Carper, first in the House of Representatives, and later as he became governor of Delaware. She was appointed deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services in 1993 and secretary of the Department of Labor in 1998. Blunt Rochester was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. During the 2020 presidential election, she was one of Joe Biden‘s campaign co-chairs.
In 2023, Blunt Rochester announced her candidacy to represent Delaware in the United States Senate in the 2024 election and succeed the retiring Carper, who endorsed her in the race.[3][4] Blunt Rochester won the Democratic primary unopposed and defeated Republican nominee Eric Hansen in the general election. She will be the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate.[5][6]
Early life and education
Blunt Rochester was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1962.[7] Her family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in 1969.[8] Her father, Ted Blunt, was an educator who served on the Wilmington City Council, including as council president.[9] Her mother, Alice LaTrelle, worked in retail. Her sister Marla Blunt Carter is a professor at Rutgers University.[2]
Blunt Rochester attended Padua Academy, began college at Villanova University and transferred to the University of Delaware in her sophomore year.[2] She left college to live in Europe, and later received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University and her master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.[8][2]
Early political career
Blunt Rochester worked for Tom Carper as an intern in 1989, when he represented Delaware’s at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. After the internship, she continued to work for Carper as a constituent relations caseworker, and worked on his transition team when he was elected governor of Delaware.[2][10][11] Carper appointed her deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services in 1993 and secretary of the Department of Labor in 1998. Governor Ruth Ann Minner named Blunt Rochester the state personnel director in 2001.[2]
In 2004, Blunt Rochester left government service and became the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.[2][8]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
.jpg)
.jpg)
Blunt Rochester ran for the United States House of Representatives in Delaware’s at-large congressional district in the 2016 election.[12] She won the Democratic Party nomination on September 13 with 44% of the vote in a five-candidate primary, defeating State Senator Bryan Townsend and venture capital firm owner Sean Barney.[13] In the November 8 general election, she defeated the Republican nominee, Wyoming Mayor Hans Reigle.[14] When she was sworn into office on January 3, 2017, she became the first woman and the first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress.[14] During her swearing-in, she carried a scarf imprinted with her great-great-great-grandfather’s Reconstruction Era voter registration card. He had been a slave.[11]
Tenure
On December 18, 2019, Blunt Rochester voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[15]
During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Blunt Rochester was ushered into a secure room with fellow members of Congress. Despite House rules on mask mandates, many Republican members, including Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, abstained from wearing a mask. A clip went viral of Blunt Rochester offering masks to her Republican colleagues, in which they seemingly mocked and refused her offer. In the following days, multiple members tested positive for COVID-19.[16]
Blunt Rochester voted to impeach Trump a second time on January 13, 2021.[17]
As of 2022, Blunt Rochester had voted with President Joe Biden‘s stated position 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.[18]
Blunt Rochester’s record on Israel is mixed. She voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel,[19][20] but voted against providing further aid in November 2023 and in February 2024.[21][22] She voted to provide aid in April 2024.[23] In September 2024, she voted against an anti-BDS bill.[24]
2020 presidential election
Blunt Rochester played an active role in the 2020 presidential election. After Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee in March 2020, his campaign named her one of its co-chairs.[25] At the end of April, Blunt Rochester was named a member of the vetting committee for Biden’s vice presidential candidate selection.[26]
Rochester was a 2020 Democratic National Convention speaker.[27]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[28]
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Black Caucus[29]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[30]
- Future of Work Caucus (founder/co-chair)[31]
- New Democrat Coalition[32]
- Rare Disease Caucus[33]
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[34]
U.S. Senate
On June 21, 2023, Blunt Rochester announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2024 election to succeed Tom Carper.[35] Carper endorsed Blunt Rochester as his successor at his press conference announcing his retirement.[4] She was widely considered the heavy favorite to win both the Democratic primary and the general election.[36][37] Blunt Rochester won the election defeating Republican Eric Hansen by a vote of 283,298 (57%) to 197,753 (40%).[38]
Personal life
Blunt Rochester was married to her first husband, professional basketball player Alex Bradley, from 1982 to 2003. They met at Villanova University and lived in Italy and France while he played basketball professionally. They have two children together.[2] The marriage ended with an amicable divorce in 2003.[39]
She met her second husband, Charles Rochester, later in 2003. They married in 2006.[2] Charles died in 2014[1][11][9][40] when his Achilles tendon ruptured, causing blood clots to go to his heart and lungs.
Blunt Rochester identifies as a Protestant.[41]
While living in China, Blunt Rochester co-authored the book Thrive: 34 Women, 18 Countries, One Goal.[42][43]
Electoral history
| Election results | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 2016 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 223,554 | 55.5% | Hans Reigle | Republican | 172,290 | 41.0% | ||
| 2018 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 227,333 | 64.5% | Scott Walker | Republican | 125,381 | 35.6% | ||
| 2020 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 280,612 | 57.6% | Lee Murphy | Republican | 195,708 | 40.2% | ||
| 2022 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 178,416 | 55.5% | Lee Murphy | Republican | 138,201 | 43% | ||
Book
- Blunt Rochester, Lisa; Guzman, Ale; Kuguru, Ruth (2010). Thrive: Thirty-four Women, Eighteen Countries, One Goal. Hong Kong: Grace Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 978-9881922014. OCLC 707711787.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
References
- ^ a b “Weddings”. The News Journal. June 20, 1982. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Nagengast, Larry (June 2017). “Lisa Blunt Rochester is Ready to Shake Things Up: Get to know Delaware’s first black, first female congresswoman”. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). “Delaware’s Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Everett, Burgess (May 22, 2023). “Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat”. Politico. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Killion, Nikole (June 21, 2023). “Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware launches historic bid for Senate – CBS News”. CBS News. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). “Delaware’s Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ “Guide to the New Congress” (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- ^ a b c “Running for Congress, Rochester draws on experience”. The News Journal. May 21, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Duvernay, Adam (November 10, 2016). “Rochester wins Delaware congressional race”. The News Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (January 3, 2017). “Lisa Blunt Rochester sworn in, makes history”. The News Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c Page, Susan (March 16, 2017). “Groundbreaking congresswoman on race, gender and the Joe Biden Hybrid”. USA Today. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017.
For my swearing-in, I carried this with me. Part of this was to remember how far we’ve come, that a former slave’s great-great-granddaughter is now a congresswoman.
- ^ Offredo, Jon; Jonathan, Starkey (October 26, 2015). “Former state labor secretary enters congressional race”. The News Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ “Former Delaware Labor Secretary Lisa Blunt Rochester wins Democratic primary for U.S. House seat”. The Washington Post. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b “Lisa Blunt Rochester Is Delaware’s First Female and the First African American Representative – Rochester Elected to Congress”. Cosmopolitan.com. October 17, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Panetta, Grace. “WHIP COUNT: Here’s which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump”. Business Insider.
- ^ Keri Enriquez (January 9, 2021). “Republican members of Congress refuse to wear masks during Capitol insurrection”. CNN. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Neiburg, Jeff. “Trump impeachment: Here’s what the Delaware delegation had to say”. The News Journal.
- ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ “FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 566”.
- ^ “Final Vote Results for Roll Call 38”. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ “Roll Call 152 – Bill Number: H. R. 8034”. April 20, 2024.
- ^ “Roll Call 428 – Bill Number: H. R. 5179”.
- ^ “Delaware Rep. Blunt Rochester joins Biden’s campaign team: Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester will serve as co-chair for former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign”. ABC News. Associated Press. March 6, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ O’Keefe, Ed (April 30, 2020). “Biden announces running mate vetting committee”. www.cbsnews.com. CBS News. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ “Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: “Uniting America”“. 2020 Democratic National Convention. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ “Lisa Blunt Rochester”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ “Membership”. Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ “Caucus Members”. Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ “Lawmakers Launch Caucus to Address Emerging Tech’s Impact on Work”. Nextgov.com. January 15, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ “Members”. New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ “Rare Disease Congressional Caucus”. Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ “Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute”.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). “Delaware’s Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ “Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester to launch run for Delaware Senate seat in June”. POLITICO. June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Kilgore, Ed (May 23, 2023). “Lisa Blunt Rochester Is (Very Likely) Headed to the Senate”. Intelligencer. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Powers, Kelly. “Lisa Blunt Rochester sweeps US Senate race as the first Black Delawarean to do it”. The News Journal.
- ^ https://delawaretoday.com/archive/lisa-blunt-rochester-is-ready-to-shake-things-up/
- ^ “Charles Rochester Obituary – Wilmington, DE | The News Journal”. Legacy.com. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ “Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 116th Congress” (PDF). Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. January 3, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ “About Lisa”. Lisa Blunt Democrat for Congress. January 10, 2016.
- ^ Blunt Rochester, Lisa; Guzman, Ale; Kuguru, Ruth (June 1, 2010). Thrive: Thirty-four Women, Eighteen Countries, One Goal. Grace Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 978-9881922014.
External links
- Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Statewide political officials of Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| U.S. representative |
| |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
Wikipedia
Lisa LaTrelle Blunt Rochester (née Blunt;[1] born February 10, 1962) is an American politician who is a United States senator-elect from Delaware. She has served as the U.S. representative for Delaware's at-large congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman, and first African American, to represent Delaware in Congress.[2]
Blunt Rochester began her political career working for Tom Carper, first in the House of Representatives, and later as he became governor of Delaware. She was appointed deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services in 1993 and secretary of the Department of Labor in 1998. Blunt Rochester was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. During the 2020 presidential election, she was one of Joe Biden's campaign co-chairs.
In 2023, Blunt Rochester announced her candidacy to represent Delaware in the United States Senate in the 2024 election and succeed the retiring Carper, who endorsed her in the race.[3][4] Blunt Rochester won the Democratic primary unopposed and defeated Republican nominee Eric Hansen in the general election. She will be the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate.[5][6]
Early life and education
Blunt Rochester was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1962.[7] Her family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in 1969.[8] Her father, Ted Blunt, was an educator who served on the Wilmington City Council, including as council president.[9] Her mother, Alice LaTrelle, worked in retail. Her sister Marla Blunt Carter is a professor at Rutgers University.[2]
Blunt Rochester attended Padua Academy, began college at Villanova University and transferred to the University of Delaware in her sophomore year.[2] She left college to live in Europe, and later received her bachelor's degree in international relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University and her master's degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.[8][2]
Early political career
Blunt Rochester worked for Tom Carper as an intern in 1989, when he represented Delaware's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. After the internship, she continued to work for Carper as a constituent relations caseworker, and worked on his transition team when he was elected governor of Delaware.[2][10][11] Carper appointed her deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services in 1993 and secretary of the Department of Labor in 1998. Governor Ruth Ann Minner named Blunt Rochester the state personnel director in 2001.[2]
In 2004, Blunt Rochester left government service and became the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.[2][8]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
Blunt Rochester ran for the United States House of Representatives in Delaware's at-large congressional district in the 2016 election.[12] She won the Democratic Party nomination on September 13 with 44% of the vote in a five-candidate primary, defeating State Senator Bryan Townsend and venture capital firm owner Sean Barney.[13] In the November 8 general election, she defeated the Republican nominee, Wyoming Mayor Hans Reigle.[14] When she was sworn into office on January 3, 2017, she became the first woman and the first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress.[14] During her swearing-in, she carried a scarf imprinted with her great-great-great-grandfather's Reconstruction Era voter registration card. He had been a slave.[11]
Tenure
On December 18, 2019, Blunt Rochester voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[15]
During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Blunt Rochester was ushered into a secure room with fellow members of Congress. Despite House rules on mask mandates, many Republican members, including Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, abstained from wearing a mask. A clip went viral of Blunt Rochester offering masks to her Republican colleagues, in which they seemingly mocked and refused her offer. In the following days, multiple members tested positive for COVID-19.[16]
Blunt Rochester voted to impeach Trump a second time on January 13, 2021.[17]
As of 2022, Blunt Rochester had voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.[18]
Blunt Rochester's record on Israel is mixed. She voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel,[19][20] but voted against providing further aid in November 2023 and in February 2024.[21][22] She voted to provide aid in April 2024.[23] In September 2024, she voted against an anti-BDS bill.[24]
2020 presidential election
Blunt Rochester played an active role in the 2020 presidential election. After Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee in March 2020, his campaign named her one of its co-chairs.[25] At the end of April, Blunt Rochester was named a member of the vetting committee for Biden's vice presidential candidate selection.[26]
Rochester was a 2020 Democratic National Convention speaker.[27]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[28]
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Black Caucus[29]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[30]
- Future of Work Caucus (founder/co-chair)[31]
- New Democrat Coalition[32]
- Rare Disease Caucus[33]
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[34]
U.S. Senate
On June 21, 2023, Blunt Rochester announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2024 election to succeed Tom Carper.[35] Carper endorsed Blunt Rochester as his successor at his press conference announcing his retirement.[4] She was widely considered the heavy favorite to win both the Democratic primary and the general election.[36][37] Blunt Rochester won the election defeating Republican Eric Hansen by a vote of 283,298 (57%) to 197,753 (40%).[38]
Personal life
Blunt Rochester was married to her first husband, professional basketball player Alex Bradley, from 1982 to 2003. They met at Villanova University and lived in Italy and France while he played basketball professionally. They have two children together.[2] The marriage ended with an amicable divorce in 2003.[39]
She met her second husband, Charles Rochester, later in 2003. They married in 2006.[2] Charles died in 2014[1][11][9][40] when his Achilles tendon ruptured, causing blood clots to go to his heart and lungs.
Blunt Rochester identifies as a Protestant.[41]
While living in China, Blunt Rochester co-authored the book Thrive: 34 Women, 18 Countries, One Goal.[42][43]
Electoral history
| Election results | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 2016 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 223,554 | 55.5% | Hans Reigle | Republican | 172,290 | 41.0% | ||
| 2018 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 227,333 | 64.5% | Scott Walker | Republican | 125,381 | 35.6% | ||
| 2020 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 280,612 | 57.6% | Lee Murphy | Republican | 195,708 | 40.2% | ||
| 2022 | U.S. House of | General | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | 178,416 | 55.5% | Lee Murphy | Republican | 138,201 | 43% | ||
Book
- Blunt Rochester, Lisa; Guzman, Ale; Kuguru, Ruth (2010). Thrive: Thirty-four Women, Eighteen Countries, One Goal. Hong Kong: Grace Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 978-9881922014. OCLC 707711787.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
References
- ^ a b "Weddings". The News Journal. June 20, 1982. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Nagengast, Larry (June 2017). "Lisa Blunt Rochester is Ready to Shake Things Up: Get to know Delaware's first black, first female congresswoman". Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). "Delaware's Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Everett, Burgess (May 22, 2023). "Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat". Politico. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Killion, Nikole (June 21, 2023). "Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware launches historic bid for Senate - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). "Delaware's Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Running for Congress, Rochester draws on experience". The News Journal. May 21, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Duvernay, Adam (November 10, 2016). "Rochester wins Delaware congressional race". The News Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (January 3, 2017). "Lisa Blunt Rochester sworn in, makes history". The News Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c Page, Susan (March 16, 2017). "Groundbreaking congresswoman on race, gender and the Joe Biden Hybrid". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017.
For my swearing-in, I carried this with me. Part of this was to remember how far we've come, that a former slave's great-great-granddaughter is now a congresswoman.
- ^ Offredo, Jon; Jonathan, Starkey (October 26, 2015). "Former state labor secretary enters congressional race". The News Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "Former Delaware Labor Secretary Lisa Blunt Rochester wins Democratic primary for U.S. House seat". The Washington Post. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "Lisa Blunt Rochester Is Delaware's First Female and the First African American Representative – Rochester Elected to Congress". Cosmopolitan.com. October 17, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Panetta, Grace. "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider.
- ^ Keri Enriquez (January 9, 2021). "Republican members of Congress refuse to wear masks during Capitol insurrection". CNN. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Neiburg, Jeff. "Trump impeachment: Here's what the Delaware delegation had to say". The News Journal.
- ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 566".
- ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 38". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ "Roll Call 152 - Bill Number: H. R. 8034". April 20, 2024.
- ^ "Roll Call 428 - Bill Number: H. R. 5179".
- ^ "Delaware Rep. Blunt Rochester joins Biden's campaign team: Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester will serve as co-chair for former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign". ABC News. Associated Press. March 6, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ O'Keefe, Ed (April 30, 2020). "Biden announces running mate vetting committee". www.cbsnews.com. CBS News. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America"". 2020 Democratic National Convention. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Lisa Blunt Rochester". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ "Lawmakers Launch Caucus to Address Emerging Tech's Impact on Work". Nextgov.com. January 15, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
- ^ Broadwater, Luke (June 21, 2023). "Delaware's Only House Member Enters Senate Race, Becoming Instant Favorite". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester to launch run for Delaware Senate seat in June". POLITICO. June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Kilgore, Ed (May 23, 2023). "Lisa Blunt Rochester Is (Very Likely) Headed to the Senate". Intelligencer. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Powers, Kelly. "Lisa Blunt Rochester sweeps US Senate race as the first Black Delawarean to do it". The News Journal.
- ^ https://delawaretoday.com/archive/lisa-blunt-rochester-is-ready-to-shake-things-up/
- ^ "Charles Rochester Obituary - Wilmington, DE | The News Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 116th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. January 3, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "About Lisa". Lisa Blunt Democrat for Congress. January 10, 2016.
- ^ Blunt Rochester, Lisa; Guzman, Ale; Kuguru, Ruth (June 1, 2010). Thrive: Thirty-four Women, Eighteen Countries, One Goal. Grace Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 978-9881922014.
External links
- Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Statewide political officials of Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators | | |
| U.S. representative |
| |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |
| Class 1 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
