Ayanna Pressley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayanna Pressley
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Capuano |
| Member of the Boston City Council at-large |
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| In office January 4, 2010 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Michael F. Flaherty Sam Yoon |
| Succeeded by | Althea Garrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ayanna Soyini Pressley
February 3, 1974 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Conan Harris
(m. 2014) |
| Children | 1 stepdaughter |
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| Website | |
Ayanna Soyini Pressley (born February 3, 1974) is an American politician. She has served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district since 2019. A U.S. Representative is someone elected to speak for their community in the national government. Her district includes parts of Boston, Cambridge, Milton, Chelsea, Everett, Randolph, and Somerville.
Before joining Congress, Pressley was an at-large member of the Boston City Council from 2010 to 2019. An at-large member represents the entire city, not just one neighborhood. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. She won against the person who held the seat for a long time in her party's election. Pressley was the first Black woman elected to the Boston City Council. She was also the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts. Pressley is part of "The Squad," a group of progressive Congress members. Progressive means they support social and political changes to improve society.
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Ayanna Pressley's Early Life and Education
Pressley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Martin Terrell, faced personal challenges when Ayanna was young. He later went on to earn several college degrees and taught at universities. Her mother, Sandra Pressley, worked hard at many jobs to support their family. She also helped people in her community, working to make sure tenants had fair rights. Her parents later divorced.
Pressley attended Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. There, she was a cheerleader, did modeling and voice-over work, and was a competitive debater. During her last year of high school, she was voted "most likely to be mayor of Chicago." She also gave a speech at her graduation.
Pressley's mother later moved to Brooklyn and remarried. When Pressley was elected to the Boston City Council, her mother often attended public meetings. She proudly wore a hat that said "Mama Pressley."
From 1992 to 1994, Pressley attended Boston University. She later left school to work full-time to help her mother, who had lost her job. She took more classes at Boston University Metropolitan College.
Ayanna Pressley's Start in Politics
After leaving Boston University, Pressley worked for Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II. She had interned for him during college. She started as Kennedy's scheduler, helping to organize his appointments. Then, she became a director who helped people in his district. Later, she became a senior advisor and political director for Senator John Kerry.
Ayanna Pressley on the Boston City Council
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Pressley was first elected to the Boston City Council in November 2009. When she officially started her job on January 4, 2010, she made history. She was the first woman of color to serve on the Boston City Council in its 100-year history.
Pressley focused a lot on issues important to women and children. She started a special committee to help women, families, and communities stay healthy and safe. This committee worked on important issues like preventing harm to children and helping families. She also worked with community members to create a health education program for Boston Public Schools.
In 2014, Pressley helped pass a rule that made sure all city employees, including transgender employees, had fair access to healthcare. This meant that health insurance companies working with the city could not treat people differently based on their gender identity. Pressley said, "We can't be a world-class city if anyone is made to feel like a second-class citizen."
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Pressley also worked on rules about liquor licenses in the city.
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In 2017, the Council passed a rule that Pressley helped create. This rule required the city to find and work with businesses owned by women and minorities for city contracts. It also required the city to ask for bids from at least one woman-owned and one minority-owned business for smaller contracts.
A political science professor, Erin O'Brien, noted that some older politicians saw Pressley as someone who liked to show off. However, in many communities of color, people saw her as an exciting leader. They felt she was speaking up about issues the council had not paid enough attention to.
Pressley was very popular in her City Council elections. She finished first among all candidates in 2011, 2013, and 2015. In 2017, she placed second. While on the Boston City Council, Pressley was one of the first important Massachusetts politicians to support Elizabeth Warren's successful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2012. Pressley later supported Warren's campaign for president in 2020.
Ayanna Pressley in the U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional Elections
2018 Election
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In January 2018, Pressley announced she would run against the current U.S. Representative, Michael Capuano. This was for the Democratic Party's primary election in Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. This district is known for being very supportive of the Democratic Party. It is also the only district in the state where most residents are not white.
Many people had thought Pressley would run for this seat if Capuano ever retired. Both Pressley and Capuano were known for their progressive ideas. Pressley argued that the district needed a representative who would take a more active role in opposing the presidency of Donald Trump. Her campaign slogan was "change can't wait," and she promised "activist leadership."
In the primary election on September 4, 2018, Pressley surprised many by defeating Capuano. She won with 59% of the votes. This victory was unexpected because polls before the election showed Capuano with a big lead. A large number of new voters, especially Hispanic and Asian voters, participated in the primary. Pressley then won the general election without anyone running against her.
Later Elections
Pressley ran for re-election in 2020 and won a second term. She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. In the general election, she faced a write-in Republican candidate and won.
In 2022, Pressley ran for a third term. She defeated Republican Donnie Palmer in the general election. Palmer was the first Republican to run in this district without a write-in campaign since 1998.
In 2024, Pressley ran unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election. She secured her fourth term representing District 7.
Pressley's Time in Congress
Ayanna Pressley is the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress. Along with Jahana Hayes from Connecticut, they were the first women of color elected to Congress from New England.
Pressley is a member of "The Squad." This informal group of Congress members works together to push for progressive changes. These changes include ideas like the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-all. The other original members of "The Squad" are Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Pressley is the oldest and has the most political experience among them.
In July 2019, Pressley shared that her office received serious threats to her safety after comments made by then-President Donald J. Trump. She said these threats had been ongoing since her election.
In May 2019, Pressley gave the graduation speech at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She told the graduates they were "a powerful force for change." In her speech, she celebrated the diversity of the students.
On September 17, 2019, Pressley filed a resolution. This was a formal request for the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
In November 2019, Pressley introduced a plan for criminal justice reform. This plan, called The People's Justice Guarantee, called for several changes. These included changing rules about how people are released from jail before trial, ending the death penalty and solitary confinement, and reducing the number of people in U.S. prisons.
In July 2021, Pressley joined Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar in sleeping on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. They did this to protest the end of a rule that stopped people from being asked to leave their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2021, Pressley was one of six House Democrats who voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This was a large spending bill for infrastructure. She voted against it because it was separated from other social support plans she believed were important.
In May 2025, Pressley, along with Zach Nunn and Lauren Underwood, introduced the bipartisan HEALTH for MOM Act. This bill aims to make it easier for mothers to get healthcare, especially in areas where it's hard to find.
Committee Assignments and Caucus Memberships
Ayanna Pressley serves on important committees in the House of Representatives. These committees study and make decisions about different topics.
- Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions
- Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion
- Committee on Oversight and Accountability
She is also part of several caucuses. Caucuses are groups of lawmakers who share similar interests or backgrounds.
- Congressional Bike Caucus (co-chair)
- Black Maternal Health Caucus
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment (Pressley co-chairs it with Cori Bush)
- Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Future of Transportation Caucus (founding co-chair)
- Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
Ayanna Pressley's Political Views
Pressley's political views are aligned with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She focuses on making things fair for everyone, especially in terms of race and economic justice. She also supports healthcare reform and fixing unfair systems.
Healthcare
Pressley supports Medicare for All. This idea would create a single government-run health insurance system for everyone.
In May 2019, Pressley and Senator Cory Booker introduced the Healthy MOMMIES Act. This bill aimed to expand healthcare coverage for mothers. It would provide care for mothers before, during, and after childbirth for a full year. The bill also looked into how to improve support from trained helpers during childbirth, called doulas.
Civil Liberties
Pressley has supported protests that brought attention to how police actions sometimes affect Black people unfairly.
On March 5, 2019, Pressley suggested lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. This was her first amendment in the House of Representatives. Her idea was voted down, but many Democrats and one Republican supported it.
In December 2019, Pressley, Cory Booker, and other representatives introduced the CROWN Act. This law aims to stop unfair treatment based on hair textures and hairstyles often linked to a particular race.
Immigration
In June 2018, Pressley called for changes to how the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency operates. She said the agency caused problems for immigrant communities. In June 2019, Pressley voted against a bill that would provide money for humanitarian aid and security at the southern border.
Labor
In April 2019, Pressley was one of four House Democrats to introduce the Be HEARD Act. This bill aimed to change rules for workers. It proposed ending the minimum wage for workers who also receive tips. It also sought to change rules about how workplace disagreements are handled and agreements that keep certain information private before someone is hired. The bill also aimed to give workers more time to report unfair treatment.
Student Loan Forgiveness
In February 2021, Pressley supported a plan to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt for millions of Americans. She urged President Biden to forgive this debt using his executive power. She argued that this would lead to a fair economic recovery for everyone. She also stated that if people truly believe in racial equality, then government spending and rules should reflect that belief.
Credit Reports
As a city councilor, Pressley introduced a rule stopping employers from using credit scores to decide who to hire or keep employed.
As a congresswoman, Pressley wrote a bill called the "Comprehensive Credit Reporting Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation, and Transparency Act" (CREDIT Act). This bill passed the House in January 2020. The bill aimed to:
- Limit how employers use credit scores when hiring.
- Give the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau more power to oversee the credit score industry.
- Reduce the time most negative information stays on credit scores from seven to four years.
- Reduce the time bankruptcy information stays on credit scores from ten to seven years.
- Make it easier for people to fix mistakes on their credit reports.
- Provide more chances for those with student loans to improve their credit scores.
- Stop debt from "medically necessary" procedures from being reported.
- Create longer delays for reporting other medical expenses.
Presidential Primary Endorsements
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During the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, Pressley supported Hillary Clinton's campaign.
In November 2019, Pressley supported Senator Elizabeth Warren's campaign for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries. This was different from the other three members of "The Squad," who supported Bernie Sanders. Pressley became one of Warren's main supporters during the campaign. After Warren ended her campaign, Pressley later supported Joe Biden for president at the Democratic National Convention.
Public Transit and Infrastructure
Pressley believes that public transit should be free for users. In 2020, she helped write the Freedom to Move Act with Senator Ed Markey. This bill would have offered money to transit agencies that provide free public transportation. They reintroduced the bill in April 2023.
In November 2021, Pressley was one of six House Democrats who voted against a large infrastructure spending bill. She voted with most Republicans on this issue.
Reparations for Slavery
In February 2025, Pressley reintroduced a bill to create a commission. This commission would study and develop ideas for reparation proposals for African Americans. Pressley said that this was important because of ongoing challenges related to racial injustice and concerns about court decisions affecting civil rights.
Ayanna Pressley's Personal Life
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Pressley lives in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood with her husband, Conan Harris, and her stepdaughter. In January 2019, her husband left his job at Boston City Hall to start his own business.
Pressley has shared that she is a "woman of faith" and grew up in the church. She is also the granddaughter of a Baptist preacher.
In January 2020, Pressley shared that she had been diagnosed with alopecia areata. This is a condition that caused her to lose all of her hair. She said she wanted to be open about her condition and help others who might be facing similar challenges. In 2022, she appeared in a TV series called The Hair Tales to discuss her experience with alopecia.
Pressley is a member of The Links, a nonprofit social and service organization.
Honors and Awards
- 2012: Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, Class of 2012
- 2012: Truman National Security Project Partner
- 2014: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 10 Outstanding Young Leaders
- 2014: Victim Rights Law Center, Leadership Award
- 2015: Boston magazine, 50 Most Powerful People
- 2015: EMILY's List, Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award
- 2016: The New York Times, 14 Young Democrats to Watch
- 2018: Boston magazine, 100 Most Influential People in Boston, #20
- 2020: Children's HealthWatch Champion
- 2021: Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa from Simmons University
- 2023: Black Women Lead Banner, honoring Black women leaders who have shaped Boston
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
 | Shirley Ann Jackson |
 | Garett Morgan |
 | J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. |
 | Elijah McCoy |
