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 |
| Education | Boston University |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Ayanna Soyini Pressley (born February 3, 1974) is an American politician. Since 2019, she has been the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. A congressional district is an area of a state that a representative is elected to serve.
Her district includes parts of Boston and Cambridge, and all of Chelsea, Everett, Randolph, and Somerville. Before serving in Congress, Pressley was a member of the Boston City Council from 2010 to 2019. She made history as the first Black woman elected to the Boston City Council. She was also the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts.
Pressley is a member of "The Squad," a group of progressive members of Congress. They work together to support policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Ayanna Pressley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Sandra Pressley, worked several jobs to support the family. She was also a community organizer who helped people with housing issues.
Pressley attended the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. She was a cheerleader, a model, and a competitive debater. Her classmates voted her "most likely to be mayor of Chicago."
After high school, Pressley went to Boston University. She later left school to work and support her mother. She continued to take classes at Boston University's Metropolitan College.
Start of Her Political Career
Pressley began her career working for Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II. She started as an intern and later became his scheduler and constituency director. This means she helped organize his schedule and worked with the people in his district.
Later, she became the political director and a senior aide for Senator John Kerry. In this role, she helped manage his political activities and campaigns.
Boston City Council (2010-2019)
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In 2009, Pressley was elected to the Boston City Council. When she took office in 2010, she became the first woman of color to serve on the council in its 100-year history.
On the council, Pressley focused on helping women, children, and families. She started a committee to work on issues like family safety and health. She also helped create a health education program for Boston Public Schools.
Pressley worked to make sure the city's laws were fair for everyone. In 2014, she helped pass a rule that gave transgender city workers and their families access to the healthcare they needed.
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She also worked on rules for businesses that sell alcohol. Her goal was to help small businesses in neighborhoods that needed more economic growth.
Pressley was very popular and won her re-elections easily. She often finished first among all the at-large candidates, who are elected by the entire city.
U.S. House of Representatives
How She Got Elected
2018 Election
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In 2018, Pressley decided to run for Congress. She challenged the current representative, Mike Capuano, in the Democratic primary election. A primary is an election where voters choose their party's candidate for the main election.
Her district is strongly Democratic, so winning the primary almost guaranteed a win in the final election. Pressley campaigned with the slogan "change can't wait." She argued that the district needed a new kind of leadership.
On September 4, 2018, Pressley won the primary election in a surprise victory. She then ran unopposed in the general election and won her seat in Congress.
Later Elections
Pressley was reelected in 2020, 2022, and 2024. She continues to represent Massachusetts's 7th district in Congress.
Her Work in Congress
Pressley is known as a progressive leader. She is a member of "The Squad," along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. They are known for their strong progressive views.
In 2019, Pressley introduced a resolution to reform the criminal justice system. She has also worked on laws to protect people from discrimination based on their natural hair.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she protested to help people who were at risk of losing their homes.
Committee Work
- Committee on Financial Services
- Committee on Oversight and Accountability
What She Believes: Political Views
Pressley's political views are progressive. She focuses on fairness, especially for race and the economy, and wants to improve healthcare for everyone.
Healthcare
Pressley supports Medicare for All, a plan for a national health insurance program for all Americans. She has also worked on laws to improve healthcare for new mothers. She wants to make sure they have medical care during pregnancy and for a full year after giving birth.
Civil Liberties
Pressley believes the voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16. In 2019, she introduced an amendment in Congress to make this change.
She also co-sponsored the CROWN Act. This law would ban discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles, such as braids or locs.
Immigration
Pressley has called for major changes to the U.S. immigration system. She voted against a border funding bill in 2019 because she felt it did not do enough to protect the health and safety of people in custody.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Pressley is a strong supporter of canceling student loan debt. She believes it would help the economy and create a more equal society. She has urged President Joe Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt per person.
Public Transportation
Pressley believes that public transportation should be free for everyone. She co-authored the Freedom to Move Act with Senator Ed Markey. The bill would give money to transit systems that stop charging fares.
Personal Life
Pressley lives in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. She is married to Conan Harris and has a stepdaughter.
In January 2020, Pressley shared that she has a medical condition called alopecia areata. This condition causes hair loss. She is now completely bald and often wears beautiful wigs and headwear. She has spoken publicly about her experience to help others and reduce the shame some people feel about the condition.
Awards and Recognition
- 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
- 2021: Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Simmons University
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
