Carol Moseley Braun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carol Moseley Braun
Official portrait, 2024
Chair of the United States African Development Foundation
Incumbent
Assumed office August 3, 2024
President	Joe Biden Donald Trump
Preceded by	Jack Leslie
United States Ambassador to New Zealand
In office December 15, 1999 – March 1, 2001
President	Bill Clinton George W. Bush
Preceded by	Joe Beeman
Succeeded by	Charles Swindells
United States Ambassador to Samoa
In office February 8, 2000 – March 1, 2001
President	Bill Clinton George W. Bush
Preceded by	Joe Beeman
Succeeded by	Charles Swindells
United States Senator from Illinois
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Alan Dixon
Succeeded by	Peter Fitzgerald
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
In office December 1, 1988 – December 1, 1992
Preceded by	Harry Yourell
Succeeded by	Jesse White
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office January 5, 1979 – December 1, 1988
Preceded by	Robert E. Mann
Succeeded by	Donne Trotter
Constituency	24th district (1979–1983) 25th district (1983–1988)
Personal details
Born	Carol Elizabeth Moseley (1947-08-16) August 16, 1947 (age 78) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Michael Braun ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1986)​
Children	1
Education	University of Illinois at Chicago (BA) University of Chicago (JD)
Known for	First female African-American U.S. senator

Carol Moseley Braun (born August 16, 1947) is an American diplomat, politician, and lawyer. She made history by representing Illinois in the United States Senate from 1993 to 1999.

Moseley Braun was the first African-American woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. She was also the first African-American U.S. senator from the Democratic Party and the first woman to serve as a senator from Illinois.

Before her time in the Senate, Moseley Braun was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1979 to 1988. She then served as the Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1988 to 1992. After her Senate term, she became the United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 1999 to 2001.

She also ran for president in 2004 and for mayor of Chicago in 2011. In 2024, she became the chair of the United States African Development Foundation, a role she was appointed to by President Joe Biden.

Early Life and Education

Carol Elizabeth Moseley was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was a police officer, and her mother was a medical technician. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago. When her parents divorced, she went to live with her grandmother.

She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated in 1969 with a degree in political science. After that, she earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1972.

In 1973, she married Michael Braun, and they had a son named Matthew. They later divorced in 1986.

From 1973 to 1977, Moseley Braun worked as a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago. She won an award for her work in housing and environmental law.

Start of Her Political Career

Official photograph, circa 1981

In 1978, Moseley Braun was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. She quickly became known as a strong voice for social causes and was the first African-American woman to serve as assistant majority leader. Her colleagues called her "the conscience of the House."

In 1988, she was elected as the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, an office that keeps public records. She held this position for four years before running for the U.S. Senate.

A Historic Term as a U.S. Senator

How She Got Elected

Moseley Braun in 1993

In 1992, Moseley Braun decided to run for the U.S. Senate. She was upset with the sitting senator, Alan J. Dixon, for his vote to confirm Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. She won the Democratic primary election against Dixon.

On November 3, 1992, she won the main election, becoming the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. She served one term and was defeated in her re-election campaign in 1998.

Her Work in the Senate

Moseley Braun with President Bill Clinton in March 1993

Female Democratic Senators in 1993. Top (L-R): Patty Murray, Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Boxer. Bottom: Carol Moseley Braun, Dianne Feinstein.

As a senator, Moseley Braun was the only African American serving during her time. She was also the first woman to serve on the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

On money matters, she often took a middle-of-the-road approach. She supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but voted against major changes to welfare programs.

On social issues, she was known for her liberal views. She supported a woman's right to choose and favored more gun control laws. She was one of only 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

In 1993, Moseley Braun and Senator Barbara Mikulski challenged a rule that said women could not wear pants on the Senate floor. They wore pants anyway, and the rule was soon changed.

That same year, she successfully argued against renewing a design patent for the United Daughters of the Confederacy because its logo included the Confederate flag. She gave a powerful speech, saying the flag was a symbol of slavery and had no place in modern society. The Senate agreed and rejected the patent.

During her term, there were questions about her campaign finances, but government agencies decided not to take action.

Life After the Senate

Ambassador and Presidential Candidate

Ambassadorial portrait

After leaving the Senate, President Bill Clinton appointed her as the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. She served from 1999 to 2001.

In 2003, she announced she was running for president. She wanted to be the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Her campaign focused on issues like universal healthcare and ending the Iraq War. However, she struggled to raise money and gain support. In January 2004, she dropped out of the race.

Campaign for Mayor of Chicago

Moseley Braun campaign logo

In 2010, Moseley Braun ran for mayor of her hometown, Chicago. She became the main African-American candidate after other candidates stepped aside to support her.

Her campaign faced challenges, including a lack of funding. During a debate, she made a comment about another candidate that was seen as a personal attack, which hurt her support. She finished fourth in the election, which was won by Rahm Emanuel.

Recent Activities

Official portrait, 2024

Moseley Braun has remained active in politics. She supported Joe Biden for president in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.

In 2023, President Biden nominated her to lead the United States African Development Foundation, an agency that supports economic growth in Africa. The Senate confirmed her, and she began her role as chair in April 2024.

Outside of politics, she started an organic food company and has worked as a visiting professor at Northwestern University. In 2025, she was elected Board Chair of the DuSable Museum in Chicago. Her memoir, Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics, is scheduled to be published in 2026.

Personal Life

Moseley Braun speaking in Chicago in 2019

Moseley Braun has one son, Matthew. She has lived in Chicago for most of her life.

In 2007, she was injured during an attempted robbery near her home but recovered. A man was later convicted for the crime. In later years, she faced some financial difficulties.

Electoral history

1988 Cook County Recorder of Deeds

1992 United States Senate election in Illinois

1998 United States Senate election in Illinois

2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries

2011 Chicago mayoral election

See also

In Spanish: Carol Moseley Braun para niños

• Black women in American politics
• List of African-American United States senators
• List of African-American United States Senate candidates
• Women in the United States Senate

Images for kids

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  Sign for Moseley Braun's mayoral campaign

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  Moseley Braun campaigning in Iowa

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  Moseley Braun campaign logo