Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Barbara-Rose Collins
Succeeded by	Hansen Clarke
Constituency	15th district (1997–2003) 13th district (2003–2011)
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1997
Preceded by	Jackie Vaughn III
Succeeded by	Kwame Kilpatrick
Constituency	18th district (1979–1982) 8th district (1983–1992) 9th district (1993–1996)
Personal details
Born	Carolyn Jean Cheeks (1945-06-25) June 25, 1945 (age 80) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Bernard Kilpatrick
Children	2, including Kwame
Education	Ferris State University Western Michigan University (BS) University of Michigan (MS)

Carolyn Jean Cheeks Kilpatrick (born June 25, 1945) is a former American politician. She served in the United States House of Representatives for the state of Michigan from 1997 to 2011. The House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the country.

As a member of the Democratic Party, she represented the people of her district in Washington, D.C.. In 2010, she lost an important election called a primary to Hansen Clarke. He then took her place in Congress. Kilpatrick is also the mother of Kwame Kilpatrick, who was once the mayor of Detroit.

Early Life and Education

Carolyn Jean Cheeks was born in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from high school, she went to college. She attended Ferris State University and later earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 1972. A bachelor's degree is the first degree you get after about four years of college study.

She continued her education and earned a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1977. Before becoming a national politician, she worked as a high school teacher.

A Career in Politics

Kilpatrick's political career began in Michigan. She was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1978 and served there for 18 years, from 1979 to 1996. This is the part of the Michigan state government that makes laws just for Michigan.

Serving in the U.S. Congress

In 1996, Kilpatrick decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. She won the election and began serving in 1997. In Congress, she worked on important committees. A committee is a small group of representatives who focus on specific topics, like money or transportation.

Kilpatrick was a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. This committee decides how the U.S. government spends its money. It's one of the most important jobs in Congress.

She was also a member of several groups in Congress, including:

• The Congressional Black Caucus, a group of African American members of Congress. She was chosen to be the leader of this group for the 110th Congress (2007-2008).
• The Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group that supports more liberal or forward-thinking ideas.

Political Campaigns

To get elected to Congress, politicians must run in campaigns. Kilpatrick ran in many successful campaigns.

Winning Her First Election

In 1996, Kilpatrick ran against the person who held the office at the time, Barbara-Rose Collins. Kilpatrick won the Democratic primary election with over half of the votes. In her district, winning the Democratic primary almost always meant winning the main election. She was re-elected six more times, usually by a very large number of votes.

Later Campaigns

In 2008, Kilpatrick faced a tough primary election. Her campaign was affected by public difficulties involving her son, Kwame. Despite the challenges, she won the primary with 39% of the vote.

However, in the 2010 primary election, she was defeated by Hansen Clarke. Many news reports said that the ongoing issues surrounding her son were a major reason for her loss. This election marked the end of her time in Congress.

Personal Life

Kilpatrick was married to Bernard Kilpatrick, and they had two children, a daughter named Ayanna and a son named Kwame Kilpatrick. The couple divorced in 1981. She is a grandmother to eight grandchildren.

She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a service organization for African American women.

Electoral history

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives