Gwen Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gwen Moore
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Jerry Kleczka |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office January 4, 1993 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Ulichny |
| Succeeded by | Lena Taylor |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 1989 – January 4, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Dismas Becker |
| Succeeded by | Peter Bock |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gwendolynne Sophia Moore
April 18, 1951 Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3, including Supreme |
| Education | Marquette University (BA) |
Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (born April 18, 1951) is an American politician. She serves as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 4th district. She has held this role since 2005.
In 2016, Gwen Moore was chosen to be a leader for the Congressional Black Caucus. This group works on issues important to African Americans. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Her district covers Milwaukee and some nearby towns. These towns include Bayside, Brown Deer, and Glendale.
Gwen Moore is the first woman to represent her district in Congress. She is also the first African American person elected to Congress from Wisconsin. As of 2023, she is Wisconsin's longest-serving representative.
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Gwen Moore's Early Life and Education
Gwen Moore was born in Racine. She grew up in Milwaukee with her eight brothers and sisters. Her father worked in a factory, and her mother was a teacher. Gwen went to North Division High School. There, she was the student council president.
She later attended Marquette University. She earned a degree in political science in 1973. During this time, she became a single mother.
After college, Gwen Moore worked with AmeriCorps VISTA. She helped create a credit union to give money to people with low incomes. This helped them start businesses. For her efforts, she received a special award.
From 1985 to 1989, she worked for the City of Milwaukee. She helped plan neighborhood development. She also worked for state departments focused on jobs and social services.
Serving in Wisconsin's Government
Gwen Moore began her political career in Wisconsin. She worked to help people in her state.
Making Laws in the State Assembly
In 1988, Gwen Moore was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly. This is part of Wisconsin's state government. She served two terms, helping to make laws for her district.
Working in the State Senate
In 1992, Moore was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. She served there from 1993 to 2005. She was the first African-American woman to be elected to the state senate. She spoke out against rules that would make it harder for people to visit the Capitol building. She believed everyone should be able to visit their government easily.
Representing Wisconsin in Congress
In 2004, Gwen Moore was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She won with a large number of votes. She was one of the few African Americans elected to Congress that year. She was also the first African American and second woman from Wisconsin to serve in Congress.
Important Votes and Actions
As a U.S. Representative, Gwen Moore has worked on many important issues. In 2011, she became a co-chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus. She focused on making health insurance better and protecting women's health rights. She is also part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group supports policies that help people and communities.
Moore believes the federal government should help solve problems like poverty. She has supported laws to help small businesses create jobs. She also supported funding for community programs and Medicaid. She worked to stop unfair lending practices.
In 2006, Gwen Moore and other members of Congress were arrested. They were protesting outside the Embassy of Sudan. They wanted to bring attention to the conflict in Darfur. Moore said it was a peaceful way to show their concerns.
In 2019, Moore voted on a resolution about Israel. She voted against a resolution that opposed boycotts against Israel. In 2024, she chose not to attend a speech by Israel's Prime Minister. This was to protest the Gaza-Israel conflict.
In December 2019, Moore voted to impeach President Donald Trump. In 2023, she voted to remove U.S. troops from Syria. She also voted against a bill about the national debt.
What She Works On in Congress
Gwen Moore serves on important committees in Congress. She is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. This committee deals with taxes and other money matters. She also works on subcommittees for oversight, revenue, and worker and family support.
She is also part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group works on issues like social justice and economic fairness.
Her Life Outside of Politics
Gwen Moore has three children. Her son, Supreme Moore Omokunde, is also involved in politics. He was elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in 2015. In 2020, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Gwen Moore has also served as a U.S. delegate. She attended meetings for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In 2016, she supported Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Moore also spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. She is a Baptist.
