Hansen Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hansen Clarke
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 13th district |
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| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick |
| Succeeded by | Gary Peters (Redistricting) |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 1st district |
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| In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Young |
| Succeeded by | Coleman Young II |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 7th district |
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| In office January 1, 1999 – January 1, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Virgil Smith Jr. |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 16th district |
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| In office January 1, 1991 – December 31, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Juanita Watkins |
| Succeeded by | Richard Young |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Molik Hashim
March 2, 1957 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Cornell University (BFA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Hansen Hashim Clarke (born Molik Hashim, March 2, 1957) is an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative for Michigan. He represented the 13th district from 2011 to 2013.
Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Clarke served in the Michigan House of Representatives. He was also a member of the Michigan Senate. Hansen Clarke was the first U.S. Congressman of Bangladeshi descent.
In 2010, Clarke won against the person who held the seat before him, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. This was in the Democratic primary election. In 2012, the voting districts changed. This meant Clarke had to run in a new district. He ran against another sitting Congressman, Gary Peters. Clarke did not win this election. He left Congress in January 2013.
Clarke tried to return to Congress in 2014. He ran for the 14th District seat again. However, he was not successful in winning the primary election.
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Hansen Clarke's Early Life and Education
Molik Hashim was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father was an immigrant from Bangladesh. His mother was African-American. He grew up in the Lower East Side of Detroit. Clarke's father passed away when he was eight years old. His mother worked hard as a crossing guard to support their family.
Clarke went to Cass Technical High School. He also attended The Governor's Academy in Massachusetts. In 1978, he changed his name to Hansen Clarke. He chose his mother's maiden name.
Clarke studied at Cornell University. He earned a degree in fine arts. While at Cornell, he became interested in public service. He was elected to the university's Board of Trustees. Later, he earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1987.
After college, Clarke worked for Wayne County. He also served as chief of staff for U.S. Representative John Conyers.
Serving in the Michigan Legislature
Hansen Clarke was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1990. He served there again from 1998 to 2002. After that, he was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2002. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2006. In 2010, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives.
While in the State Senate, Clarke worked on important committees. These included the Appropriations committee, which handles money. He also served on the Health Policy committee and the Commerce and Tourism committee.
Running for Mayor of Detroit
In 2005, Hansen Clarke ran for mayor of Detroit. He was not successful in this election.
Hansen Clarke in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections for Congress
- 2010 Election
In 2010, Clarke won the Democratic primary election. He defeated the person who held the seat before him, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. This district was mostly Democratic. In the main election, Clarke easily won against Republican John Hauler. He became one of the few Americans of South Asian descent to be elected to Congress.
- 2012 Election
After 2010, Michigan lost one congressional district. This meant the district lines were redrawn. Most of Clarke's old district became the new 14th District. This new district included parts of Oakland County. Clarke's home was now in the 13th District. However, he chose to run in the 14th District. He wanted to continue representing many of his former voters.
In the primary election, Clarke faced two other strong candidates. These were Congressman Gary Peters and Southfield mayor Brenda Lawrence. Peters won the primary election. He then won the general election in November.
- 2014 Election
In 2013, Gary Peters announced he would not run for re-election. He decided to run for the U.S. Senate instead. Hansen Clarke tried to win his old seat back in 2014. However, he was defeated in the primary election by Brenda Lawrence.
What Clarke Did in Congress
Clarke worked to bring more money and help to the city of Detroit. His efforts led to millions of dollars in federal aid for the city. He helped get approval for more money to improve food for low-income families. He also worked to provide homes for veterans who were homeless. Clarke also helped get better equipment and staff for local police, fire, and emergency services. This was to improve homeland security.
- Helping with Student Loan Debt
Clarke led efforts in Congress to help students with their loan debt. He wrote a bill called the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012. This bill aimed to reduce student loan debt for many Americans. His bill inspired a large national movement. A petition supporting his bill received over one million signatures.
- Helping Homeowners with Foreclosures
Clarke also worked to prevent home foreclosures. He wanted to help families keep their homes. He introduced the Save Our Neighborhoods Act. This bill would have allowed many homeowners to stay in their homes. It would have paused the foreclosure process. It also aimed to reduce the amount of money owed on their mortgages.
- Promoting Literacy
Clarke worked to reduce crime by addressing illiteracy. He focused on helping African-American and Hispanic men learn to read better. He helped write a resolution to start national action for literacy. Clarke also introduced the first federal bill to "Ban the Box." This bill would stop unfair questions about criminal backgrounds on job applications.
Clarke was a member of several important groups in Congress. These included the Congressional Black Caucus. He was also part of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. And he was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Committees Clarke Served On
While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Clarke served on these committees:
- Committee on Homeland Security
- Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
- Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
- Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
Committees are groups of lawmakers. They study specific topics and bills.
Personal Life
Hansen Clarke is married to Choi Palms-Cohen. They got married in 2007. They met in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They live on the east side of Detroit. This is where Clarke was born and grew up. Clarke was raised as a Muslim. He later became a Catholic.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
