Joe Tate (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Tate
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Tate in 2016
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| 78th Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1, 2023 – January 8, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jason Wentworth |
| Succeeded by | Matt Hall |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Bettie Cook Scott |
| Constituency | 2nd district (2019–2023) 10th district (2023–2025) 9th district (2025–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Allen Tate
December 13, 1980 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Michigan State University (BA) University of Michigan (MS, MBA) |
| Website | |
Joseph Allen Tate (born December 13, 1980) is an American politician and a former professional football player from Michigan. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Since 2019, Joe Tate has served as a representative in the Michigan House of Representatives. In 2023, he became the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
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Early Life
Joe Tate was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 13, 1980. He was the youngest of four children. His father, Coleman Sr., was a firefighter in Detroit. Sadly, his father passed away when Joe was a baby. His mother, Debra, worked as a public school teacher in Detroit.
Joe spent his early childhood in the Jefferson Chalmers and Sherwood Forest areas of Detroit. Later, his mother moved the family to Southfield, Michigan. Joe attended Southfield-Lathrup High School and graduated in 1999.
College and Football
Joe Tate went to Michigan State University on a football scholarship. He played football for four years, from 2000 to 2003. For three of those years, he was a starting player at left guard. He was also recognized for his good grades, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors twice. In 2003, he was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media. That year, his team had a great season, winning 8 out of 12 games. They played in the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska, but they lost the game.
Joe also made a difference outside of football while at Michigan State. He received the MSU Community Service and Leadership Award. After playing in the NFL for two seasons, Joe returned to Michigan State University. He worked as a strength and conditioning assistant coach. At the same time, he studied for a master's degree in kinesiology.
Later, Joe attended the University of Michigan. He studied at the Ross School of Business and the School of Natural Resources. In 2017, he earned two master's degrees: an MBA (Master of Business Administration) and an MS (Master of Science).
Playing in the NFL
After graduating from Michigan State in 2003, Joe Tate began his professional football career. He had a degree in public policy. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an offensive lineman. An offensive lineman is a player who blocks for the quarterback and running backs. Joe also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Rams.
Serving in the Marines
In 2009, Joe Tate decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He became an officer. As a Marine, he served two tours in Afghanistan. During these deployments, he was a leader in his infantry unit. He served as a platoon commander and a company executive officer. These roles meant he was in charge of groups of Marines during Operation Enduring Freedom. After his honorable discharge from the Marines, Joe returned to Michigan. He then pursued his MBA degree.
Political Journey
Starting in Detroit
After finishing his degrees in 2017, Joe Tate began working at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. He was a program manager there. This organization helps Detroit's economy grow and creates jobs.
Representing Michigan
On November 6, 2018, Joe Tate won an election. He became a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state of Michigan. He represented District 2, which includes parts of Detroit and nearby towns like Grosse Pointe Park. In 2020, he was elected for a second term.
In the 2022 Michigan House of Representatives elections, the Democratic Party gained control of the Michigan House of Representatives. Following this, Joe Tate was elected as the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. This made him the first African American to hold this important position. The Speaker is the leader of the House and helps guide the lawmaking process.
Because of changes to district maps, Joe Tate ran in the 9th district for the 2024 election. He won reelection and continues to serve the people of Michigan.
