Lisa Blunt Rochester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa Blunt Rochester
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Official portrait, 2025
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| United States Senator from Delaware |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2025 Serving with Chris Coons
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| Preceded by | Tom Carper |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | John Carney |
| Succeeded by | Sarah McBride |
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Lisa LaTrelle Blunt
February 10, 1962 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Ted Blunt (father) |
| Education | Villanova University Fairleigh Dickinson University (BA) University of Delaware (MA) |
Lisa Blunt Rochester (born February 10, 1962) is an American politician. Since 2025, she has been a U.S. Senator for Delaware. Before that, from 2017 to 2025, she was a U.S. Representative for Delaware.
She is a member of the Democratic Party. Lisa Blunt Rochester is the first woman and the first African American person to represent Delaware in both parts of Congress.
Her political career started when she worked for Tom Carper. He was a U.S. Representative and later the governor of Delaware. She became a deputy secretary in 1993 and a secretary in 1998. In 2016, she was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. During the 2020 United States presidential election, she helped lead Joe Biden's campaign.
In 2023, Lisa Blunt Rochester decided to run for the United States Senate. She wanted to take over from Tom Carper, who was retiring. She won the election easily in 2024.
Contents
Discovering Lisa Blunt Rochester's Early Life and Education
Lisa Blunt Rochester was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1962. Her family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in 1969. Her father, Ted Blunt, was a teacher and served on the Wilmington City Council. Her mother, Alice LaTrelle, worked in stores.
She went to Padua Academy for high school. She started college at Villanova University and then moved to the University of Delaware. Later, she earned her first degree in international relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She also got a master's degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.
Lisa Blunt Rochester's Start in Politics
Lisa Blunt Rochester began working for Tom Carper as an intern in 1989. At that time, he was a U.S. Representative for Delaware. After her internship, she continued to work for him. She helped people in his district.
When Tom Carper became the governor of Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester joined his team. In 1993, he made her the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. In 1998, she became the secretary of the Department of Labor. In 2001, Governor Ruth Ann Minner chose her to be the state personnel director.
In 2004, Lisa Blunt Rochester left government work. She became the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. This group helps people in cities.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
How Lisa Blunt Rochester Was Elected
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Lisa Blunt Rochester ran for the United States House of Representatives in 2016. She won the Democratic Party nomination. On November 8, she won the general election against Hans Reigle.
When she started her term on January 3, 2017, she made history. She became the first woman and the first African-American person to represent Delaware in Congress. During her swearing-in, she carried a special scarf. It had a copy of her great-great-great-grandfather's voter registration card. He had been a slave.
Key Actions and Votes in the House
On December 18, 2019, Lisa Blunt Rochester voted to impeach President Donald Trump.
During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, she was taken to a safe room with other members of Congress. She offered masks to some colleagues, but they did not take them. Later, some members tested positive for COVID-19.
She voted to impeach President Trump a second time on January 13, 2021.
By 2022, Lisa Blunt Rochester had voted with President Joe Biden's ideas 100% of the time.
Her votes on Israel have varied. She voted to help Israel after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. But she voted against more aid in November 2023 and February 2024. She voted for aid in April 2024. In September 2024, she voted against a bill that was against the BDS movement.
Her Role in the 2020 Presidential Election
Lisa Blunt Rochester was very involved in the 2020 United States presidential election. In March 2020, Joe Biden's campaign chose her as one of its co-chairs. In April, she also helped choose Biden's vice presidential candidate.
She was also a speaker at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Committees and Groups She Joined
For the 118th Congress, Lisa Blunt Rochester was part of the:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce
She also joined these groups:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Future of Work Caucus (she helped start this group)
- New Democrat Coalition
- Rare Disease Caucus
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption
Becoming a U.S. Senator
The 2024 Election
On June 21, 2023, Lisa Blunt Rochester announced she would run for the United States Senate. She wanted to take the place of Tom Carper, who was retiring. Tom Carper supported her to be his successor.
Many people thought she would win easily. Lisa Blunt Rochester won the election with 283,298 votes (57%). She defeated Republican Eric Hansen, who received 197,753 votes (40%).
Senate Committee Assignments
As a U.S. Senator, Lisa Blunt Rochester is on these committees:
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Lisa Blunt Rochester's Personal Life
Lisa Blunt Rochester was married to Alex Bradley, a professional basketball player. They were married from 1982 to 2003. They met at Villanova University. They lived in Italy and France while he played basketball. They have two children together. They divorced in 2003.
She met her second husband, Charles Rochester, in 2003. They married in 2006. Charles passed away in 2014 due to health issues.
Lisa Blunt Rochester is a Protestant.
She also helped write a book called Thrive: 34 Women, 18 Countries, One Goal. She wrote it while living in China.
Images for kids
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Lisa Blunt Rochester asking questions to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in 2017.
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Lisa Blunt Rochester with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office in 2021.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- List of African-American United States senators
- Women in the United States Senate
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
