Michael Bennet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Bennet
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Official portrait, 2022
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| United States Senator from Colorado |
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| Assumed office January 21, 2009 Serving with John Hickenlooper
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| Preceded by | Ken Salazar |
| Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Patty Murray |
| Succeeded by | Jon Tester |
| Superintendent of Denver Public Schools | |
| In office July 1, 2005 – January 21, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jerome Wartgow |
| Succeeded by | Tom Boasberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Farrand Bennet
November 28, 1964 New Delhi, India |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Susan Daggett
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Douglas J. Bennet (father) James Bennet (brother) |
| Education | Wesleyan University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Michael Farrand Bennet (born November 28, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for Colorado. He has held this job since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming a senator, Bennet worked in business. He was also a top helper for the mayor of Denver, John Hickenlooper. Later, he became the leader of the Denver Public Schools.
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Who is Michael Bennet?
Michael Bennet was born in New Delhi, India, on November 28, 1964. His father, Douglas J. Bennet, worked for the U.S. government and led Wesleyan University. His mother, Susanne, was a librarian and a survivor of the Holocaust. Her family came to the United States from Poland in 1950.
Early Life and School Days
Bennet grew up in Washington, D.C.. He went to St. Albans School, a special school for boys. He also worked as a page on Capitol Hill. This means he helped out senators in Congress.
In 1987, he earned a degree in history from Wesleyan University. Later, in 1993, he got his law degree from Yale Law School. While there, he was the main editor of the Yale Law Journal.
Starting His Career
After college, Bennet worked for the governor of Ohio, Richard Celeste. He also worked as a lawyer for the U.S. government during President Bill Clinton's time.
Working in Denver
In 1997, Bennet moved to Colorado. He worked for a company called Anschutz Investment Company for six years. He helped combine several movie theater chains into the Regal Entertainment Group.
While working there, he became friends with John Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper later became the mayor of Denver. Bennet then worked as Hickenlooper's chief of staff (a main helper) for two years.
Leading Denver Public Schools
In 2005, Bennet became the leader, or superintendent, of Denver Public Schools. He had no experience running schools before this.
Under his leadership, more students joined the schools. Fewer students dropped out, and more students graduated and went to college. He worked with teachers and the community to create the "Denver Plan." This plan aimed to help students succeed by setting higher goals and improving teacher training.
Becoming a U.S. Senator
In 2009, Colorado's governor, Bill Ritter, chose Bennet to become a U.S. Senator. This happened when Senator Ken Salazar left his seat to become the Secretary of the Interior. Bennet became the youngest senator in Congress for a short time.
Winning Elections
Bennet ran for a full term as senator in 2010. He won the Democratic Party's nomination. He then faced Republican candidate Ken Buck. The election was very expensive, with a lot of money spent by both sides. Bennet won the election and started his first full six-year term in 2011.
He was reelected for a second term in 2016. He won against Republican Darryl Glenn.
In 2022, Bennet was re-elected for his third term as a U.S. Senator.
What Michael Bennet Believes In
Most of Michael Bennet's political ideas are considered liberal. He supports many policies that aim to help people and protect the environment.
Helping Farmers and the Economy
Bennet has worked to help dairy farmers who are struggling with low prices. He also suggested a plan with Senator Mitt Romney to give money to families with children. This idea is called a "universal basic income" for kids.
Protecting Our Environment
Bennet supports clean energy, like solar power. He has also supported building the Keystone Pipeline. He voted against banning fracking, a way to get oil and gas from the ground.
He has spoken out against changes to the Clean Power Plan. This plan aimed to reduce pollution from power plants. He believes that climate change is a serious problem. He supports actions to address it, like capturing carbon emissions. He also wants to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Act to protect national parks.
Working on Immigration
Bennet was part of a group of senators called the "Gang of Eight." This group worked on a plan to change immigration laws. Their plan would have given a path to citizenship for young immigrants called "Dreamers." He also supports the DREAM Act. This act helps young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
He has also worked to keep families of active-duty military members from being deported. He believes that federal contractors should provide good care for migrant children.
Supporting Healthcare
Bennet voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This law, also known as ObamaCare, aimed to make healthcare more available. He has also proposed a plan called "Medicare X." This plan would create a public health insurance option similar to Medicare.
He helped pass the ACE Kids Act. This law helps children with complex medical conditions get better care.
Other Important Issues
Bennet supports same-sex marriage. He was happy when the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the country. He also supports the Equality Act. This law would protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination.
He has also spoken out about government shutdowns. He believes they hurt people and the country.
Running for President
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In 2019, Michael Bennet announced he would run for president in the 2020 election. He traveled to states like Iowa and New Hampshire to campaign. He took part in some of the early debates. However, he did not get enough support to continue. He stopped his campaign in February 2020 after the New Hampshire primary.
His Family Life
In 1997, Michael Bennet married Susan Diane Daggett. She is a lawyer. They have three daughters and live in Denver, Colorado.
Bennet has said he was raised with both Jewish and Christian traditions. In 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had surgery, which was successful, and he did not need more treatment.
Images for kids
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Bennet's 2020 campaign logo
