Michael Donald Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Brown
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| United States Shadow Senator from the District of Columbia |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Florence Pendleton |
| Succeeded by | Ankit Jain |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Donald Brown
August 5, 1953 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (Before 2014, 2017–present) Independent (2014–2017) |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA, MPP) |
Michael Donald Brown (born August 5, 1953) is an American politician. He served as a shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 2007 until 2025.
A shadow senator works to help the people of Washington, D.C., gain full voting rights in the U.S. Congress. Michael D. Brown is sometimes called "white Mike" to tell him apart from another politician named Michael A. Brown.
Contents
What is a Shadow Senator?
A shadow senator is a special kind of representative for Washington, D.C. This role is not paid by the government, and it does not have a budget. A shadow senator cannot vote on laws in the United States Senate.
The main job of a shadow senator is to speak up for the people of D.C. They work to help D.C. get full representation in Congress. This means they want D.C. to have voting members in the Senate and House of Representatives, just like a state. They also push for D.C. to have more control over its own local laws, which is called self-determination. Ultimately, the goal is for D.C. to become a state.
Michael D. Brown worked with other D.C. leaders, like the delegate, mayor, and city council. Together, they tried to help D.C. residents with important federal issues.
Early Life and Education
Michael D. Brown was born on August 5, 1953, in Newark, New Jersey. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Montgomery County, Maryland.
He went to the University of Maryland, College Park. There, he earned two degrees: a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in public policy. Since 1984, Brown has lived in Washington, D.C. He lives in the American University Park neighborhood.
Besides his political work, Brown is also a business owner. He is the president and founder of Horizon Communications Corp. This company helps political groups and non-profit organizations with their mail campaigns.
Political Career
Michael D. Brown has been involved in politics for many years. He has run for different positions to represent the people of Washington, D.C.
Becoming a Shadow Senator: The 2006 Election
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In 2006, Michael D. Brown decided to run for shadow senator. His campaign used the slogan "the last Shadow Senator you'll ever need." He also created a website called "shadowsenator.com."
Brown did not support a bill that would give D.C. a voting representative in the House of Representatives. He felt it was not enough because it did not make D.C. a state.
In the Democratic primary election in September 2006, Brown won with 73 percent of the votes. He defeated his opponent, Philip Pannell. The person who was the shadow senator before him, Florence Pendleton, was not on the ballot. She tried to run as a write-in candidate but received only 2 percent of the votes.
Some people thought there was confusion during this election. Another politician named Michael A. Brown was running for mayor at the same time. This made some voters wonder if they were voting for the right Michael Brown.
In the main election in November 2006, Michael D. Brown won again. He received 86 percent of the votes. There was no Republican candidate for the position that year.
Later Elections
Brown was re-elected as shadow senator in 2012 and 2018. In 2012, he faced a wealthy opponent who spent a lot more money on his campaign. However, Brown still won the election. In 2018, he won a close primary election before being re-elected in the general election.
Brown also ran for a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia in 2010 and 2014. In 2010, he ran for an at-large member position but was not elected. In 2014, he ran again as an independent candidate for the D.C. Council. He finished third in that race, but only the top two candidates won seats.
Party Affiliation
Michael D. Brown was a member of the Democratic Party for most of his career. In 2014, he changed his party registration to become an independent. However, he rejoined the Democratic Party in 2017.
Images for kids
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Michael D. Brown in 2007
