Current Role:
U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District (2005–present)
Previous roles:
Wisconsin State Senator, 4th District (1993–2005)
Wisconsin State Assembly, 7th District (1989–1992)
Education:
B.A. in Political Science, Marquette University (1973)
Certificate for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, Harvard University (2000)
Background:
Born 1951, Racine, Wisconsin; raised in Milwaukee. Eighth of nine children. Became a single mother and welfare recipient during college.
Career:
AmeriCorps VISTA organizer; established Cream City Community Development Credit Union. Worked as neighborhood development strategist for City of Milwaukee and as housing officer for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
Political positions:
Democratic Party; advocate for women’s rights, civil rights, anti-poverty policies, reproductive rights, and voting rights. Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Legislative achievements:
First African American elected to Congress from Wisconsin. Led efforts on women’s health, economic development, and voting rights. Sponsored legislation on small business incentives, community development, Medicaid expansion, and anti-predatory lending.
Controversies:
Arrested in 2006 for peaceful protest at the Sudanese Embassy. Her son, Supreme Moore Omokunde, was convicted in 2006 for involvement in a tire-slashing incident during the 2004 election.
Gwen Moore has represented Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District since 2005, becoming the state’s first African American member of Congress and its longest-serving current representative. Raised in Milwaukee, Moore built a career in community development before serving in the state legislature. A champion for women’s rights, economic opportunity, and social justice, she has led on issues from voting rights to reproductive health. Moore’s legislative record includes advocating for small businesses and anti-discrimination measures. She remains a prominent progressive voice in Congress and continues to represent Milwaukee and its suburbs with distinction.
