Lauren Underwood | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2018 | |
| Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Preceded by | Debbie Dingell Matt Cartwright Ted Lieu |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's14th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Randy Hultgren |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lauren Ashley Underwood (1986-10-04)October 4, 1986 (age 39) Mayfield Heights, Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Michigan (BSN) Johns Hopkins University (MSN,MPH) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Lauren Ashley Underwood (born October 4, 1986)[1] is an American politician andregistered nurse who is aU.S. representative fromIllinois's 14th congressional district as a member of theDemocratic Party. Her district, once represented by formerHouse speakerDennis Hastert, includes the outer western suburbs of Chicago, includingDeKalb,Joliet,Oswego,Ottawa, andYorkville.
Underwood grew up inNaperville, Illinois. She graduated with a degree in nursing from theUniversity of Michigan and two master's degrees fromJohns Hopkins University. She began her career as a policy professional in theObama administration in 2014, later working as a senior advisor at theDepartment of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In 2018, Underwood was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives, defeatingRepublican incumbentRandy Hultgren. Upon her swearing in, she became the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress.[2] In 2022, she was elected a co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, making her the first black woman to have an electedDemocratic leadership position sinceShirley Chisholm in the 1970s.[3] She has been reelected in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
Underwood, who is ofAfrican American heritage, was born on October 4, 1986, inMayfield Heights, Ohio.[4] At age 3, she moved with her family toNaperville, Illinois, where she grew up and attendedNeuqua Valley High School, graduating in 2004. She began as aGirl Scout in kindergarten and is a lifetime member.[5] At eight years old, Underwood was diagnosed withsupraventricular tachycardia, apre-existing condition that later shaped her views on health policy.[6]
From 2003 to 2004, she worked on the City of Naperville's Fair Housing Advisory Commission.[7] She earned herBachelor of Science in Nursing from theUniversity of Michigan in 2008. At Michigan, Underwood took a course on nursing politics that she has said "changed her life" and influenced her to enter healthcare policy.[7][8] Also at Michigan, she joined theNational Pan-Hellenic Council sororityAlpha Kappa Alpha.[9] She received herMaster of Science in Nursing andMaster of Public Health fromJohns Hopkins University in 2009.[7]
In 2014, Underwood became a senior advisor at theUnited States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she worked to implement thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[10][11][12]
Beginning in 2017, Underwood was the senior director of strategy and regulatory affairs at Next Level Health.[13] She also served as an adjunct instructor at theGeorgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.[14]
In August 2017, Underwood announced her candidacy for theUnited States House of Representatives inIllinois's 14th congressional district.[14] Her platform focused on improving the Affordable Care Act, expanding job opportunities, infrastructure improvements, andpaid family leave.[10] She won the March 20 Democratic primary with 57% of the vote against 6 opponents.[15]
In the general election, Underwood faced incumbent RepublicanRandy Hultgren. In a public debate, Underwood, who has a heart condition, said that she had decided to run for the seat because Hultgren voted to repeal the ACA. Hultgren voted in favor of the RepublicanAmerican Health Care Act, which passed the House in 2017 but not the Senate and would have repealed and replaced the ACA.
Underwood said the repeal-and-replace bill would have taken away the right of "individuals like me with preexisting conditions to have affordable coverage" and that people like her would either be denied coverage or charged more. Hultgren said the bill would have protected such people because although it would have allowed states to charge people with preexisting conditions more, they would be eligible for subsidies.[16]
Underwood said that healthcare is "a human right" and that single-payer/universal coverage/Medicare for all was "a great goal" but would have to wait until we have good answers to the questions about costs.[17] Hultgren ran TV ads stating that Underwood supports a single-payer plan.[18]
Former presidentBarack Obama and vice presidentJoe Biden endorsed Underwood. In the November 6 election,[19] she defeated Hultgren with 52.5% of the vote.[20]
Underwood was reelected over state senatorJim Oberweis, in the ninth-closest race of the House 2020 election cycle.[21] Following early returns, Oberweis claimed victory prior to the official declaration as to the winner.[22] Nine days following voting, on November 12, theAssociated Press called the election for Underwood.[23] Oberweis unsuccessfully challenged the result.[24]
Underwood ran for reelection in2022 in the 14th district after its lines were dramatically adjusted followingredistricting.[25] She won the election with 54% of the vote.[26]
Underwood ran for reelection in2024 in the 14th district against Republican Jim Marter. She won the election with 55% of the vote.[27]
During the presidency ofDonald Trump, Underwood voted in line with Trump's stated position 6.5% of the time.[28] Underwood voted with PresidentJoe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the117th Congress, according to aFiveThirtyEight analysis.[29]
In her first term, Underwood wrote four bills that Trump signed into law.[30]
Underwood has had in total 14 of her bills signed into law by both President Trump in his first term and President Biden in his single term.[31]
In 2019, Underwood was listed in theTime 100 Next. Her entry was written by U.S. SenatorCory Booker.[32]
At a Department of Homeland Security budget hearing in 2019, Underwood remarked on treatment of migrants inUnited States Border Patrol custody. She said "Congress has been more than willing to provide the resources and work with you to address the security and humanitarian concerns but at this point, with 5 kids that have died, 5,000 separated from their families – I feel like, and the evidence is really clear, that this is intentional." Underwood further said "It’s a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration, and it’s cruel and inhumane." The remarks caused controversy at the hearing, and were stricken from the record.[33]
In the 118th Congress, Underwood was elected co-chair of theHouse Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, along withVeronica Escobar andDean Phillips.[34]
A major focus for her in Congress has been on healthcare disparities, particularly as they relate to maternal health outcomes.[35]
For the119th Congress:[36]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood | 29,391 | 57.35 | |
| Democratic | Matthew Brolley | 6,845 | 13.36 | |
| Democratic | Jim Walz | 5,100 | 9.95 | |
| Democratic | Victor Swanson | 3,597 | 7.02 | |
| Democratic | John J. Hosta | 2,578 | 5.03 | |
| Democratic | George Weber | 2,570 | 5.01 | |
| Democratic | Daniel Roldan-Johnson | 1,170 | 2.28 | |
| Total votes | 51,251 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood | 156,035 | 52.50 | |
| Republican | Randy Hultgren (incumbent) | 141,164 | 47.50 | |
| Total votes | 297,199 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood (incumbent) | 77,707 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 77,707 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood (incumbent) | 203,209 | 50.67 | |
| Republican | Jim Oberweis | 197,835 | 49.33 | |
| Total votes | 401,052 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood (incumbent) | 128,141 | 54.16 | |
| Republican | Scott Gryder | 108,451 | 45.84 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 0.00 | ||
| Total votes | 236,600 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lauren Underwood (incumbent) | 183,446 | 55.10 | |
| Republican | Jim Marter | 149,464 | 44.89 | |
| Write-in | 19 | 0.01 | ||
| Total votes | 332,929 | 100.0 | ||
born in Mayfield Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, October 4, 1986
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 14th congressional district 2019–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 235th | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| People | |
| Other | |
