Gwen Moore

This article is about the U.S. representative from Wisconsin. For the California legislator, see Gwen Moore (California politician).

Gwen Moore
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives from Wisconsin's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2005

Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (born April 18, 1951) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district since 2005. In 2016, Moore was elected to serve as caucus whip of the Congressional Black Caucus ^[1] for the 115th United States Congress. ^{[2] [3]} She is a member of the Democratic Party. Her district is based in Milwaukee and as a result of the 2011 redistricting also includes some Milwaukee County suburbs: Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Glendale, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay. Moore is the first woman to represent the district and the second woman after Tammy Baldwin and the first African American elected to Congress from Wisconsin.

Moore is currently Wisconsin's longest serving Representative, after Representative Ron Kind retired, in 2023.

Early life, education and career

Moore was born in Racine, but has spent most of her life in Milwaukee. She is the eighth of nine children; her father was a factory worker and her mother a public school teacher. Moore attended North Division High School and served as student council president.^{[ citation needed ]} She later attended Marquette University and became a single mother and welfare recipient. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1973.

As an organizer with AmeriCorps VISTA, Moore worked to establish the Cream City Community Development Credit Union to offer grants and loans to low-income residents to start businesses. ^[4] For her work, she was awarded the national "VISTA Volunteer of the Decade" award from 1976 to 1986. ^[5] From 1985 to 1989, she worked for the City of Milwaukee as a neighborhood development strategist and for the state Department of Employment Relations and Health and Social Services. Moore also worked for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) as a housing officer.^{[ citation needed ]}

Wisconsin legislature

Moore was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1988 and served two terms representing the 7th district. She was a prominent voice calling for an investigation into the case of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who lived two blocks from Moore.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1992, Moore was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, in which she represented the 4th district from 1993 to 2005. She was the first African-American woman to be elected to the state senate^{[ citation needed ]} and became a prominent voice against mandatory ID security measures to enter the Capitol. She said, "I am too often reminded [9/11 hijacker] Mohammed Atta had a photo ID. This will not tell people whether I am a terrorist. This disenfranchises people who come to their Capitol."^{[ citation needed ]}

U.S. House of Representatives

Moore during the 109th Congress

Moore was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004 with 69.6% of the vote, defeating Republican attorney Gerald Boyle. She was one of a handful of African Americans to be elected to Congress as freshmen in 2004, and the first African American and second woman (after Tammy Baldwin) to represent Wisconsin in Congress. ^[6]

Moore is a prominent advocate for women's rights, releasing frequent statements on topics ranging from domestic abuse awareness to abortion rights. In January 2011, she was elected Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus to become a leader on health insurance reform and the protection of reproductive rights. ^[7] She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. ^[8]

During the congressional debate in February 2011 on the Pence Amendment to defund Planned Parenthood, in response to comments from Paul Broun suggesting that Planned Parenthood promoted racist eugenics because more black women than white women have abortions, Moore spoke about her experience raising children on little money, and why "planned parenthood is healthy for women, it's healthy for children and it's healthy for our society". ^[9] She publicly opposed the investigation into Planned Parenthood's financial accounting, saying the investigation was "an unfortunate waste of taxpayer dollars". ^[10] Moore voted "nay" on Amends Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Prohibit Abortion Coverage on October 13, 2011. ^[11] In March 2012, during the House debate over reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, she spoke about her experience of being sexually assaulted and raped as a child and an adult, criticizing the all-male Senate Judiciary Committee that voted "no" on the bill. ^[12]

In the first session of the 109th Congress, Moore earned 90% and higher legislative agenda approval scores from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Sierra Club of Wisconsin, and the Service Employees International Union. She has focused legislatively on traditional Democratic and progressive issues, believing that the federal government should play a significant role in the amelioration of poverty and the resolution of difficult local problems. Moore has received support from interest groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (93%), The Human Rights Campaign (100%), The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) (100%), The National Farmers Union (100%) and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (100%). She lacks support from those supporting hunting and sportsmen rights (0% support from Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance), opponents of abortion rights (0% support from National Right to Life), and conservative tax reform stances (0% support from Americans for Tax Reform). ^[13]

During her first term, Moore introduced legislation to provide economic incentives and tax cuts to small businesses to promote job creation, and also cosponsored legislation supporting community block grants, continuing and expanding Medicaid funding, amending the Truth in Lending Act to prevent so-called "predatory lending", and removing troops from Iraq. She also cosponsored two prospective amendments to the US Constitution, providing for uniform national election standards and prohibiting gender discrimination.^{[ citation needed ]}

On May 6, 2006, Moore and eight fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus were arrested and ticketed for unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct after they stepped onto the grounds of the Embassy of Sudan to call attention to the ongoing Darfur conflict. Moore said the group expected to be arrested but that they were pleased to participate in a "peaceful act of civil disobedience". ^[14]

In July 2019, Moore voted against a House resolution introduced by Representative Brad Schneider opposing efforts to boycott the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel. ^[15] The resolution passed 398-17. ^[16] Moore chose not to attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the U.S. Congress in July 2024 to protest the Gaza-Israel conflict. ^[17]

On December 18, 2019, Moore voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. ^[18]

In 2023, Moore was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days. ^[19]

Moore was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House. ^[20]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
  • Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Progressive Caucus ^[21]

Personal life

Moore's son, Supreme Moore Omokunde (then known as Sowande Ajumoke Omokunde), was arrested in connection with the November 2, 2004, tire-slashing of Republican Party vehicles in Milwaukee. He was charged on January 24, 2005, with a felony in connection with the event, but agreed on January 20, 2006, to plead no contest in exchange for a sentencing recommendation of restitution and probation. ^[22] On April 26, 2006, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Michael B. Brennan disregarded the sentencing recommendation and sentenced Omokunde to four months in prison and $2,305 in fines and restitution. In response, Moore said, "I love my son very much. I'm very proud of him. He's accepted responsibility." ^[23]

Omokunde went on to become a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in 2015, ^[24] and was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2020. ^[25]

Moore has become a U.S. delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. ^[26]

Moore attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention as a superdelegate, pledging her support to nominee Hillary Clinton.

Moore spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was centered in Milwaukee. ^[27]

On December 28, 2020, Moore announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating from others. She traveled to Washington to vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House after announcing that her quarantine period had ended. ^{[28] [29]}

Moore is a Baptist. ^[30]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1988, 1990)

Year	Election	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality
1988	Primary [31]	September 13	Gwen Moore	Democratic	2,463	52.71%	Charles E. Fox	Dem.	1,613	34.52%	4,673	850
							Glenn O. Givens Jr.	Dem.	597	12.78%
	General [31]	November 8	Gwen Moore	Democratic	10,174	70.75%	Jeffrey S. Wuest	Rep.	4,206	29.25%	14,380	5,968
1990	General [32]	November 6	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	3,847	69.48%	Scott K. Walker	Rep.	1,690	30.52%	5,537	2,157

Wisconsin Senate (1992, 1996, 2000)

Year	Election	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality
1992	Primary [33]	September 8	Gwen Moore	Democratic	11,066	54.43%	Louis Fortis	Dem.	8,011	39.40%	20,331	3,055
							Phyllis Williams-Kirk	Dem.	1,254	6.17%
	General [33]	November 3	Gwen Moore	Democratic	47,571	100.0%					47,571	47,571
1996	Primary [34]	September 10	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	6,277	78.45%	Henry Lampkins Jr.	Dem.	1,724	21.55%	8,001	4,553
	General [34]	November 5	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	38,018	100.0%					38,018	38,018
2000	General [35]	November 7	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	47,980	99.09%					48,423	47,537

U.S. House (2004–present)

Year	Election	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality
2004	Primary [36]	September 14	Gwen Moore	Democratic	48,858	64.20%	Matt Flynn	Dem.	19,377	25.46%	76,103	29,481
							Tim Carpenter	Dem.	7,801	10.25%
	General [37]	November 2	Gwen Moore	Democratic	212,382	69.60%	Gerald H. Boyle	Rep.	85,928	28.16%	305,142	126,454
							Tim Johnson	Ind.	3,733	1.22%
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	1,861	0.61%
							Colin Hudson	Con.	897	0.29%
2006	General [38]	November 7	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	136,735	71.31%	Perfecto Rivera	Rep.	54,486	28.42%	191,742	82,249
2008	General [39]	November 4	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	222,728	87.63%	Michael D. LaForest	Rep.	29,282	11.52%	254,179	193,446
2010	Primary [40]	September 14	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	33,107	83.63%	Paul Morel	Dem.	6,430	16.24%	39,589	26,677
	General [41]	November 2	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	143,559	68.98%	Dan Sebring	Rep.	61,543	29.57%	208,103	82,016
							Eddie Ahmad Ayyash	Ind.	2,802	1.35%
2012	General [42]	November 6	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	235,257	72.21%	Dan Sebring	Rep.	80,787	24.80%	325,788	154,470
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	9,277	2.85%
2014	Primary [43]	August 12	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	52,413	70.91%	Gary R. George	Dem.	21,242	28.74%	73,912	31,171
	General [44]	November 4	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	179,045	70.24%	Dan Sebring	Rep.	68,490	26.87%	254,892	110,555
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	7,002	2.75%
2016	Primary [45]	August 9	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	55,256	84.49%	Gary R. George	Dem.	10,013	15.31%	65,397	45,243
	General [46]	November 8	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	220,181	76.74%	Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	33,494	11.67%	254,892	110,555
							Andy Craig	Lib.	32,183	11.22%
2018	Primary [47]	August 9	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	76,991	88.86%	Gary R. George	Dem.	9,468	10.93%	86,640	67,523
	General [48]	November 6	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	206,487	75.61%	Tim Rogers	Rep.	59,091	21.64%	273,087	147,396
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	7,170	2.63%
2020	General [49]	November 3	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	232,668	74.65%	Tim Rogers	Rep.	70,769	22.70%	311,697	161,899
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	7,911	2.54%
2022	General	November 8	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	191,955	75.27%	Tim Rogers	Rep.	57,660	22.62%	255,012	134,295
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	5,164	2.03%
2024	General [50]	November 8	Gwen Moore (inc.)	Democratic	249,939	74.77%	Tim Rogers	Rep.	74,921	22.41%	334,282	175,018
							Robert R. Raymond	Ind.	8,792	2.63%

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

References

1. "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
2. "Hoyer Congratulates Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 115th Congress | The Office of Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer". www.democraticwhip.gov. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
3. "It's Rep. Conyers' Right To Fight Allegations, Rep. Moore Says". NPR. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
4. "AmeriCorps: Gwendolynne Moore". Corporation for National & Community Service. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
5. Archived June 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
6. Sandler, Larry (November 3, 2004). "Moore rewrites history: Mainstream appeal makes her state's first black congresswoman". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
7. "Rep. Gwen Moore Weighs in on Birth Control Victory". Ms. Magazine. August 3, 2011.
8. "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
9. "Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) In Opposition to the Pence Amendment". Youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
10. "Dem Leaders to Stearns: Stop Pointless Political Attack on Planned Parenthood". Project Vote Smart. October 11, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
11. "HR 358 - Amends Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Prohibit Abortion Coverage". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
12. Nocera, Kate (May 16, 2012). "Rep. Gwen Moore recounts sexual assault". POLITICO. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
13. "Gwen Moore - Ratings and Endorsements". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
14. "JS Online: Moore expects arrest in protest". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
15. Clare Foran (July 24, 2019). "Who voted 'no' on the House resolution opposing Israel boycott movement". CNN. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
16. Schneider, Bradley Scott (July 23, 2019). "H.Res.246 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel". www.congress.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
17. "Wisconsin's Democratic delegation split on attending Netanyahu address to Congress". CBS58. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
18. Panetta, Grace (December 19, 2019). "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider . Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
19. "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
20. Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill . Retrieved June 6, 2023.
21. "Caucus Membrs". US House of Representatives. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
22. "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
23. "Lawmaker's son sentenced for tire slashing - politics". NBC News . April 26, 2006. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
24. "Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, 13th District". county.milwaukee.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
25. Crouse, Tiffany (April 11, 2015). "Son of Gwen Moore and Son of David Cullen Win County Board Supervisor Positions". Milwaukee Courier. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
26. Hand, Robert (September 5, 2008). "U.S. Congressional Delegation Visits Kazakhstan for Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session". Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
27. "Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America"". 2020 Democratic National Convention. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
28. Fordham, Evie (January 3, 2021). "Democratic congresswoman to vote on House floor 6 days after announcing positive coronavirus test". Fox News . Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
29. Dirr, Alison (December 28, 2020). "U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore isolating after testing positive for COVID-19". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved December 28, 2020.
30. "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress". Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
31. Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 910, 925. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
32. Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 899, 915. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
33. Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
34. Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1993). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888, 889. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
35. Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
36. Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 10, 2004. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
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External links

• Gwen Moore official U.S. House website
• Gwen Moore for Congress official campaign website
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Barbara Ulichny	Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 4th district 1993–2004	Succeeded by Lena Taylor
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Jerry Kleczka	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district 2005–present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Jan Schakowsky	Chair of the Democratic Women's Working Group 2010–2013 Served alongside: Jan Schakowsky, Debbie Wasserman Schultz	Succeeded by Donna Edwards
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Cathy McMorris Rodgers	United States representatives by seniority 61st	Succeeded by Debbie Wasserman Schultz