Lauren Underwood

She is the first woman to represent our district. At 34, she is the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress. Lauren grew up in Naperville. She is a registered nurse and health policy expert, with hands-on experience in America's healthcare industry, which she now carries with her to Washington. Lauren was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During her time in the Obama Administration, Lauren helped communities across the country prevent, prepare for, and respond to public health emergencies, disasters, and bioterror threats. As a public servant at HHS, Lauren helped implement the Affordable Care Act - broadening access for those on Medicare, improving healthcare quality, and reforming private insurance. In 2018, Lauren flipped this seat from red to blue in historic fashion, defeating a four-term Republican incumbent. She won every single county in our district, something an IL-14 Democrat has never achieved before. During her first term in Congress, Lauren has proven herself to be a hard worker and an effective leader for her community: she has personally introduced 42 pieces of legislation, passed 15 out of the House, and had 4 bipartisan pieces of legislation signed into law. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University. Visit her Priorities page for more information about Lauren's work in Congress.