Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)

Biography

Ayanna Soyini Pressley, born on February 3, 1974, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district since 2019. Raised in Chicago by her mother, Sandra Pressley, a tenants' rights organizer, she attended the Francis W. Parker School, where she was voted "most likely to be mayor of Chicago" and graduated as class salutatorian in 1992. Pressley made history as the first Black woman elected to the Boston City Council in 2009 and later became the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress. She is a member of "The Squad," a group of progressive Congress members.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended Boston University from 1992 to 1994 before leaving to support her mother financially.

• Political Experience:

  • Boston City Council: Elected in 2009, serving until 2019; focused on women's and children's issues, including comprehensive sex education and health curriculum in Boston Public Schools.
  • U.S. House of Representatives: Elected in 2018, defeating a ten-term incumbent; serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
  • Caucus Memberships: Co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus and the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment; member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.

Pressley has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies, including Medicare for All, criminal justice reform, and reproductive rights. In 2022, she launched a bid to lead the Democratic Women's Caucus, aiming to build it into a key voting bloc on par with the Progressive Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus.