Gwen Moore

Gwen Moore
Born	Gwendolynne Sophia Moore 18 4, 1951
Birthplace	Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First African American elected to Congress from Wisconsin
Education	Marquette University (BA)
Children	3
Website	[[gwenmoore.house.gov gwenmoore.house.gov] Official site]

Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (born April 18, 1951) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district since January 3, 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, Moore represents a district based in Milwaukee that also encompasses several Milwaukee County suburbs, including Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Glendale, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay. Moore holds a series of historic distinctions in Wisconsin politics: she is the first African American elected to Congress from the state, the first woman to represent the 4th congressional district, and, following Tammy Baldwin, the second woman from Wisconsin to serve in Congress. Before entering federal office, she served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate, accumulating more than a decade of state legislative experience. In 2016, Moore was elected to serve as caucus whip of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 115th United States Congress. Following the retirement of Ron Kind in 2023, Moore became Wisconsin's longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early Life

Gwendolynne Sophia Moore was born on April 18, 1951, in Racine, Wisconsin. She grew up in Milwaukee, where she was raised in a large family. Moore has spoken publicly about the challenges she faced during her youth, including experiencing poverty and becoming a mother at a young age. These early life experiences shaped her political outlook and later informed her legislative priorities around issues of economic justice, public assistance, and family welfare.

Moore's upbringing in a working-class environment in Milwaukee gave her a firsthand understanding of the struggles faced by low-income communities in urban areas of Wisconsin. She has cited her personal background as a driving force behind her commitment to public service and her focus on policies affecting women, children, and economically disadvantaged populations.

Education

Moore attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Her time at Marquette exposed her to civic engagement and public policy, laying the groundwork for her subsequent career in politics. While at the university, she became involved in community organizing activities, which further developed her interest in advocacy and political representation for underserved communities.

Career

Wisconsin State Assembly (1989–1993)

Moore began her career in elected office when she won a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 7th Assembly district. She took office on January 3, 1989, succeeding Dismas Becker. During her tenure in the Assembly, Moore focused on issues related to social welfare, education, and economic development in Milwaukee's urban neighborhoods. She served in the Assembly until January 4, 1993, when she transitioned to the Wisconsin State Senate. Peter Bock succeeded her in the Assembly seat.

Wisconsin State Senate (1993–2005)

In 1992, Moore won election to the Wisconsin State Senate, where she represented the 4th Senate district beginning on January 4, 1993. She succeeded Barbara Ulichny in the seat. Moore served in the State Senate for twelve years, during which she built a legislative record focused on health care access, welfare reform, housing, and criminal justice issues. Her work in the State Senate earned her recognition as an effective advocate for Milwaukee's communities and established her as a prominent figure in Wisconsin Democratic politics.

During her time in the State Senate, Moore also engaged in community service work. Her involvement in national service programs was recognized, and she was highlighted for her contributions to community development initiatives in Milwaukee. Her tenure in the State Senate provided her with extensive legislative experience and a robust network of political support that proved instrumental in her eventual campaign for Congress.

When Moore departed the State Senate to enter the U.S. House of Representatives, Lena Taylor succeeded her in the 4th Senate district seat.

U.S. House of Representatives (2005–present)

Election to Congress

In 2004, Moore ran for the U.S. House seat in Wisconsin's 4th congressional district following the retirement of longtime incumbent Jerry Kleczka. Her campaign emphasized economic justice, health care, education, and the needs of Milwaukee's urban communities. Moore won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, making history as the first African American elected to Congress from Wisconsin and the first woman to represent the 4th district. She took office on January 3, 2005, succeeding Kleczka.

Moore's election was considered a milestone in Wisconsin politics. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covered her victory, noting the historical significance of her win in a state that had never before sent an African American to Congress.

Legislative Focus and Committee Work

In Congress, Moore has focused on a range of domestic policy issues, with particular emphasis on economic opportunity, financial regulation, health care, women's rights, and social safety net programs. She has been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, aligning herself with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party on many policy matters.

Moore has been an outspoken advocate for women's reproductive health care access. She has publicly defended funding for Planned Parenthood and opposed legislative efforts to restrict abortion coverage under federal health care law. In August 2011, Moore commented on the inclusion of birth control coverage in federal health care policy, a move she supported as an important step for women's health.

Moore has also been involved in international human rights issues. She participated in work through the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the Helsinki Commission), engaging in matters related to human rights and democratic governance in Europe and Eurasia.

Her voting record and policy positions have been tracked by Vote Smart, which documents her evaluations from various interest groups across the political spectrum.

Congressional Black Caucus Leadership

In 2016, Moore was elected to serve as caucus whip of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for the 115th United States Congress, which convened in January 2017. The role of caucus whip involves coordinating legislative strategy among CBC members and helping ensure cohesion on key votes. Moore's selection for this leadership position reflected her standing within the caucus and her experience in building legislative coalitions.

Redistricting and District Changes

Following the 2011 redistricting process in Wisconsin, Moore's 4th congressional district was redrawn to include several Milwaukee County suburbs in addition to the city of Milwaukee itself. The suburbs added to the district included Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Glendale, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay. Moore has continued to win reelection in the reconfigured district.

In 2025, Moore wrote an opinion column published in the Wisconsin State Journal arguing that Wisconsin's high court should take up the issue of congressional redistricting, contending that the state's congressional maps were unfairly drawn.

Immigration and Homeland Security

In early 2025, Moore was active in congressional debates over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She appeared on PBS Wisconsin's Here & Now program to discuss the negotiations in Congress regarding immigration enforcement and Homeland Security funding, as a deadline for funding lapsed in February 2025.

Moore issued a public statement calling for changes at the Department of Homeland Security, expressing concern about what she described as "increasingly cruel tactics" by ICE directed at communities in Milwaukee and across the country.

Tariff Policy

In February 2025, Moore publicly welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding presidential tariff authority. In a statement, she said, "I welcome this decision, which reaffirms Congress's constitutional authority to impose tariffs," and expressed concern about tariff actions taken by the Trump administration.

State of the Union Guest (2025)

For the 2025 State of the Union address, Moore invited Kara Pitt-D'Andrea, the Executive Director of Milwaukee's Renaissance Child Development Center, as her guest. Moore stated that the invitation was intended to highlight health care issues, particularly those related to child development and early childhood education in Milwaukee.

Longest-Serving Wisconsin Representative

Following the retirement of Representative Ron Kind in 2023, Moore became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin, having served continuously since January 2005.

Personal Life

Moore has three children, including a son named Supreme. She has been open about her personal history, including the challenges she faced as a young mother, and has used those experiences to inform her advocacy on issues affecting women and families in poverty. Moore resides in Milwaukee, within the congressional district she represents.

Moore's personal background — growing up in economic hardship and raising children as a young woman — has been a recurring theme in her public life. She has frequently discussed these experiences in the context of debates over welfare policy, women's health, and economic inequality, arguing that personal experience with poverty provides important perspective in crafting public policy.

Recognition

Moore's election to Congress in 2004 was itself a historic achievement, as she became the first African American to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives and only the second woman from the state to serve in Congress, after Tammy Baldwin. These milestones were noted in coverage by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other media outlets at the time of her election.

Her work in the area of women's reproductive rights has drawn attention from national publications. Ms. Magazine featured Moore's perspective on birth control coverage in federal health policy in 2011, highlighting her role as an advocate for women's health legislation in Congress.

Her election as caucus whip of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 115th Congress in 2016 represented recognition of her leadership within the caucus and her ability to build consensus among its members.

Moore's involvement in community service has also been recognized. The Corporation for National and Community Service highlighted her story as part of its coverage of individuals engaged in national service and community development work.

Legacy

Gwen Moore's tenure in Congress has extended over two decades, making her one of the longest-serving representatives in Wisconsin history. Her election in 2004 broke racial and gender barriers in the state's congressional delegation, and she has maintained her seat through numerous election cycles in the decades since.

As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, Moore has positioned herself as an advocate for progressive economic and social policies at the federal level. Her legislative focus on poverty, women's health, financial regulation, and social welfare programs has been consistent throughout her congressional career, reflecting the priorities she developed during her years in the Wisconsin State Legislature and her own life experiences.

Moore's presence in Congress has also contributed to broader representation of African Americans and women in the Wisconsin congressional delegation. Prior to her election, no African American had served in Congress from Wisconsin, and only one woman — Tammy Baldwin — had done so. Moore's continued service has established a presence for these constituencies in the state's representation at the federal level.

In the 2020s, Moore has remained active on contemporary policy debates, including immigration enforcement, tariff policy, redistricting reform, and health care access, demonstrating ongoing engagement with the issues facing her constituents in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.