Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin is the junior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, a position she has held since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Baldwin graduated from Smith College in 1984 with degrees in political science and mathematics before earning her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989. She began her political career in local government, serving on the Madison Common Council and the Dane County Board of Supervisors before being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1992. In 1998, Baldwin was elected to represent Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. This election made her the first woman from Wisconsin and the first openly gay person ever elected to the House as a non-incumbent. She served seven terms in the House, during which she was a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and contributed to the drafting of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In 2012, Baldwin won election to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman to represent Wisconsin in the chamber and the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the Senate. She was subsequently re-elected in 2018 and 2024. In the Senate, she serves on several committees, including the Appropriations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, where she focuses on manufacturing, veterans' affairs, and healthcare policy.

Senator Baldwin's policy positions generally align with the Democratic Party platform. On healthcare, she is a vocal supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has authored legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs and allow young adults to remain on their parents' insurance plans. Regarding the economy, she promotes a 'Made in Wisconsin' agenda, advocating for 'Buy American' requirements in federal spending and the expansion of career and technical education. Baldwin also supports the America's College Promise Act to provide tuition-free community college. On environmental issues, she supports federal action to address climate change and has voted for investments in renewable energy. Her foreign policy record includes support for the NATO alliance and providing security aid to Ukraine. In domestic social policy, she has been a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, serving as a lead author of the Respect for Marriage Act.