CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUNUnited States SenatorOn this day in 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun of Chicago, Illinois, became the first Black woman in the history of this country to be elected to the United States Senate. She defeated Republican Richard Williamson, earning 53% of the vote. Her victory in the primary was a come-from-behind success over two opponents, incumbent Senator Alan Dixon and personal injury lawyer Al Hofeld. Combined, the opposition outspent her by more than 20-to-1. A graduate of the University of Chicago's law school, Moseley-Braun took office on January 5, 1993, and was named to the Judiciary Committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee. Prior to her historic 1992 election, in 1978, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and after just two terms became the first woman and the first Black in the state's history to serve as Assistant Majority Leader. Another 'first' occurred in 1987, when she was elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds, thus making her the first woman and the first Black to ever hold executive office in Cook County government. |
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