Lauren Underwood

A champion for Illinois working families

Rep. Lauren Underwood is a champion for Illinois working families who serves in Congress to continue her work expanding economic opportunity for all. She is a registered nurse with hands-on experience in our health care system and a proven leader who has dedicated her career to expanding all Americans’ access to quality, affordable care. When she was eight years old, she discovered that she had a heart condition and the health care providers who treated and helped her manage her condition inspired her to pursue a career in nursing. President Obama appointed her to serve as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she helped communities across the country prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters, bioterror threats, and public health emergencies, and she went on to help implement the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Underwood has also taught a graduate-level nursing course, helping to grow the next generation of nurse practitioners. Illinois’ 14th Congressional District had never before been represented by a woman or a Black representative in Congress until she became the first with her historic 2018 victory. Rep. Underwood lives in Naperville, Illinois — the community where she is proud to have grown up and attended public schools.

A fighter dedicated to expanding economic opportunity

Rep. Underwood is dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for all Illinoisans and to creating good-paying jobs so that hardworking families and their communities can thrive. During her time in Congress, she has had 14 pieces of legislation signed into law, including introducing and championing a provision to lower health care costs for American families. More than 16.3 million people signed up for Marketplace health care coverage during the 2022-2023 open enrollment season, a record-breaking number made possible by her legislation to lower out-of-pocket premium costs. She is a fierce defender of reproductive freedom whose professional experience makes her a powerful advocate. “I’m fighting for a reality where women aren’t criminalized for getting health care and providers aren’t prosecuted for doing their jobs,” she has said. Rep. Underwood serves as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, and is the second Black woman in U.S. history to be elected to House leadership after former Rep. Shirley Chisholm, who was elected secretary of the Democratic Caucus in 1977.

A must-win reelection fight

Rep. Underwood flipped this seat blue in 2018, and successfully defended it in 2020 and 2022. As Republicans once again prepare to do everything in their power to defeat her in their desperate attempt to tighten their grip on the majority, it’s time for EMILYs List community to show Rep. Underwood our full support every step of the way to help keep this outstanding leader and her vital perspective in the House.