Senator Carol Moseley Braun was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, representing the state of Illinois from 1993 until 1999. Prior to her election to the Senate, Senator Moseley Braun worked as a prosecutor in the office of the U.S. Attorney in Chicago and served in the Illinois State House of Representatives for over a decade.
During her time as a U.S Senator, she advocated for legislation focusing on civil rights issues, crime, families, and education. Senator Moseley Braun became the first woman to serve on the Finance Committee, she also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Following her term in the Senate Moseley Braun served as the United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 1999 until 2001. Senator Moseley Braun was also a visiting political science professor at Northwestern University. She currently serves on the board of the DuSable Museum of African American history and as a special advisor to the U.S. World War I commission. Follow Senator Moseley Braun on X at @AmbCMBraun.