Rep.-elect Marie Newman (D-Ill.)

Date of birth: April 13, 1964
Residence: La Grange, Ill.
Occupation: consultant, Team Up to Stop Bullying founder
Education: B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Family: husband, Jim; two children

Marie Newman is joining Congress after knocking off one of the most conservative members of her own party in the Democratic House primary.

After losing out by a narrow margin in 2018, Newman came back to defeat Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) on her second try. Lipinski, who was running for his ninth term, was one of the last Democrats in Congress who opposes abortion rights.

Newman ran to Lipinski’s left on several other issues, including backing a $15 minimum wage, “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal. She secured several high-profile progressive endorsements, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Justice Democrats.

Before running for Congress, Newman worked as a marketing consultant and founded a national nonprofit aimed at tackling bullying.

She joins a growing cadre of House Democrats who have toppled a more moderate party mainstay, helping guide the party toward more progressive priorities.

-Chris Mills Rodrigo