Rep. Ayanna Pressley

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D Massachusetts, 7th (2019-) In Office

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Biographical

Full Name: Ayanna Soyini Pressley
Gender: Female
Pronunciation: eye-YAH-nah PRESS-lee
Date of Birth: Feb. 3, 1974 (age: 50)
Place of Birth: Chicago, Ill.
Religion: Baptist
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
Native of: Chicago, Ill.
Place of Residence: Dorchester, Mass.
Previous Occupation: Political aide

Wikipedia

Family:

Married: Conan Harris city official, May 25, 2014 in Boston, Mass.

1 stepchild: Cora

Biography:

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and a survivor. On November 6, 2018, Congresswoman Pressley was elected to represent Massachusetts’ seventh congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts seventh district is the most diverse and most unequal district in the state, requiring a representative whose experiences are reflective of the people.

Like many in her district, Congresswoman Pressley has endured numerous hardships throughout her life, and it is because of those experiences that she remains a dedicated activist who’s devoted to creating robust and informed po licies that speak to the intersectionality of her district’s lived experiences. She believes that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power and that a diversity of voices in the political process is essential to making policies that benefit more Americans.

Born in Cincinnati and raised in Chicago, Congresswoman Pressley is the only child of a single mother and a father who was in and out of the criminal justice system - creating an unstable household and forcing her to mature at a rapid rate. While her father ultimately overcame his addiction and went on to become a published author, Congresswoman Pressley was primarily raised by her mother Sandra Pressley, a tenants’ rights organizer who instilled in her the value of civic engagement. Thanks to her mother’s dedication to activism, Congresswoman Pressley has always been acutely aware of the role that government can play in lifting up families and communities.

Congresswoman Pressley attended the Francis W. Parker School, a private school in Chicago where her activism and commitment to public service took hold. A devoted student, Congresswoman Pressley was supported by her teachers, faculty, and peers and was elected class president every year from seventh grade through senior year of high school. She was also elected student government president, was a competitive debater through her school’s chapter of Junior State of America, was the commencement speaker for her graduating class, and was named "most likely to be mayor of Chicago."

Congresswoman Pressley moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1992 to attend Boston University, however, after a couple of years of enrollment, she withdrew from the university to help support her mother. She remained an activist in the community, working as a senior aide to Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, volunteering for Senator John Kerry’s reelection campaign, and working for Senator Kerry for 13 years in a variety of roles, including constituency director and political director. Senator Kerry described Congresswoman Pressley as a "force" who "believed in public service."

In 2009, she launched a historic at-large campaign for Boston City Council and won, becoming the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100-year history. On the council, Congresswoman Pressley worked in partnership with residents, advocates, and other elected officials to combat the inequities and disparities facing the community.

In 2016, Congresswoman Pressley was named one of The New York Times 14 Young Democrats to Watch. In 2014, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce named her as one of their Ten Outstanding Young Leaders, and the Victim Rights Law Center presented her with their Leadership Award. In 2015, she earned the EMILY’s List Rising Star Award and was named one of Boston Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People. She is also an Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, Class of 2012. See more >>

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

GovTrack

Campaign Links:

Website, campaign

Email, campaign: info@ayannapressley.com

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

Open Secrets political finance profile

YouTube, campaign

Social Networking:

LinkedIn

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Eventbrite, official

TikTok, official

Official Links:

Website, official

Press Releases

Education

Boston University (1992-1994)
Francis W. Parker School (Chicago, Ill.) - Diploma (1992)

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2019-) In Office

Member, 7th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

7th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Ayanna Soyini Pressley, 81.80%
Democrat

Roy Owens, 11.83%
Independent
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

7th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Ayanna Soyini Pressley, 100.00%
Democrat

Employment History

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) (Feb. 2005-May 2009)

Political Director
John Kerry for President Inc. (2002-2004)
John Forbes Kerry

Massachusetts Constituency Director
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) (1997-Feb. 2003)

Scheduler
Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA)

Senior Aide
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

Intern
City of Boston, Mass. (Jan. 2010-Jan. 2019)

Council Member

Associated Organizations

Own leadership PAC:

Power of Us PAC

Election campaign:

Committee to Elect Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts)

Membership:

Truman National Security Project (2012)
Partner

Fellowship:

Aspen Institute (2012)
Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership

Awards

Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (June 2020)
Young Democrats to Watch (New York Times Co.) (2016)
Rising Star Award (EMILY's List) (2015)
Leadership Award (Victim Rights Law Center) (2014)
Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (Boston Jaycees) (2014)

Official Signature

Contact Information

Email, member official contact form
Email, scheduling:
schedule.pressley@mail.house.gov
Email, press:
pressley.press@mail.house.gov

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	402 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-2107
Phone:	202-225-5111
Fax:	202-225-9322

View Larger Map

» District Offices

Privately Financed Travel

1 trip taken in 2019 costing $1,585

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

New York, NY

Trip Sponsors:

United Nations Foundation

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2021 (Amendment), 2020, 2019
Election Candidate: 2018
Extension Letter: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
» see more

Congressional Staff

» Show salary earned as a congressional aide

Staff Turnover:

Turnover Index: 0.11
(House Average: 0.25)
» See more

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $81,180.56
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

Committees

House Financial Services Committee

House Financial Services Committee Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee

House Financial Services Committee Housing and Insurance Subcommittee

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation Subcommittee

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee

Caucuses

Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Chair
Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus
Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence
Bipartisan Women Veterans Task Force
Black Maternal Health Caucus, Co-Founder
Congressional America 250 Caucus
Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Congressional Bike Caucus, Co-Chair
Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health Task Force
Congressional Cannabis Caucus
Congressional Caribbean Caucus
Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment, Co-Chair and Co-Founder
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth
Congressional Community Health Centers Caucus
Congressional Equality Caucus
Congressional Medicare for All Caucus
Congressional Mental Health Caucus
Congressional Moms Task Force on Family Separation
Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
Congressional Progressive Caucus
Congressional Renters Caucus, Vice Chair and Co-Founder
Congressional Tri-Caucus
Democratic Women’s Caucus
Democratic Women’s Caucus Policy Task Force, Co-Chair
Future of Transportation Caucus, Co-Chair and Co-Founder
Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
House Democratic Caucus
House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, Vice Chair
House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
House Endometriosis Caucus
House Haiti Caucus, Co-Chair and Co-Founder
House Tech Accountability Caucus
Quiet Skies Caucus
U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group, Co-Founder

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