Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Jean Cheeks Kilpatrick (born June 25, 1945) is an American
politician who was U.S. Representative
for from 1997 to 2011. (Prior to 2003, she represented the 15th district, which was substantially the same area.) She is a member of the Democratic Party
. In August 2010 she lost the Democratic primary election. She was replaced by Hansen Clarke
in January 2011.
The 13th district, which is entirely contained within Wayne County
, runs along the Detroit River (which is also the Canadian border) from the northern county line to the southern line; it includes Grosse Pointe
, half of Detroit, and portions of Downriver.
, she graduated from the Detroit High School of Commerce. She then attended Ferris State University
in Big Rapids
from 1968 to 1970 and received a B.S.
from Western Michigan University
(Kalamazoo
) in 1972. She earned a M.S.
from the University of Michigan
in 1977. She worked as a high school teacher and was later a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
from 1979 to 1996.
She was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio
in the United States presidential election, 2004
.
On December 6, 2006, the Congressional Black Caucus
unanimously chose Kilpatrick as its chairwoman for the 110th Congress
(2007-8).
On September 29, 2008, she voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml
in the 1996 Democratic primary for the 15th District. She defeated Collins by a shocking margin, taking 51.6 percent of the vote to Collins' 30.6 percent. This was tantamount to election
in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. She has been reelected six times, never dropping below 80 percent of the vote. She faced no major-party opposition in 2004 and was completely unopposed in 2006.
Martha Scott
in the Democratic primary. Kilpatrick's campaign was plagued by the controversy surrounding her son and his involvement in a text messaging sex scandal. However, on the August 5 primary election, Kilpatrick narrowly won with 39.1 percent of the vote, compared to Waters' 36 percent and Scott's 24 percent.
. “This is the final curtain: the ending of the Kilpatrick dynasty,” said Detroit political consultant Eric Foster of Foster, McCollum, White and Assoc.
NPR and CBS News both noted that throughout her re-election campaign, she was dogged by questions about her son, Kwame Kilpatrick
, who is in prison on numerous corruption charges. Michigan Live reported that her election defeat could in part be attributed to the Kwame Kilpatrick scandals.
, former Mayor of Detroit. She has six grandsons, including two sets of twins. Both her husband and son are currently awaiting trial, under an 89-page felony indictment.
She is a member of the Detroit Substance Abuse Advisory Council.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who was U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for from 1997 to 2011. (Prior to 2003, she represented the 15th district, which was substantially the same area.) She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In August 2010 she lost the Democratic primary election. She was replaced by Hansen Clarke
Hansen Clarke
Hansen Hashim Clarke is the U.S. Representative for . Clarke, a Democrat, was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1991 through 1992, and from 1999 through 2002. He then served in the Michigan Senate, representing the 1st District from January 1, 2003 to January 3, 2011. Clarke...
in January 2011.
The 13th district, which is entirely contained within Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
, runs along the Detroit River (which is also the Canadian border) from the northern county line to the southern line; it includes Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe refers to a coastal area in Metro Detroit, Michigan, United States that comprises five adjacent individual communities. From southwest to northeast, they are:*Grosse Pointe Park, city*Grosse Pointe, city*Grosse Pointe Farms, city...
, half of Detroit, and portions of Downriver.
Early life, education and career
Born Carolyn Jean Cheeks in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, she graduated from the Detroit High School of Commerce. She then attended Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
in Big Rapids
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
from 1968 to 1970 and received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
) in 1972. She earned a M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1977. She worked as a high school teacher and was later a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
from 1979 to 1996.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States House Committee on AppropriationsThe Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
- Subcommittee on DefenseUnited States House Appropriations Subcommittee on DefenseThe House Subcommittee on Defense is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Appropriations.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:* Official page...
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Defense
Caucus and other membership
- Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group
- Congressional Black CaucusCongressional Black CaucusThe Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
- Congressional Progressive CaucusCongressional Progressive CaucusThe Congressional Progressive Caucus is the largest caucus within the Democratic caucus in the United States Congress with 83 declared members, and works to advance progressive issues and positions....
She was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the United States presidential election, 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
On December 6, 2006, the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
unanimously chose Kilpatrick as its chairwoman for the 110th Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
(2007-8).
On September 29, 2008, she voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml
Political campaigns
In 1996, Kilpatrick challenged three-term incumbent Barbara-Rose CollinsBarbara-Rose Collins
Barbara-Rose Collins is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.According to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , Collins, was:...
in the 1996 Democratic primary for the 15th District. She defeated Collins by a shocking margin, taking 51.6 percent of the vote to Collins' 30.6 percent. This was tantamount to election
Tantamount to election
"Tantamount to election" is a phrase to describe a situation in which one political party so dominates the demographics of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race will virtually be assured of winning the general election...
in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. She has been reelected six times, never dropping below 80 percent of the vote. She faced no major-party opposition in 2004 and was completely unopposed in 2006.
2008
Her first serious opposition came during the 2008 primary, when she was challenged by both former State Representative Mary Waters and State SenatorMichigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
Martha Scott
Martha G. Scott
Martha Scott of Highland Park, Michigan, is a Democratic member of the Michigan State Senate, representing the 2nd district since 2001. The district includes the northeast section of Detroit and the cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, and the five Grosse Pointes. She is currently in...
in the Democratic primary. Kilpatrick's campaign was plagued by the controversy surrounding her son and his involvement in a text messaging sex scandal. However, on the August 5 primary election, Kilpatrick narrowly won with 39.1 percent of the vote, compared to Waters' 36 percent and Scott's 24 percent.
2010
In 2010, she was again challenged in the Democratic primary, but opposition coalesced around one main challenger before voting commenced; on August 3, 2010, Kilpatrick was defeated by State Senator Hansen ClarkeHansen Clarke
Hansen Hashim Clarke is the U.S. Representative for . Clarke, a Democrat, was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1991 through 1992, and from 1999 through 2002. He then served in the Michigan Senate, representing the 1st District from January 1, 2003 to January 3, 2011. Clarke...
. “This is the final curtain: the ending of the Kilpatrick dynasty,” said Detroit political consultant Eric Foster of Foster, McCollum, White and Assoc.
NPR and CBS News both noted that throughout her re-election campaign, she was dogged by questions about her son, Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and rampant accusations of corruption, with the mayor eventually resigning after being charged with ten felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice...
, who is in prison on numerous corruption charges. Michigan Live reported that her election defeat could in part be attributed to the Kwame Kilpatrick scandals.
Personal life
Kilpatrick was married to Bernard Nathaniel Kilpatrick, with whom she has daughter Ayanna and son Kwame KilpatrickKwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and rampant accusations of corruption, with the mayor eventually resigning after being charged with ten felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice...
, former Mayor of Detroit. She has six grandsons, including two sets of twins. Both her husband and son are currently awaiting trial, under an 89-page felony indictment.
She is a member of the Detroit Substance Abuse Advisory Council.
External links
- Michigan Democratic Party
- 13th Congressional District at Michigan Liberal