Meet Freshman Dem Rep Lauren Underwood, 32yrs old, a former nurse, African American

[ehrnst]

When Representative Lauren Underwood welcomed us into her office, she was just finishing lunch at her desk. She's a new member of the House, and she's one reason Democrats won control last fall. She captured the 14th District of Illinois, which had been reliably Republican. Her reward is a modest office space near the Capitol and a chance to share a Washington apartment with a roommate, another House freshman, California's Katie Hill.

....................................................

UNDERWOOD: In this district that the Cook Political Report rated as an R+5 and was a lean-Republican until the weekend before the election, we won every county - even the most rural. There are people who supported us who have never voted for a Democrat before. We have people who will never, ever, ever, ever call themselves a Democrat.

INSKEEP: People who voted for Donald Trump voted for you, do you think?

UNDERWOOD: A hundred percent - hundred percent. And this is about representation and values. And for us, that issue was so illustrated with health care and what happened in the spring of '17 around Obamacare repeal and, you know, our prior representative's votes on the American Health Care Act.

....................................................

UNDERWOOD: I think that the words we use matter. And I've cautioned a lot of my colleagues here about literally the words that we use to talk about issues that we care about. Right? Student loan debt is an issue that is not partisan, it is very clear. And it's impacting so many individuals and families. If you start calling things free or for all, we lose some people.

We can talk about the solutions in a way that's inclusive. Right? So what if we talk about creating a modern financial aid system where we have Pell Grants that reflect the true cost of college and we have subsidized student loans that fill that gap? Some people might call that free college for everybody or whatever. But the people that speak in these, like, hashtaggy-type (ph) phrases do not always have lots of solutions underneath it. And...

INSKEEP: The hashtag is the polarizing thing. It may draw some support to the idea, but it also drives people away.

UNDERWOOD: Right. And I'm into solutions. And I am happy to speak in paragraph statements to talk about the solutions because - guess what - problems are not always illustrated in 140 characters, and solutions are not always illustrated in 140 characters.

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702464519/meet-freshman-democratic-rep-lauren-underwood-of-illinois

[NastyRiffraff]

1. She sounds great

We ought to be paying more attention to freshman Congresspeople like her, who are doers, not merely talkers and tweeters. Just because she isn't in front of the cameras and a media darling doesn't mean she won't be effective.

[ehrnst]

2. She's not about celebrity - and she managed to pull out a victory

in a very white, very red district as a 32 year old African American woman.

This kind of victory is what we need to be paying attention to.

[sheshe2]

3. +1000

[Cha]

7. Yes, Riff! All our new Congresspeople are

vital. We have 45 who flipped Red seats to Blue.. and here's Lauren Underwood knowing "words Matter" who sounds brilliant.

We can talk about the solutions in a way that's inclusive. Right? So what if we talk about creating a modern financial aid system where we have Pell Grants that reflect the true cost of college and we have subsidized student loans that fill that gap? Some people might call that free college for everybody or whatever. But the people that speak in these, like, hashtaggy-type (ph) phrases do not always have lots of solutions underneath it. And...

[WhiskeyWulf]

4. Rachel had her on her show a while back.

She's very well-spoken & level-headed, and has such a positive attitude. Not my district, but I was happy she won.

[sheshe2]

5. That was one great interview.

She spoke well on the issues, which she holds dear as do her constituents. She sounds like a fighter, one that has solutions and not just tweets.

I will be watching Underwood, thank you for bringing her to our attention.

[Cha]

6. Mahalo for this report on Rep Lauren Underwood,

ehrnst! One of the very important Reps across our country who Flipped red seats to BLUE!

UNDERWOOD: I think that the words we use matter. And I've cautioned a lot of my colleagues here about literally the words that we use to talk about issues that we care about. Right? Student loan debt is an issue that is not partisan, it is very clear. And it's impacting so many individuals and families. If you start calling things free or for all, we lose some people.

[brer cat]

8. I agree with her.

The words and slogans that we use can mean the difference between success and failure in achieving our goals.

Thanks for the introduction to a very smart new Representative.

[Cha]

9. KICK!

[tritsofme]

10. Really proud of her! She represents a district that voted for Trump by 4 points and Romney by 10.

There is a giant target on her back, we need to look out for her in 2020!

[Brother Buzz]

11. I will submit this congress has the best freshmen class....

EVER!!!

[tonedevil]

18. So true. /nt

[lapucelle]

12. Truer words were never spoken...

But the people that speak in these, like, hashtaggy-type (ph) phrases do not always have lots of solutions underneath it.

"I'm not a show horse, I'm a workhorse, and I will go to work for you."
- HRC

[Demovictory9]

13. k&r

[forklift]

14. A logical, sensible, analytical freshman

who has methodically studied the issues and is not tweeting or flaming to become a celebrity?

WOW - I thought they stopped making those kind of politicians.

I feel very hopeful.

[NurseJackie]

15. I like her style.

[betsuni]

16. K&R

[Jamaal510]

17. K&R

[Skidmore]

19. K&R nt

[murielm99]

20. This was Hastert's district

at one time.

Notice how she was elected in a district that is not reliably Democratic. Also, she works quietly, without grandstanding.