First term US House member Lauren Underwood is representing an Illinois congressional district that voted for Donald Trump in 2016. She was swept into office in 2018 as part of the Democrat Blue Wave that hit the Land of Lincoln, bringing with it a Democrat governor and an even stronger Democrat-controlled legislature.
Born in Mayfield Heights, Ohio in 1986, the 33 year old Underwood has become a rock star among Leftist political circles - and is featured in Time Magazine's 100 Next list released last week.
Presidential primary candidate Cory Booker, also a US Senator from New Jersey, wrote the piece about Underwood in the Time tribute. Booker writes that she's the youngest African American woman elected to Congress and that
She has stood up to fight for families in her district and across the country: for an end to the gun-violence epidemic; for an economy where everyone has access to opportunity; and for every person’s right to quality, affordable health care, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
The 14th CD takes in Chicago's far west suburbs that extends out into the state's rural areas. For years, it was represented by Congressman Randy Hultgren, who reportedly is no longer interested in returning to D.C.
In the 2020 campaign season, seven candidates submitted petitions and are vying for the 14th CD's GOP nomination:
