Christopher A. Coons

Democrat senior Senator of Delaware

Senator
Delaware
November 15, 2010 - January 3, 2015
Senator
Delaware
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2021
Senator
Delaware
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2027

202-224-5042

@ChrisCoons

coons.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1963 (62 years old)

Birthday

Serving as the junior United States senator since 2010
Previously served as county executive of New Castle County from 2005 to 2010
Graduated from Amherst College and received graduate degrees from Yale Divinity School and Yale Law School
Worked as a volunteer relief worker in Kenya and for the Coalition for the Homeless in New York
Served as president of the New Castle County Council from 2001 to 2005
Balanced the county budget with a surplus in fiscal year 2010 by cutting spending and raising taxes
Maintained a AAA bond rating for New Castle County during his tenure
Defeated the Republican nominee in the 2010 Senate special election
Elected to a full term in 2014 and re-elected in subsequent elections
Chairs the Senate Ethics Committee and serves on several other committees including Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Co-chaired the National Prayer Breakfasts in 2017 and 2019 and co-chairs the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast
Described by The New York Times as an “effective” emissary to Republican lawmakers during Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign
Will become Delaware’s senior senator in January 2025
Involved in politics from a young age, initially supporting Republican candidates before switching to the Democratic Party in college
Worked for several nonprofits and served on various boards, including the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service
Has a background in law, having clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and worked as in-house counsel for a materials manufacturing company
Has a strong interest in foreign policy, having served as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs
Advocates for child abuse victims, healthcare, and environmental issues, among other policy areas
Has a history of bipartisan engagement and is considered one of President Biden’s closest allies in the Senate