Eleanor Holmes Norton

Democrat Delegate of District of Columbia

Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 1991 - January 3, 1993
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 5, 1993 - January 3, 1995
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 4, 1995 - January 3, 1997
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 7, 1997 - January 3, 1999
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 6, 1999 - January 3, 2001
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2001 - January 3, 2003
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 7, 2003 - January 3, 2005
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2007
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 4, 2007 - January 3, 2009
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 6, 2009 - January 3, 2011
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2013
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Delegate
District of Columbia
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

202-225-8050

@EleanorNorton

norton.house.gov

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Congresses Served

June 13, 1937 (87 years old)

Birthday

American lawyer, politician, and human rights activist
Has served as a congressional delegate since 1991
Organized for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the civil rights movement
First woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (1977-1981)
Attended Antioch College and Yale University, earning degrees in Arts, American studies, and Law
Active in the civil rights movement during college and law school, including participating in sit-ins and the Mississippi Freedom Summer
Worked as a law clerk, assistant legal director of the ACLU, and adjunct assistant professor at New York University Law School
Represented female employees of Newsweek in a discrimination case
Specialized in freedom of speech cases, including defending the First Amendment rights of the National States’ Rights Party
Appointed head of the New York City Human Rights Commission by Mayor John Lindsay
Became a professor at Georgetown University Law Center in 1982 and was involved in anti-apartheid activism
Co-founded African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom in 1990
Has introduced legislation such as the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act
Supported legislation to grant the District of Columbia a voting representative in the House
Criticized for soliciting campaign funds from a lobbyist but defended the action as typical for Congress members
Blocked from testifying on an anti-abortion bill in her district
Vowed to defend against congressional attempts to stop marijuana legalization in D.C.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus
Committee assignments include Oversight and Accountability, and Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsored and supported various legislation, including naming the Coast Guard headquarters and increasing transparency in federal spending
Appeared on The Colbert Report and Democracy Now!, and discussed issues like D.C. representation and the Supreme Court’s ruling on gun control
Advocated for changing the NFL’s tax-exempt status over the Washington Redskins’ team name
Portrayed in media and films, highlighting her influence in politics and culture
Personal life includes marriage, two children, and being an Episcopalian
Received awards for her lifetime achievements and contributions to civil rights and women’s rights