Biography:
— Representative from Tennessee.
— Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., May 24, 1949.
— Attended Polytechnic School, Pasadena, Calif., 1964-1966.
— Graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School, Coral Gables, Fla., 1967.
— B.A., Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., 1971.
— J.D., University of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., 1973.
— Attorney, Memphis Police Department, 1975-1978.
— Lawyer, private practice.
— Vice-president, Tennessee state constitutional convention, 1977.
— Shelby County, Tenn., commissioner, 1978-1980.
— Member of the Tennessee state senate, 1982-2006.
— Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024.
— Unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the One Hundred Fifth Congress in 1996.
— Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Tenth and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2007-present).