Tammy Duckworth

Tammy Duckworth was born on March 12, 1968, in Bangkok, Thailand. Her birth name is Ladda Tammy Duckworth. Her father, Franklin Duckworth, was a U.S. Army veteran, and her mother, Lamai Sompornpairin, is of Thai descent. Tammy Duckworth spent much of her childhood in Southeast Asia, where she learned to speak Thai. She later moved to the United States with her family, where she pursued her education and career in public service.

On November 12, 2004, Tammy Duckworth was serving as a pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard in Iraq when the helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The attack resulted in the loss of both her legs and significant damage to her right arm. She was awarded a Purple Heart for her service and sacrifice. Duckworth's courage and determination during her recovery garnered national attention and helped launch her career in politics.

Tammy Duckworth made her first run for political office in 2006, challenging Republican incumbent Peter Roskam for Illinois's 6th congressional district. Despite a valiant effort and national attention due to her status as a war veteran, Duckworth narrowly lost the election by a margin of two percentage points. This election marked the beginning of her political career and would set the stage for her future runs for office.

In 2009, Tammy Duckworth was appointed by President Barack Obama as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing efforts to address homelessness among veterans, job creation, and improving relations with state and local governments. Her experience as a combat veteran provided her with a unique perspective on the challenges facing veterans, which she worked to address during her tenure.

On November 6, 2012, Tammy Duckworth was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois's 8th congressional district. She defeated incumbent Republican Joe Walsh in a majority Democratic district. Her election made her one of the first Asian American women to be elected to Congress in Illinois, as well as one of the first female veterans of the Iraq War to serve in the U.S. Congress.

In 2014, as a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Tammy Duckworth was an outspoken advocate for survivors of military sexual assault. She sponsored and supported several pieces of legislation aimed at reforming how the military handles such cases, including measures to improve the prosecution process and to provide better support services for survivors. Duckworth's work in this area highlighted her commitment to improving military culture and advocating for service members' rights.

Tammy Duckworth was elected to the United States Senate on November 8, 2016. She defeated the incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk in the general election, becoming the U.S. Senator from Illinois. Duckworth's election marked a significant milestone as she became the first Thai American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, and one of the first female veterans to serve in this capacity. Her victory was seen as a triumph of perseverance and leadership.

On April 9, 2018, Tammy Duckworth gave birth to her second daughter, Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, becoming the first sitting U.S. Senator to give birth while in office. This historic event brought attention to the challenges faced by working mothers and led to changes in Senate rules to accommodate newborns, allowing Duckworth to bring her daughter to the Senate floor. Her experience advocated for more family-friendly policies in government and workplaces nationwide.

Following her daughter's birth, Tammy Duckworth made history by becoming the first U.S. Senator to bring a baby onto the Senate floor on April 19, 2018. This was made possible after the Senate altered its rules to allow senators to bring their infants to the floor during votes. This change was enacted to accommodate Duckworth's need to care for her newborn while fulfilling her senatorial duties, highlighting issues of parental leave and work-life balance.

In 2020, Tammy Duckworth was considered a potential vice-presidential running mate for Joe Biden during his presidential campaign. She was among a shortlist of several prominent Democratic women leaders the campaign vetted. Duckworth's military experience, political career, and personal story were viewed as significant assets. Although Kamala Harris was ultimately chosen as Biden's running mate, Duckworth's consideration underscored her rising influence in national politics.