Kweisi Mfume

Kweisi Mfume once introduced records on WEBB, the Baltimore radio station owned by singer James Brown.¹ His broadcasting work grew to include public affairs programs, television and helping start a college radio station.¹ Born and raised in Baltimore, he is married and the father of six sons.²

He graduated with honors from Morgan State University and later taught political science and communications there.³ He also earned a master's degree in liberal arts at Johns Hopkins, concentrating on international studies.³ His elected career began on Baltimore's City Council, where his work included health policy and divestment from apartheid South Africa.³

Mfume first entered Congress in 1987, later chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and left the House to lead the NAACP in 1996.² He returned in a 2020 special election following Elijah Cummings's death.³ His health policy work includes backing the Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act, which required a federal study of barriers to participation in cancer clinical trials.³⁴

His current priorities include Medicare for All, expanded childcare tax credits, housing vouchers and access to groceries in underserved neighborhoods.⁵ He also supports voting rights protections, tracking mailed ballots and protecting federal workers and safety net programs through congressional oversight.⁵ He faces Republican Scott Collier.⁶