Brenda Lawrence

Brenda Lawrence (née Lulenar; born October 18, 1954) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 14th congressional district from 2015 to 2023.

In the early-1990s, as an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association at her children's school, she sought and earned a seat on the Southfield Public Schools Board of Education.

She served as president, vice president, and secretary of the board.

Lawrence got more deeply involved in local affairs.

In 1997, she was elected to serve on Southfield's City Council, and in 1999 she was elected council president.

A member of the Democratic Party, Lawrence served as mayor of Southfield, Michigan, from 2001 to 2015, and was the party's nominee for Oakland County executive in 2008 and for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Her district covers most of eastern Detroit, including downtown, and stretches west to take in portions of Oakland County, including Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Lawrence's home in Southfield.

Redrawn into the 12th district, Lawrence did not seek reelection in 2022, and retired from Congress upon her fourth term's expiration in 2023.

Lawrence grew up in Detroit's northeast side, on Lumpkin Street.

She was raised by her grandparents after her mother died when she was three years old.

She attended local schools, graduating from Detroit's Pershing High School.

She then earned her bachelor's degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.

Lawrence had a 30-year career with the United States Postal Service, advancing to work in human resources.

In 2001, Lawrence defeated longtime incumbent Donald Fracassi for the mayor's office, becoming the city's first African-American and first female mayor.

Lawrence served as a Michigan delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

She was reelected in 2005 without opposition.

As mayor, she was invited by the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2008 to represent United States mayors in testimony about the mortgage crisis and its effect on American communities.

She returned to Washington later that year to lobby Congress for a bridge loan for the American auto industry.

As a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, she endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama for president in June 2008.

In May 2008, Lawrence announced her candidacy for Oakland County Executive.

She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination to unseat the longtime Republican incumbent, L. Brooks Patterson.

Patterson won reelection 58%-42%.

Lawrence's challenge to the polarizing Patterson was identified as the strongest challenge he faced in his six elections for County Executive.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero named Lawrence as his running mate in his bid for governor of Michigan.

She successfully sought a third term as mayor in 2009, defeating former Councilwoman Sylvia Jordan with nearly 80 percent of the vote.

She was formally nominated as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in August 2010.

They campaigned around the state promoting a "Main Street Agenda" with emphasis on their shared backgrounds as mayors.

As with the national election results, the 2010 general election in Michigan saw strong turnout and enthusiasm by Republican voters.

Political pundits attributed the losses by Democrats, in part, to voter reaction to President Obama and term-limited Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

The Democratic gubernatorial ticket lost to Republican nominees Rick Snyder, a businessman, and Brian Calley, a State Representative, 58%-40%.

No statewide Democratic candidates were successful in 2010.

In late 2011, Lawrence announced she would be running in the newly redrawn 14th congressional district.

She was reelected to a fourth term unopposed in 2013.

The district had previously been the 13th, represented by freshman Democrat Hansen Clarke.

It was redrawn to take in a large slice of Oakland County, including Southfield.

Clarke's home in Detroit was drawn into the neighboring 13th district, but he opted to follow most of his constituents into the 14th.

In the Democratic primary, the real contest in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district, Lawrence faced incumbent representatives Clarke and Gary Peters, both of whom lived outside the district, and former State Representative Mary D. Waters.

Peters won with 47%, to Clarke's 35%, Lawrence's 13%, and Waters's 3%.

Peters went on to win the general election.

In May 2013, Peters announced that he would not be running for reelection in 2014.