History of Elizabeth Warren in Timeline
Elizabeth Warren is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 2013. A Democrat known for her progressive views, she champions consumer protection, economic equality, and strengthening the social safety net. Warren ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries, finishing third. Prior to her political career, she was a distinguished law professor specializing in bankruptcy and commercial law. Warren is seen as a leading voice for economic reform and social justice within the Democratic Party.
1911: Birth of Father
In 1911, Elizabeth Warren's father, Donald Jones Herring, was born.
1912: Birth of Mother
In 1912, Elizabeth Warren's mother, Pauline Louise Reed, was born.
June 22, 1949: Elizabeth Warren Born
On June 22, 1949, Elizabeth Ann Warren, née Herring, was born in Oklahoma City. She later became a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.
1968: Left George Washington University
In 1968, Elizabeth Warren left George Washington University after two years to marry James Robert "Jim" Warren.
1970: Graduation from University of Houston
In 1970, Elizabeth Warren graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology and audiology.
1970: Taught Children with Disabilities
In 1970, after obtaining a degree but before law school, Elizabeth Warren taught children with disabilities for a year in a public school.
1976: Graduation from Rutgers Law School
In 1976, Elizabeth Warren received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and passed the bar examination shortly thereafter.
1976: Voted for Gerald Ford
In 1976, Elizabeth Warren voted for Gerald Ford, the Republican nominee.
1977: Lecturer at Rutgers
In 1977, Elizabeth Warren began her academic career as a lecturer at Rutgers University, Newark School of Law.
1978: Moved to Houston
In 1978, Elizabeth Warren moved to the University of Houston Law Center.
July 12, 1980: Marriage to Bruce H. Mann
On July 12, 1980, Elizabeth Warren married law professor Bruce H. Mann, her second husband.
1980: Associate Dean
In 1980, Elizabeth Warren became an associate dean at the University of Houston Law Center.
1980: Published Article
In 1980, Elizabeth Warren published an article arguing that public utilities were over-regulated and automatic rate increases should be instituted.
1983: Full Professor at UT
In 1983, Elizabeth Warren returned to the University of Texas School of Law as a full professor.
1984: Identified as Cherokee in cookbook
In 1984, Warren contributed recipes to a Native American cookbook, identifying herself as Cherokee.
1985: Visiting Professor at Michigan
In 1985, Elizabeth Warren was a visiting professor at the University of Michigan.
1986: Identified race as "American Indian" on State Bar of Texas form
In 1986, Warren identified her race as "American Indian" on a State Bar of Texas form.
1987: Professor at Penn
In 1987, Elizabeth Warren joined the University of Pennsylvania Law School as a full professor.
1989: Published Book
In 1989, Elizabeth Warren and colleagues published "As We Forgive Our Debtors," showcasing their research on bankruptcy.
1990: Endowed Chair
In 1990, Elizabeth Warren obtained an endowed chair at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
1991: Registered as a Republican
From 1991 to 1996, Elizabeth Warren was registered as a Republican.
1992: Visiting Professor at Harvard
In 1992, Elizabeth Warren taught at Harvard Law School as a visiting professor.
1995: Listed as Native American by Harvard Law School
From 1995 to 2004, Harvard Law School listed Warren as Native American in its federal affirmative action forms.
1995: Advised Bankruptcy Commission
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren advised the National Bankruptcy Review Commission, helping draft its report.
1995: Professor at Harvard Law
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren became Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.
1995: Public Policy Involvement
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren began her involvement in public policy by opposing legislation restricting bankruptcy access.
1995: Began voting Democratic
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren began voting Democratic, believing that the Republican Party no longer supported markets.
1995: Death of Mother
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren's mother, Pauline Louise Reed, passed away.
1996: Registered as a Republican
From 1991 to 1996, Elizabeth Warren was registered as a Republican.
1996: Highest-Paid Professor
In 1996, Elizabeth Warren became the highest-paid professor at Harvard University who was not an administrator.
1997: Death of Father
In 1997, Elizabeth Warren's father, Donald Jones Herring, passed away.
2004: Listed as Native American by Harvard Law School
From 1995 to 2004, Harvard Law School listed Warren as Native American in its federal affirmative action forms.
2004: Publication of The Two-Income Trap
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren and her daughter Amelia Tyagi published "The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers Are Going Broke," highlighting the financial struggles of middle-class families due to rising core expenses and stagnant income.
2004: Rise in Prominence
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren began to rise in prominence with an appearance on the Dr. Phil show, and published several books.
2004: Published Article
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren published an article arguing that correlating middle-class struggles with over-consumption was a fallacy.
2005: Most-Cited Scholar
From 2005 to 2009, Warren was among the three most-cited scholars in bankruptcy and commercial law.
2005: Bankruptcy Act Passed
In 2005, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, despite Warren's opposition.
2005: Publication of Study on Bankruptcy and Medical Bills
In 2005, Elizabeth Warren and David Himmelstein published a study indicating that half of all families declaring bankruptcy did so following a significant medical issue. The study reported that 75% of these families had medical insurance.
2006: FDIC Advisory Committee
From 2006 to 2010, Elizabeth Warren was a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion.
2007: Financial Crisis
In 2007, the financial crisis began, leading to Elizabeth Warren's increased prominence due to her advocacy for banking regulations.
November 14, 2008: Appointed to Congressional Oversight Panel
On November 14, 2008, Elizabeth Warren was appointed to chair the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.
2008: Banking Regulations Advocacy
In 2008, Elizabeth Warren gained national profile for her public stances in favor of stringent banking regulations after the financial crisis.
2008: Financial Crisis Backlash
Warren helped lead an economic "backlash" to the 2008 financial crisis.
2009: Most-Cited Scholar
From 2005 to 2009, Warren was among the three most-cited scholars in bankruptcy and commercial law.
2009: Named Bostonian of the Year
In 2009, The Boston Globe named Warren the Bostonian of the Year. Warren also became the first professor in Harvard's history to win the law school's Sacks–Freund Teaching Award for a second time in 2009.
July 2010: Dodd-Frank Act Signed
In July 2010, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, establishing the CFPB, was signed into law.
September 2010: Special Advisor for CFPB
In September 2010, Elizabeth Warren was named Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the CFPB.
2010: FDIC Advisory Committee
From 2006 to 2010, Elizabeth Warren was a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion.
2010: Scott Brown Won Seat
In 2010, Republican Scott Brown had won the seat in a special election after Ted Kennedy's death.
2010: Named one of the most influential attorneys of the decade
In 2010, The National Law Journal named Warren one of the 40 most influential attorneys of the decade.
September 14, 2011: Senate Candidacy
On September 14, 2011, Elizabeth Warren declared her intention to run for the Democratic nomination for the 2012 election in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate.
2011: Only Tenured Law Professor
As of 2011, Elizabeth Warren was Harvard's only tenured law professor who had attended law school at an American public university.
2011: CFPB Established
In 2011, Elizabeth Warren's scholarship and public advocacy were the impetus for establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
2011: Delivered commencement address at Rutgers Law School
In 2011, Warren delivered the commencement address at Rutgers Law School, receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and membership in the Order of the Coif. Warren was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011 as well.
January 2012: Named one of the 'top 20 U.S. progressives'
In January 2012, New Statesman magazine named Warren one of the "top 20 U.S. progressives".
January 2012: Cordray Appointed to CFPB
In January 2012, Richard Cordray was appointed to the CFPB director position after Warren was deemed unlikely to win Senate confirmation.
June 2, 2012: Won Democratic Nomination
On June 2, 2012, Elizabeth Warren won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate with 95.77% of the delegate votes.
September 5, 2012: Speech at the Democratic National Convention
On September 5, 2012, Elizabeth Warren delivered a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention, positioning herself as a champion of the middle class, arguing that the system is rigged against them and criticizing Wall Street CEOs for their role in the economic crisis.
November 6, 2012: Warren Defeats Brown in Election
On November 6, 2012, Elizabeth Warren defeated Scott Brown with 53.7% of the vote, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts.
2012: Scott Brown questioned Native American ancestry
During Warren's first Senate race in 2012, her opponent, Scott Brown, questioned her Native American ancestry and ran attack ads regarding the issue.
2012: Elected as Senator
In 2012, Elizabeth Warren was elected as the first female U.S. senator from Massachusetts, defeating incumbent Scott Brown.
2012: Obama Echoed Sentiments
In 2012, President Obama echoed Elizabeth Warren's sentiments in an election campaign speech.
2012: Claimed Native American heritage
In 2012, Warren stated that "being Native American has been part of my story, I guess, since the day I was born".
2012: Michelle Wu worked on Senate campaign
Michelle Wu worked on Warren's 2012 Senate campaign.
January 3, 2013: Warren Sworn into Senate
On January 3, 2013, Elizabeth Warren was sworn in as a U.S. Senator by Vice President Joe Biden.
February 2013: First Banking Committee Hearing
In February 2013, at her first Banking Committee hearing, Elizabeth Warren questioned banking regulators about holding Wall Street banks accountable, expressing concerns that 'too big to fail' had become 'too big for trial'.
May 2013: Introduces Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act
In May 2013, Elizabeth Warren introduced the Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act, aiming to allow students to take out government education loans at the same rate that banks pay to borrow from the federal government, which was 0.75% at the time.
October 2013: Encourages Hillary Clinton to Run
In October 2013, Elizabeth Warren joined 15 women Democratic senators in signing a letter that encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for president.
2013: Became Senator
In 2013, Elizabeth Warren began serving as the senior United States senator from Massachusetts.
2013: Michelle Wu ran for Boston City Council
Michelle Wu, a law student of Warren's, ran for Boston City Council in 2013.
April 2014: Publication of A Fighting Chance
In April 2014, Warren's book, "A Fighting Chance", was published by Metropolitan Books, reflecting on the decline of the American Dream for middle-class families.
December 2014: Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people
Beginning in December 2014, Warren discreetly "pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people to her administration, as Warren felt Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had done."
2015: Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People
Warren was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015.
June 9, 2016: Endorses Hillary Clinton for President
On June 9, 2016, after the California Democratic primary, Elizabeth Warren formally endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.
September 20, 2016: Calls for Wells Fargo CEO to Resign
On September 20, 2016, Elizabeth Warren called on Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf to resign and be criminally investigated during a hearing, due to the bank's opening of two million unauthorized accounts.
December 2016: Gains Seat on Senate Armed Services Committee
In December 2016, Elizabeth Warren was appointed to the Senate Armed Services Committee, a position that fueled speculation about a possible 2020 bid for president.
2016: Aftermath of 2016 Election
After the 2016 election of Donald Trump, many commenters saw Warren as one of the de facto leading figures in the Democratic Party.
2016: Russian Interference in US election
The Mueller report stated that a hostile foreign government attacked the 2016 election to help Donald Trump.
2016: Effort to shape a potential Clinton administration
Warren discreetly worked to influence how Hillary Clinton might staff an administration, recognizing that Clinton was likely to become the party's nominee in 2016.
2016: Influence on Clinton staffing presidential administrations
Warren has influenced President Obama, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and President Biden on the matter of staffing presidential administrations.
2016: Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people
Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people to her administration, as Warren felt Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had done in 2016.
January 6, 2017: Announces Run for Second Term
On January 6, 2017, Elizabeth Warren announced in an email to supporters that she would run for a second term as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, vowing to fight against the policies of Donald Trump and his administration.
January 2017: Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act Read in Senate
In January 2017, the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act, written by Warren, was first read in the Senate.
February 2017: "Nevertheless, She Persisted"
In February 2017, during the debate on Jeff Sessions's nomination, Elizabeth Warren was silenced for reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. Mitch McConnell's phrase 'Nevertheless, she persisted' became a slogan.
April 2017: Publication of This Fight Is Our Fight
In April 2017, Elizabeth Warren published her book "This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class", where she examines the challenges facing the American middle class and advocates for government support through social programs and educational investments.
October 3, 2017: Calls for Wells Fargo CEO Sloan to Resign
On October 3, 2017, Elizabeth Warren called on Wells Fargo CEO Timothy J. Sloan to resign during his appearance before the Senate Banking Committee, citing incompetence or complicity.
2017: Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People
Warren was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2017.
July 2018: Trump's Montana Rally
At a July 2018 Montana rally, Donald Trump mocked Warren for her Native American ancestry, promising to donate $1 million to her charity if a DNA test showed she was an Indian.
September 29, 2018: Considering a 2020 Presidential Run
On September 29, 2018, at a town hall meeting in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren stated that she would 'take a hard look' at running for president in the 2020 election after the 2018 United States elections concluded.
October 2018: Released DNA test results
In October 2018, Warren released an analysis of a DNA test that suggested she had a Native American ancestor, likely 6 to 10 generations ago.
2018: Boston Globe investigation into Native American claims
A 2018 Boston Globe investigation found that Warren's reported ethnicity played no role in her rise in the academic legal profession.
2018: Senate Reelected
In 2018, Elizabeth Warren was reelected as senator, defeating Republican nominee Geoff Diehl.
2018: Called for abolishing ICE
In 2018, Warren called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
2018: Women's History Month theme
In 2018, the Women's History Month theme in the United States was "Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women", referring to McConnell's remark about Warren.
December 31, 2018: Forms Exploratory Committee for President
On December 31, 2018, Elizabeth Warren announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president.
January 2019: Responded to DNA testing questions in Iowa
During a January 2019 public appearance in Sioux City, Iowa, Warren addressed questions about her DNA testing and clarified the difference between ancestry and tribal citizenship. She also contacted Cherokee Nation to apologize for any confusion caused.
January 2019: Criticized Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan
In January 2019, Warren criticized Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, stating that withdrawals should be part of a "coordinated" plan with U.S. allies.
February 9, 2019: Announced Presidential Candidacy
On February 9, 2019, Elizabeth Warren announced her candidacy for the 2020 United States presidential election.
February 2019: Warren apologized for identifying as Native American
In February 2019, Warren apologized for having identified as Native American.
February 2019: Surprise visit to Native American conference
In February 2019, Warren received a standing ovation during a surprise visit to a Native American conference, introduced by Representative Deb Haaland.
April 2019: Called for impeachment proceedings against Trump
In April 2019, after reading the Mueller report, Warren called on the House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, citing obstruction of the investigation into Russian interference.
July 2019: Endorsed for president by Deb Haaland
In July 2019, Deb Haaland endorsed Warren for president, calling her a "great partner for Indian Country".
July 17, 2019: Introduces College Student Hunger Act of 2019
On July 17, 2019, Elizabeth Warren and Representative Al Lawson introduced the College Student Hunger Act of 2019, which aimed to make low-income college students eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
August 2019: Apologized at Native American Forum
In August 2019, Warren apologized again before a Native American Forum in Iowa for any harm caused by her ancestry claims.
2019: Report on Warren's efforts to pressure Clinton
In 2019, Alex Thompson reported in Politico on Warren's efforts ahead of the 2016 election to pressure Clinton on potential appointees.
2019: Political Shift Highlighted
In 2019, Politico highlighted Elizabeth Warren's shift from being a "diehard conservative" in high school to her later political views.
March 5, 2020: Withdrawal from Presidential Race
On March 5, 2020, Elizabeth Warren withdrew from the 2020 United States presidential election after Super Tuesday.
April 23, 2020: Brother's Death from COVID-19
On April 23, 2020, Elizabeth Warren announced on Twitter that her eldest brother, Don Reed Herring, had died of COVID-19 two days prior.
August 11, 2020: Harris Announced as Running Mate
On August 11, 2020, Kamala Harris was officially announced as Joe Biden's running mate, ending speculation about other candidates, including Elizabeth Warren.
November 2020: Mentioned as Possible Treasury Secretary
In November 2020, Elizabeth Warren was considered a candidate for Secretary of the Treasury in the Biden Administration.
2020: Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Elizabeth Warren was a candidate in the Democratic Party presidential primaries, ultimately finishing third.
February 2021: Biden administration receptive to Warren's input
In February 2021, it was observed that the Biden administration appeared more receptive to Warren's input compared to the Obama administration.
March 2021: Warren's Influence on Biden Administration Personnel
In March 2021, it was noted that Elizabeth Warren had been a consistent and private influence on President Biden's administration regarding personnel decisions, with several of her former staffers and allies appointed to positions within the administration.
October 1, 2021: Brother's Death from Cancer
On October 1, 2021, Elizabeth Warren announced that her brother, John Herring, had died of cancer.
June 24, 2022: Wrote op-ed requesting Biden unblock resources after Roe v. Wade Overturn
On June 24, 2022, following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, Warren penned a New York Times op-ed urging President Biden to release resources to address the surge in demand for reproductive health services.
2022: Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Warren voted in favor of advancing legislation to codify same-sex marriage into federal law through the Respect for Marriage Act.
March 10, 2023: Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
March 2024: Signed letter urging US to recognize Palestinian state
In March 2024, Warren was among 19 Democratic senators who signed a letter to the Biden administration, advocating for U.S. recognition of a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state post-Gaza war.
April 2024: Rated Among Top Senators
In April 2024, Elizabeth Warren was rated among the top 10 most popular senators in a poll by Morning Consult.
2024: Senate Reelected for a third term
In 2024, Elizabeth Warren was reelected to a third Senate term against Republican nominee John Deaton.
2024: The Rebels: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Struggle for a New American Politics published
In his 2024 book, Joshua Green cites Warren as a major figure in shaping the Democratic Party's embrace of more leftward politics in the dozen years after the Great Recession.
2024: Stern's book about Warren's effort to shape a potential Clinton administration
In his 2024 book, Stern noted that after Warren (bullish on her own 2016 prospects of winning a presidential election) had declined grassroots efforts to draft her into a candidacy and recognized Clinton stood of becoming the party's nominee, Warren quietly worked to influence how she might staff an administration.
