History of Jamie Raskin in Timeline

Jamie Raskin is an American attorney, law professor, and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Maryland's 8th congressional district since 2017. As a progressive Democrat, Raskin previously served in the Maryland State Senate from 2007 to 2016. His district, which includes portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, is located near Washington, D.C.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

December 13, 1962: Jamie Raskin's birth

On December 13, 1962, Jamin Ben Raskin was born. He is an American attorney, law professor, and politician.

1979: Graduation from Georgetown Day School

In 1979, Jamie Raskin graduated from Georgetown Day School at the age of 16.

1983: Graduation from Harvard College

In 1983, Jamie Raskin graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in government and a concentration in political theory.

1987: Graduation from Harvard Law School

In 1987, Jamie Raskin received a Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

1989: General Counsel for Jesse Jackson's National Rainbow Coalition

From 1989 to 1990, Jamie Raskin served as general counsel for Jesse Jackson's National Rainbow Coalition.

1996: Represented Ross Perot

In 1996, Jamie Raskin represented Ross Perot regarding Perot's exclusion from the 1996 United States presidential debates. Raskin also wrote a Washington Post op-ed condemning the Federal Election Commission.

1999: Chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board

In 1999, Maryland Governor Parris Glendening appointed Jamie Raskin as the first chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board.

March 1, 2006: Response on Same-Sex Marriage

On March 1, 2006, during a Maryland State Senate hearing on same-sex marriage, Jamie Raskin responded to an opposing lawmaker with a notable statement about the Constitution and the Bible.

2006: Doug Gansler's campaign manager

In 2006, Jamie Raskin served as Doug Gansler's campaign manager in the Maryland Attorney General election.

2006: Elected to the Maryland State Senate

In 2006, Jamie Raskin was elected to the Maryland State Senate after defeating incumbent state senator Ida G. Ruben in the Democratic primary election and ran unopposed in the general election. He represented District 20, which included parts of Silver Spring and Takoma Park in Montgomery County.

2007: Wife became Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation

In 2007, Jamie Raskin's wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, served as the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation until 2010.

April 28, 2010: Wife nominated to the Federal Reserve Board

On April 28, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Jamie Raskin's wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, to the Federal Reserve Board.

October 4, 2010: Wife sworn in as governor of the Federal Reserve Board

On October 4, 2010, Jamie Raskin's wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, was sworn in as a governor of the Federal Reserve Board by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

2012: Named Senate Majority Whip

In 2012, Jamie Raskin was named Senate majority whip and chaired the Montgomery County Senate Delegation and the Select Committee on Ethics Reform, and was a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

March 19, 2014: Wife became United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

On March 19, 2014, Jamie Raskin's wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, became the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

2014: Introduced Medical Marijuana Bill

In 2014, Jamie Raskin introduced a medical marijuana bill in Maryland that was signed by Governor Martin O'Malley.

January 2015: Medical Marijuana Bill goes into effect

In January 2015, the medical marijuana bill introduced by Jamie Raskin in 2014 went into effect in Maryland.

April 19, 2015: Announced campaign for Congress

On April 19, 2015, Jamie Raskin announced his campaign for Congress.

2016: Most expensive House race

In 2016, Jamie Raskin won the seven-way Democratic primary with 33% of the vote in the most expensive House race, despite being heavily outspent.

2016: Objected to certification of 2016 presidential election

In 2016, as one of his first actions in Congress, Jamie Raskin and several other members of the House objected to the certification of the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump due to alleged ties with Russia.

January 20, 2017: Wife's term as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury ended

On January 20, 2017, Jamie Raskin's wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, completed her term as the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

June 2017: Sponsored legislation for a congressional oversight commission

In June 2017, Jamie Raskin was the chief sponsor of legislation to establish a congressional "oversight" commission which would be tasked with determining whether the president was unfit, physically or mentally, to perform his duties.

April 2018: Launched Congressional Freethought Caucus

In April 2018, Jamie Raskin, along with Jared Huffman, Jerry McNerney, and Dan Kildee, launched the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

2019: Voted in favor of the Equality Act

In 2019, Jamie Raskin voted in favor of the Equality Act and urged Congress members to do the same, supporting the banning of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

2020: Endorsement by the Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 2020, Jamie Raskin was endorsed in the primary by the Progressive Action PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which grew from 72 members at the time of the endorsement to 92 members.

December 31, 2020: Death of Tommy Raskin

On December 31, 2020, Jamie Raskin's office announced that his son Tommy Raskin had died at the age of 25 after a battle with depression.

January 4, 2021: Tribute to Tommy Raskin

On January 4, 2021, Jamie Raskin and his wife posted a tribute to their son online, revealing that he had died by suicide after a prolonged battle with depression. Tommy's farewell note was also shared.

January 5, 2021: Burial of Tommy Raskin

On January 5, 2021, Jamie Raskin's son, Tommy, was buried.

January 12, 2021: Named lead impeachment manager for Trump's second impeachment

On January 12, 2021, Jamie Raskin was named the lead impeachment manager for the Senate impeachment trial held after Trump's second impeachment. He was the primary author of the impeachment article.

July 1, 2021: Appointed to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack

On July 1, 2021, Jamie Raskin was one of seven Democrats appointed to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

February 2022: Accusations of violating the STOCK Act

In February 2022, it was reported that Jamie Raskin allegedly violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act by failing to properly disclose his wife's share dealings. This was during the period his wife was under consideration for a position as the Federal Reserve's vice chair of supervision.

July 12, 2022: Co-led the Select Committee's seventh public hearing

On July 12, 2022, Jamie Raskin co-led the Select Committee's seventh public hearing with Representative Stephanie Murphy, which focused on the role of extremist groups and Trump's December 19 tweet in the January 6 Capitol attack.

July 2022: Led letter to White House Conference on Hunger

In July 2022, Jamie Raskin led a letter by 32 members of Congress to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, requesting that all federal facilities offer a daily vegetarian entrée option.

September 2022: Inclusion in the White House National Strategy on Hunger

In September 2022, the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health included a nonbinding pledge to increase plant-based offerings across federal facilities.

December 2022: Diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

In December 2022, Jamie Raskin announced that he had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and would undergo chemoimmunotherapy.

2022: Publication of "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy"

In 2022, Jamie Raskin's book "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy" was published. The book focuses on his son's life and Raskin's preparation for the impeachment trial.

Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy

Check it on Amazon

March 2023: Voted against H.Con.Res. 21

In March 2023, Jamie Raskin voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

April 2023: Completion of Chemoimmunotherapy

In April 2023, Jamie Raskin completed chemoimmunotherapy treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

April 27, 2023: Cancer in Remission

On April 27, 2023, Jamie Raskin announced that his cancer was in remission.

November 17, 2023: Called for a humanitarian pause in the Gaza war

On November 17, 2023, Jamie Raskin called for a humanitarian pause in the Gaza war or a "mutually agreed-upon cease-fire" that would "provide for a ‘global humanitarian surge’ of aid to hundreds of thousands of displaced and suffering innocent civilians throughout Gaza."

March 2024: Led letter to urging increased plant-based offerings

In March 2024, Jamie Raskin led a letter by 55 members of Congress urging the administration to follow through with the proposal and increase plant-based offerings in federal facilities.

August 2025: Cosponsored the "Block the Bombs Act"

In August 2025, Jamie Raskin cosponsored the "Block the Bombs Act", which would block offensive weapons to Israel.

November 25, 2025: Report on Trump's cryptocurrency policies released

On November 25, 2025, Jamie Raskin released a report finding that Trump's cryptocurrency policies benefited Trump and his family, adding billions to his net worth through cryptocurrency schemes entangled with foreign governments, corporate allies, and criminal actors. The report was titled Trump, Crypto, and a New Age of Corruption.

2025: Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

In 2025, Jamie Raskin, along with other members of the January 6th Committee, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his "defense of freedom and democracy".