Yvette M. Alexander is a Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 She has represented Ward 7 on the Council of the District of Columbia

Council of the District of Columbia

The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...

 since she won a special election in 2007.

Education

Alexander has a Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Business Administration

The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...

 from Howard University

Howard University

Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...

. and did graduate work at Trinity College

Trinity Washington University

Trinity Washington University, founded in 1897 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is a Roman Catholic university located in Washington, D.C. across from Catholic University of America and the Dominican House of Studies...

.

Political career

On May 1, 2007, Alexander won the special election to succeed her political mentor Vincent C. Gray

Vincent C. Gray

Vincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...

. Gray had represented Ward 7 before he become council chairman in January. She received 34 percent of the vote, beating 17 other candidates (14 Democrats and 4 independents).
She faced a Democratic primary

Primary election

A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....

 for re-election on September 9, 2008. Her opponents in the Democratic primary were John Campbell, Villareal "VJ" Johnson, and Robin Hammond Marlin. No individuals filed to appear on the ballot for the Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 or Statehood-Green

D.C. Statehood Green Party

The D.C. Statehood Green Party, also known as the D.C. Statehood Party, is a political party in Washington, D.C. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party, but has traditionally been involved primarily with issues related to D.C. Statehood...

 parties. Alexander won the primary and general election.

Alexander lobbied other state delegations for DC voting rights

District of Columbia voting rights

Voting rights of citizens in the District of Columbia differ from those of United States citizens in each of the fifty states. District of Columbia residents do not have voting representation in the United States Senate, but D.C. is entitled to three electoral votes for President. In the U.S...

 at the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. She was an Obama superdelegate

Superdelegate

"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....

 (though formally unpledged) to the 2008 Democratic National Convention

2008 Democratic National Convention

The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...

, although she had endorsed Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

 before Hillary Clinton conceded the race.

Awards

• Paula Nickens Grassroots Award from the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee
• Lorraine H. Whitlock - Democrat of the Year from the Ward 7 Democrats
• Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative Service Award
• Washington D.C. Pan-Hellenic Council’s Unsung Hero Award
• New Era of Leadership Award from the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization

Committees

• Committee on Aging and Community Affairs (Chair)
• Committee on Economic Development
• Committee on Health
• Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation
• Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary

External links

• Yvette Alexander (campaign website)
• Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander Biography (official website)