Suzan DelBene

Early life and education

DelBene was born in Selma, Alabama, the fifth child of Barry and Beth Oliver. At a young age, her family moved to Newport Hills in Bellevue, Washington. Later they moved to Mercer Island. In an autobiographical video, DelBene described her family's trouble paying bills and the hardship they faced after her father, a longtime airline pilot, lost his job. After fourth grade, her family moved around the country in search of work.

After graduating from The Choate School, a prep school in Wallingford, Connecticut, DelBene went to Reed College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She then continued her education at the University of Washington, earning a Master of Business Administration degree.

Business career

From 1989 to 1998 DelBene worked at Microsoft, where she was director of marketing and business development for the Interactive Media Group, marketing and sales training for Microsoft's Internet properties, and other business development and product management roles with Windows 95 and early versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser. In 1998 she left to help found drugstore.com and serve as a vice president. In 2000, she became CEO of Nimble Technology, leading it through its acquisition by Actuate in 2003. In 2004, she returned to Microsoft as corporate vice president of the Mobile Communications Business until 2007. From 2008 to 2009, she was a management consultant and strategic advisor to Global Partnerships, a nonprofit supporting microfinance and sustainable solutions in Latin America. DelBene was named as the director for the Washington State Department of Revenue on November 30, 2010, replacing outgoing director Cindi Holmstrom.

U.S. House of Representatives (2012-present)

Elections

2010

Main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington#District 8

In 2010 DelBene ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat against the incumbent in the 8th congressional district, Dave Reichert, a Republican. According to DelBene's campaign website, the economy was her top priority. She was endorsed by The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, as well as several Democratic politicians.

DelBene faced Reichert in the general election, after coming in 2nd in the primary voting. In Washington, the top two advance. She lost to Reichert in the general election on November 2. She was named Washington State Revenue Director by Governor Christine Gregoire on November 30.

2012

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington#District 1

DelBene ran for Congress again in 2012. She won the Democratic nomination for the redrawn 1st district, previously represented by Jay Inslee, which became more competitive due to redistricting. Inslee had resigned in March to focus on his campaign for governor. DelBene ran in two elections that day against Republican John Koster—a special election for the last two months of Inslee's seventh term (held in the boundaries of the old 1st), and a regular election for a full two-year term. She defeated Koster in both, winning the special election with 60% of the vote and the regular election with 54%. Her victory margin in the regular election was wider than expected, considering that the district was about six points less Democratic than its predecessor. On November 13, she was sworn in as the district's representative for the remainder of the 112th Congress, giving her a leg up in seniority over all but a few other representatives first elected in November 2012 for the 113th Congress.

DelBene spent $2.8 million of her own money in a race in which she raised over $4 million, in a Congressional race that became the most expensive in Washington state history.

2014

Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington#District 1

DelBene defeated Republican nominee Pedro Celis with 55% of the vote.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Tax
  • Subcommittee on Trade

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition
• Caucus on Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality Technologies (Co-Chair)
• Digital Trade Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Internet of Things (IoT) Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Kidney Caucus (Co-Chair)
• MedTech Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
• Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Reality Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Women's High Tech Coalition (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Veterinary Medicine Caucus
• LGBTQ Equality Caucus
• Congressional Ukraine Caucus
• Diabetes Caucus
• Rare Disease Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus

Political positions

DelBene is one of the leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus and supported access to reproductive health care by serving on the Select Committee to Investigate Planned Parenthood, which was established under former Speaker Paul Ryan in 2015.

DelBene voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

DelBene voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[[File:Congresswoman Suzan DelBene Lynwood Link Groundbreaking.jpg|thumb|DelBene speaking at the Lynnwood Link Extension Project Groundbreaking Ceremony in September 2019]]

Electoral history

• Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2020, write-ins received 511 votes. In 2022, write-ins received 363 votes. In 2024, write-ins received 907 votes.

Personal life

DelBene is married to Kurt DelBene, who has served as Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs since November 2021. He was previously Chief Digital Officer and EVP of Corporate Strategy, Core Services Engineering and Operations at Microsoft Corporation, and led the effort to fix the Healthcare.gov website at President Barack Obama's request. The couple has two children.

DelBene is a practicing Episcopalian.

References

References

1. link. (February 16, 2017 ")
2. (November 2, 2010). "Democrat Suzan DelBene concedes 8th District race". Seattle Times.
3. Heffter, Emily. "DelBene beats Koster in race for U.S. House". Seattle Times.
4. Valdes, Manuel. "DelBene wins in Wash. 1st District". timesunion.com.
5. Jonathan Martin [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/delbene-faces-tougher-fight-than-expected-in-1st-district-race/ DelBene faces tougher fight than expected in 1st District race] {{Webarchive. link. (December 21, 2018)
6. Gregory Roberts, [http://www.seattlepi.com/local/401152_reichert24.html Democrats target Reichert over his no vote on stimulus] [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] February 23, 2009
7. "Reed Magazine".
8. "Suzan DelBene: Corporate Vice President, Mobile Communications Business". Microsoft.
9. [https://people.forbes.com/profile/suzan-k-delbene/123585 Suzan K. DelBene] {{Webarchive. link. (October 16, 2010 ''[[Forbes]]'')
10. "Suzan DelBene".
11. La Corte, Rachel. (November 30, 2010). "Gov. Gregoire appoints Suzan DelBene to cabinet". Seattle Times.
12. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091016121619/http://delbeneforcongress.com/content/id/4/Why-I%27m-Running Why I'm Running] DelBene for Congress
13. (October 12, 2010). "The Times endorses Suzan DelBene in the 8th Congressional District". Seattle Times.
14. (October 13, 2010). "Send DelBene to Congress". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
15. [http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/52389537.html Ross Hunter endorses Suzan DelBene for Congress] {{Webarchive. link. (March 14, 2010 ''Bellevue Reporter'' Aug 3, 2009)
16. Martin, Jonathan. (May 12, 2012). "The race is on to fill new 1st Congressional District". Seattle Times.
17. "House Floor Activities: Legislative Day of November 13, 2012". Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
18. "DelBene leading Koster for Congress in 1st Dist. - HeraldNet.com – Local news".
19. "DelBene wins 1st District seat; Larsen wins 2nd District".
20. "Congressional District 1".
21. "List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
22. "Members". New Democrat Coalition.
23. "Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans". Turkish Coalition of America.
24. "Honorary Congressional Co-Chairs {{!}} Womens High Tech Coalition".
25. "About the CEC". CEC.
26. "Members". Congressional Ukraine Caucus.
27. "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases.
28. (2018-05-18). "DelBene, Pro-Choice Leaders Issue Joint Statement on President Trump's Title X Domestic Gag Rule".
29. Crockett, Emily. (2016-04-29). "Congress has spent 15 months "investigating" Planned Parenthood using McCarthy-like tactics".
30. Demirjian, Karoun. (2023-10-25). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times.
31. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154. (2023-10-25). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session".
32. Bycoffe, Aaron. (2021-04-22). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?".
33. "Election Results and Voters Pamphlets". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
34. "VA Bio".
35. "Leadership Stories".
36. (April 13, 2015). "Kurt Delbene".
37. "Full Biography - U.S. House of Representatives".
38. Paulsen, David. (November 9, 2017). "Episcopalians bring faith perspectives to Congress on both sides of political aisle". Episcopal News Service.