Background and career
Rosa Luisa DeLauro ( dih-LOR-oh; born March 2, 1943) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in New Haven and includes most of its suburbs. DeLauro has been the dean of Connecticut's congressional delegation since 2013 upon the retirement of Senator Joe Lieberman. In 2020, DeLauro was selected as chair of the House Appropriations Committee for the 117th Congress, succeeding Nita Lowey, and becoming the second woman to hold the position. She co-chaired the House Democratic Steering Committee from 2003 to 2021.
DeLauro was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to an Italian-American family, the daughter of Luisa "Louise" (née Canestri), a New Haven alderwoman, and Theodore J. "Ted" DeLauro, an Italian immigrant. She earned her high school diploma from The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall in Milford, Connecticut. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, attended the London School of Economics, and earned a master of arts degree in international politics from Columbia University.. Before entering the House of Representatives, DeLauro worked as Senator Chris Dodd's chief of staff and campaign manager, was the executive director of EMILY's List, and coordinated 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis's tristate area campaign.
In 1990, four-term incumbent U.S. Representative Bruce Morrison of Connecticut's 3rd congressional district retired in order to run for governor of Connecticut. DeLauro sought the open seat and she quickly consolidated Democratic support behind her, earning Morrison's endorsement and prompting State Representative Mike Lawlor's withdrawal from the campaign. DeLauro defeated Republican State Senator Thomas Scott 52%–48% in a particularly brutal general election with ad hominem attacks against her, in which her opponent Scott said that DeLauro had kept her maiden name only to appeal to the region's Italian voters. State Republican chair Richard Foley characterized DeLauro as "Walter Mondale in drag". The campaign was equally combative over policy matters, with both candidates' microphones cut off during a radio debate after repeated attacks over abortion and capital punishment. Since then, the congressional district campaigns have returned to being more civil and DeLauro has never faced another contest nearly so close as her first. She has been re-elected seventeen times, maintaining at least 56% of the vote each election.
In 2006, DeLauro was re-elected to a ninth term, defeating Republican nominee Joseph Vollano with 76% of the vote.
DeLauro was reelected to a tenth term with 77% of the vote.
DeLauro was re-elected to an eleventh term with 65% of the vote against Connecticut Republican Party treasurer Jerry Labriola Jr.
