WeVote
Log In
Officials
Chris Coons portrait

Chris Coons (Delaware)

State Senator • Democratic

Role

US Senator

Born

September 9, 1963 (62 years old)

Office

United States

About

Christopher Andrew Coons, born on September 9, 1963, in Greenwich, Connecticut, is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Delaware since 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Coons has been recognized for his commitment to bipartisanship and effective legislation. He has served on several key Senate committees, including Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics, where he is the chair. Coons has also co-founded and leads multiple caucuses, such as the Senate Human Rights Caucus and the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

Education and Political Experience

  • Education:

    • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Chemistry from Amherst College
    • Master's degree in Religion from Yale Divinity School
    • Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

  • Political Experience:

    • President of the New Castle County Council
    • New Castle County Executive
    • United States Senator from Delaware

Throughout his career, Coons has been dedicated to bipartisan engagement, focusing on issues such as human rights, climate solutions, and law enforcement. His legislative efforts include the American Dream Accounts Act, aimed at expanding access to higher education, and the Defend Trade Secrets Act, enhancing protection for American innovation.

Committees

Judiciary

member

Judiciary Committee Border Security and Immigration

member

Judiciary Committee Crime and Counterterrorism

member

Judiciary Committee Intellectual Property

member

Judiciary Committee Privacy, Technology and the Law

member

Select Committee on Ethics

vice chair

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

member

Appropriations

member

Appropriations Committee Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

member

Appropriations Committee Defense

ranking member

Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development

member

Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government

member

Appropriations Committee State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs

member

Appropriations Committee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies

member

Foreign Relations Committee East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy

ranking member

Foreign Relations

member

Foreign Relations Committee Africa and Global Health Policy

member

Foreign Relations Committee Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions and International Economic, Energy and Environmental Policy

member

Foreign Relations Committee State Department and USAID Management, International Operations and Bilateral International Development

member