Education: St. Mary's Col., B.S. 1966, George Washington U., M.D. 1970
Professional Career: Practicing physician, 1975–97; Territorial Asst., Commissioner of Health, 1988–94; Acting Commissioner of Health, 1994–95.
Ethnicity: Black/African American
Religion: Moravian
Family: Married (Christian); 6 children
The delegate from the Virgin Islands is Donna Christensen, a Democrat first elected in 1996. Christensen is from an old St. Croix family. Her father was Virgin Islands Chief District Court Judge Almeric Christian. She graduated from St. Mary’s College and George Washington Medical School, and then practiced medicine for more than 20 years in the Virgin Islands. In 1996, she ran for delegate against incumbent independent Victor Frazer, and led 38%-34% on Nov. 5. She won in a runoff 52%-48%. In the House, Christensen has forged alliances with the Congressional Black Caucus, and she is the first woman physician to serve in Congress. In 2008, she got a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, making her the first territorial delegate to land a spot on one of the five “A-list” committees. She strongly supported the Democrats’ health care bill in 2009-10, and sought more Medicaid funding for the territories. Christensen has been re-elected by wide margins. In 2010, she won 71% of the vote against three opponents. Read More
The delegate from the Virgin Islands is Donna Christensen, a Democrat first elected in 1996. Christensen is from an old St. Croix family. Her father was Virgin Islands Chief District Court Judge Almeric Christian. She graduated from St. Mary’s College and George Washington Medical School, and then practiced medicine for more than 20 years in the Virgin Islands. In 1996, she ran for delegate against incumbent independent Victor Frazer, and led 38%-34% on Nov. 5. She won in a runoff 52%-48%. In the House, Christensen has forged alliances with the Congressional Black Caucus, and she is the first woman physician to serve in Congress. In 2008, she got a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, making her the first territorial delegate to land a spot on one of the five “A-list” committees. She strongly supported the Democrats’ health care bill in 2009-10, and sought more Medicaid funding for the territories. Christensen has been re-elected by wide margins. In 2010, she won 71% of the vote against three opponents.
Perhaps the most contentious issue she had to deal with was rum. She backed a deal allowing the Virgin Islands to issue bonds to pay for a new $165 million distillery for the British firm Diageo, producer of Captain Morgan rum, which planned to relocate from Puerto Rico. The Islands government estimated it would get $119 million annual revenue, of which $36 million would go to Diageo as an incentive to move. Not surprisingly, Puerto Rican politicians were unhappy with the plan, and they argued that it was illegitimate to use rum tax funds to lure a rum distillery operation from one territory to another.
The vote ratings by 10 special interest groups provide insight into a lawmaker’s general ideology and the degree to which he or she agrees with the group’s point of view. Some organizations provide just one combined rating for 2009 and 2010, the two sessions of the 111th Congress. About the interest groups.
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The first Almanac of American Politics was published in 1971, and it hasn’t missed an election since.
The nation’s most authoritative source of information about members of Congress, their districts,
the governors and the states is published in print form after the national elections every two years by the National Journal Group in Washington D.C.
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Jay Rockefeller Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia stunned political observers when he announced on Jan. 11 that he would not seek a sixth term in 2014. The Democrat is the state's senior senator, and chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Jay Rockefeller Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia stunned political observers when he announced on Jan. 11 that he would not seek a sixth term in 2014. The Democrat is the state's senior senator, and chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
