 When U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood of Illinois decided to run for office, it wasn’t on a whim. It was personal—and political. She was working for a Medicaid managed care plan in Chicago in 2017 when her congressman stood up at a town hall and promised he’d protect people with preexisting conditions. As a nurse with a heart condition who relied on ACA coverage, she took him at his word. Then he broke it.
That moment launched one of the most impactful congressional careers of the last decade. Today, Rep. Underwood is widely recognized as one of the most effective members of Congress. She’s known not just for her policy expertise, but for the clarity she brings to issues that touch every American life, especially when it comes to health care.
She’s not interested in abstract policy debates or culture wars. She’s interested in impact. Whether serving on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee or fighting to improve maternal health outcomes—especially for Black women—she’s focused on solutions, not soundbites.
And yet, it still is. Rep. Underwood doesn’t shy away from calling out who’s blocking that progress—and what it costs us.
This episode left me reflecting on the kind of leadership that doesn’t just diagnose the problem. It insists on healing. Rep. Underwood doesn’t posture. She doesn’t pander. She does the work. And she reminds us what politics can be at its best: principled, personal, and powered by people who refuse to look away. Lauren Underwood is proof that lived experience belongs at the policymaking table. She’s not just in the room. She’s shifting the conversation and saving lives. –Jaime You're currently a free subscriber to Welcome to Jaime's Table. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Representative Lauren Underwood (IL)
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