Katherine M. Clark
DemocratU.S. Representative, MA-5| Age | 62 (b. 1963-07-17) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2013-12-12 (~12 yrs) |
| Education | B.A., St. Lawrence University (1985); J.D., Cornell Law School (1989); M.P.A., Harvard Kennedy School of Government (1997); study abroad in Nagoya, Japan (1983) |
| Prior occupation | Attorney; general counsel for the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services; prosecutor/staff attorney with the Colorado District Attorneys' Council; law clerk |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | New Haven, Connecticut |
| Marital status | Married — Rodney S. Dowell |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Revere, Massachusetts |
| Notable relatives | Daughter Riley Dowell, who was arrested and sentenced to probation in 2023 for assaulting a Boston police officer at a protest |
Pending research: race / ethnicity · religion · languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2013 |
| Previous offices | Melrose School Committee (2002-2008), Chair (2005) · Massachusetts House of Representatives, 32nd Middlesex district (2008-2011) · Massachusetts State Senate, Middlesex and Essex district (2011-2013) |
| Committees | House Committee on Appropriations |
| Caucuses | Congressional Progressive Caucus · Democratic Women's Caucus · Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues · Congressional Animal Protection Caucus · Congressional Taiwan Caucus |
| Leadership | House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair (2019-2021) · House Assistant Speaker (2021-2023) · House Democratic Whip / House Minority Whip (2023-present) |
| Ideology | Voted in line with President Biden's position 100% of the time per FiveThirtyEight (Jan 2023); member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; generally rated as a progressive/liberal Democrat |
| Signature legislation | Anti-SWATTING Act / legislation against swatting and online harassment · Legislation addressing cyber-harassment and electronic privacy protections |
Financial
Net worth: estimate
| Family home (non-primary residence) | real_estate · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2018 |
| Fidelity Government Money Market Fund | fund · $500,000–$1,000,000 · 2018 |
Top donors: Simon Youth Foundation (top donor to Katherine Clark Victory Fund, 2024) ($176,800) · Eastern Bank (top donor to Katherine Clark Majority Fund, 2024) ($43,200)
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Arrested at U.S. Supreme Court abortion-rights protest (2022)
On July 19, 2022, Rep. Katherine Clark, then House Assistant Speaker, was among at least 16 members of Congress arrested by U.S. Capitol Police during an act of civil disobedience outside the Supreme Court protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Police made 34 total arrests and charged participants with 'Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding' for blocking traffic. Clark was released the same day and ordered to pay a fine. She characterized her participation as deliberate civil disobedience and remained in office.