# Shontel Brown

Shontel Monique Brown (born June 24, 1975) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 11th congressional district since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Brown previously served as a member of the Cuyahoga County Council, representing the 9th district. She won her congressional seat in a special election on November 2, 2021, after Marcia Fudge resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Joe Biden.

## Early life and education

Brown earned an Associate of Science degree in business management from Cuyahoga Community College. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational management from Wilberforce University.

## Career

Brown founded Diversified Digital Solutions, a marketing support company. She was elected to the Warrensville Heights City Council in 2011, where she held office for three years. In 2014, she was elected to the 9th District on the Cuyahoga County Council, succeeding Councilwoman C. Ellen Connally. Her district includes much of eastern Cuyahoga County, including Warrensville Heights, Bedford, Shaker Heights, Orange, and part of eastern Cleveland. In 2017, she was elected chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, defeating State Senator Sandra Williams and Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins. Upon taking office, Brown became the first woman and the first African American to serve as Cuyahoga County Democratic party chair.

## U.S. House of Representatives
### Elections
#### 2021 special

On March 10, 2021, Marcia Fudge resigned her seat in the United States House of Representatives, after being confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Biden administration. Governor Mike DeWine set the primary date for August 3, concurrent with the special election in Ohio's 15th congressional district. The general election was on November 2. Shontel Brown won both the competitive Democratic primary and the general election, and was sworn in on November 4.

#### 2022

Brown defeated former state Senator Nina Turner in the May 3, 2022, Democratic primary for the 11th district. She was endorsed by President Joe Biden and the Congressional Progressive Caucus; the Congressional Progressive Caucus had supported Turner in the Democratic primary for Ohio's 11th congressional district special election in 2021.

### Committee assignments

* Committee on Agriculture
* Committee on Oversight and Reform
* United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party

### Caucus memberships

* Congressional Black Caucus
* Congressional Equality Caucus
* New Democrat Coalition
* Congressional Progressive Caucus
* Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment

## Political positions

As a U.S. representative, Brown supported the Build Back Better Act.
Brown voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Brown received 4.5 million dollars in campaign donations from pro-Israel sources.

## Personal life

Brown is a Baptist.

## Electoral history
### 2021 Ohio's 11th congressional district special election

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown | 38,505 | 50.11% |
| | Democratic | Nina Turner | 34,239 | 44.56% |
| | Democratic | Jeff Johnson | 1,388 | 1.81% |
| | Democratic | John E. Barnes Jr. | 801 | 1.04% |
| | Democratic | Shirley Smith | 599 | 0.78% |
| | Democratic | Seth J. Corey | 493 | 0.64% |
| | Democratic | Pamela M. Pinkney | 184 | 0.24% |
| | Democratic | Will Knight | 182 | 0.24% |
| | Democratic | Tariq Shabazz | 134 | 0.17% |
| | Democratic | Martin Alexander | 105 | 0.14% |
| | Democratic | James Jerome Bell | 101 | 0.13% |
| | Democratic | Lateek Shabazz | 61 | 0.08% |
| | Democratic | Isaac Powell | 52 | 0.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,844 | 100.0% |
Ohio's 11th congressional district special election, 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown | 81,636 | 78.8% |
| | Republican | Laverne Gore | 21,929 | 21.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,565 | 100.0% |

### 2022 Ohio's 11th congressional district election

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown (incumbent) | 40,517 | 66.5 |
| | Democratic | Nina Turner | 20,395 | 33.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,912 | 100.0 |
Ohio's 11th congressional district election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown (incumbent) | 167,722 | 77.8 |
| | Republican | Eric Brewer | 47,988 | 22.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 215,710 | 100.0 |

### 2024 Ohio's 11th congressional district election

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown (incumbent) | 61,573 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,573 | 100.0 |
Ohio's 11th congressional district election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shontel Brown (incumbent) | 236,883 | 78.3 |
| | Republican | Alan Rapoport | 59,394 | 19.6 |
| | | Sean Freeman | 6,107 | 2.0 |
| | Write-in | Tracy Deforde | 27 | 0.0 |
| | Write-in | Christopher Zelonish | 2 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 302,413 | 100.0 |