Henry Cunningham

### Education

University of Maryland, College Park (BA)University of Maryland School of Law (JD)

**Henry Skipper Cunningham** (born May 26th, 1978) is an American Politician and Lawyer serving as the 8th Governor of Cambridge since September of 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he defeated Republican Kaughllah Granidanger in the Cambridge September Gubernatorial Election and was reelected in October, 2021 with 59.3% of the vote. Prior to his election to the Governorship, Cunningham was the senior Senator from Cambridge from June 2021, to September 2021 in which he served as Senate Minority Leader and Whip during his tenure in the United States Senate.

Cunningham identifies himself as a Progressive. His politics is described as mostly aligned with the New Deal policies of President Franklin D Roosevelt with a great emphasis on labor rights.

## **Early Life**

Henry Cunningham was born May 26, 1978 in Baltimore, Maryland. to Norwegian Immigrant Parents William Cunningham and Janet Cunningham (nee Olson) who had moved to the United States in 1970. William Cunningham was a Union Construction Worker who raised Henry in a Blue Collar Background.

Cunningham lived in the Highlandtown neighborhood in Baltimore where he spend most of his early childhood in his family townhome

Cunningham became interested in politics at a early age when he attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he became active in the College Democrats. during at his time at College Park Cunningham earned his bachelor degree in Political Science in 2001 and then his earning his J.D. Degree at the University of Maryland School of Law in 2004.

## **Early Career**

After graduating law school, Cunningham began working as an Attorney at a local law firm in Baltimore where we gain a reputation as an effective lawyer. after years working an lawyer in Baltimore, Cunningham begins getting involved in local politics and started working on campaigns of Maryland politicians on the local and state level.

## **U.S. House of Representatives**

#### **Elections**

**May, 2021**

Cunningham filed his candidacy for Congress on May 2, 2021 where he challenged Incumbent 4-term Representative John Trump. In the lead up to election day Cunningham was up in the Polls against the Representative and On May 14, 2021 was elected as the Next Representative for Cambridge's 1st Congressional District. Winning in a close race to unseat Representative John Trump.

Cunningham was sworn in on May 19, 2021

#### **Committee Assignments**

Congressman Cunningham sat on these committees during his time in the House of Representatives

* Committee on Foreign Relations
* Committee on Intelligence

#### **Resignation from the US House of Representatives**

With Charges of Plagiarism pending on the Representative for the Emmett Till Anti Lynching Act. Cunningham apologize for his actions and then announced that he would resign from Congress on the Morning of May 30, 2021.

## **Attorney General of Cambridge**

#### **Appointment**

Following a Small break from Political Office following his resignation from Congress, Cunningham on June, 3 2021 was appointed by Governor Lucas Underwood to be the 1st Attorney General of Cambridge.

#### **Tenure**

Cunningham was swore in as Attorney General of Cambridge on June, 3 2021 becoming the Commonwealth of Cambridge first Attorney General and served as the Commonwealth Attorney General until his resignation on June 12, 2021 following his election to the United States Senate.

## **U.S Senate**

#### **Elections**

**June, 2021**

After Senator Jamaal Jones announced on June 2, 2021, that he would retired from the Senate at the end of his term, then Attorney General Henry Cunningham announced and filed his candidacy for the United States Senate with Senator Michael Sturgis expressing his support for Cunningham Candidacy.

He won the Democratic Primary with 55.6% of the vote against Matthew Miller 44.4%. Cunningham when on to win in the General election unopposed with 88.22% of the vote. The remaining votes were write-ins

Cunningham was sworn in on June 14, 2021

**August, 2021**

Senator Henry Cunningham announced on July 25, 2021, that he intended to run for a second term in the United States Senate.

He won the Democratic Primary with 100% of the vote against Conservative and Pro-Life Challenger Herman Smith.

Cunningham faced Congresswoman Susan Collins in the general election where Cunningham campaigned fiercely all over the Commonwealth of Cambridge and that Polls indicated that race would be a very close race for Senator Cunningham.

Cunningham was re-elected with 52.5% of the vote against Republican Congresswoman Susan Collins.

#### **Tenure**

During Cunningham Time in the United States Senate, he was considered one of the most Left members of the Chamber during a time where it's was dominated by the Republican Party during the majority of his time in the Chamber. Cunningham could reach out across the aisle on issues that he and his Republican colleagues could agree on like expanding internet broadband to rural America in which Cunningham led the effort in with the Accessible Internet Expansion Act of 2021 in where it's unanimous approved in the Senate and later signed by then-President Brett Cawthorn. Cunningham also led the effort for a Green New Deal Resolution in Congress but failed to pass during a Floor vote on the Resolution. Cunningham was a notable anti-interventionist and war voice in Congress in which he voted against Resolutions during the Algerian crisis that would have increased American military force in the crisis preferring to continue the diplomacy option. Cunningham did vote for Speaker Lucas Underwood H.Res. 829 | Joint Congressional Resolution Granting Emergency Authorization of the Use of Military Force Against the People's Republic of China and Its Aggression Towards Taiwan following China's increasingly aggressive actions and behavior against Taiwan. During the end of Senator Cunningham time in the United States Senate, he and Representative James Reason joined in a Bipartisan effort to end mass surveillance of Americans by the government with the National Freedom Act of 2021 in which it's was successful in passing in Congress and signed by President Everett Terry following Senator Cunningham departure from the Senate.

#### **Leadership**

As Senator Alexander Williams then Senator Majority Leader decided to not run for reelection and run for Governor of Shoshone. Cunningham was elected was elected Senate Minority Leader after the Democrats lost control of the Senate on July 11, 2021. Cunningham served as Senate Minority Leader until July 28, 2021.

Following fellow Cambridge Senator Robert Sanders defection to the Democratic Party, Cunningham step down as Senate Minority Leader with Sanders replacing him as the New Senate Minority Leader of the 9th Congress.

After the Season 7 Presidential Election the newly created Conservative Party with Senator Sanders and Cooley joining the new party meaning they becoming the new Official Minority Caucus in the United States Senate which in turn means Cunningham losing the position of Minority Whip and Democrats Status as the Senate Minority Caucus for the rest of the Congress until the Democrats regained their Minority Status following the dissolution of the Conservative party and their merged into the Republican Party and the September Midterms.

#### **Committee Assignments**

Ethics (Chairman)

Foreign Affairs (Member)

Health and Human Services (Member)

Intelligence (Member)

Judiciary (Member)

Rules and Oversight (Member)

## Governor of Cambridge

#### **September Election**

Following the Unsteady Leadership of Republican Governor John Trump and the Accession of Lt. Governor Susan Collins to the Cambridge Governorship after the Suspension of Governor John Trump from DES. then Senator Cunningham announced and filled his candidacy for Governor of Cambridge in the Season 7 Midterm Elections with many prominent Cambridge Democrats for Senator Cunningham Candidacy.

Cunningham won the Democratic Primary unopposed. He faced Republican Kaughllah Granidanger in the General Election after Governor Susan Collins ruled out a bid for a full term as Governor of Cambridge. Henry Cunningham was elected Governor of Cambridge on September 3, with 59.6% of the vote against Republican Kaughllah Granidanger, with Leslie Knope who was selected to be his running mate being elected as the Lt. Governor of Cambridge.

Henry Cunningham resigned from the United States Senate on September 6, 2021, to assumed office as the 8th Governor of Cambridge following the expiration of Collins's term on that day.

#### **First Term**

Shortly after being sworn in, Cunningham signed two executive orders rescinding the many executive orders of Governor John Trump and Appointing then Representative Michael Sturgis to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy created by his departure from the Senate to assume the Governorship. Following that Governor Cunningham made an address the Commonwealth as a whole which made his Progressive agenda clear for the Commonwealth and what to follow for the next few weeks while in Office as Governor of Cambridge.

As Governor, Cunningham signed more executive orders which includes a Declaration of a State Public Health Emergency for the Heroin and Opioids Epidemics, Establishment of Right to Repair in the Commonwealth of Cambridge, The Withdraw of the Commonwealth of Cambridge from the Colonial Pipeline Project with the Commonwealth of New Columbia and an Establishment of a ban on Hydraulic Fracturing which is commonly known as "Fracking" in Commonwealth Parks and Forests.

On September 9th Cunningham signed his proposed budget for Cambridge into law which was called the "FY September 2021 Cambridge Prosperity Budget." which established what is spent by the Government of the Commonwealth of Cambridge and a 6.5% sales tax for the Commonwealth. With a real budget established for Cambridge, Cunningham got to work on his agenda which first includes the signing of the "Cambridge Build Back Better Act" which repeals much of the conservative legislation that was signed during John Trump tenure as Governor of Cambridge. following that Cunningham moved forward with a Large Pro-Labor Package which became the "For the Cambridge Workers Act". Signed on September 16th into law, this Act includes Increase Protections for Unions and Workers attempts to Unionize while providing a raise to the Commonwealth Minimum Wage in 4 years to Fifteen dollars per hour.

After getting the "For the Cambridge Workers Act." done, Cunningham moved his attention towards Inter-Commonwealth relations which lead to the Creation of the DES National Governor Association in which Cunningham was very Instrumental in the creation of the Organization following his meetings with the His follow Governors in Washington D.C. such as Bernie Booker of Superior, Olivia Hutchinson of Shoshone and Rachel Harper II of New Columbia. Following Season 8 General Elections, Cunningham became the Vice Chairman of the NGA with Governor Hutchinson serving as Chair of the NGA following the Resignation of Rachel Harper II to assume the Vice Presidency.

After the Creation of the NGA, Cunningham return to Newport which he signed a new executive order to declare a State of Climate Emergency which shall last until the Commonwealth of Cambridge reaches Carbon Neutrality. Back to Domestic Issues Cunningham got to work on a Infrastructure Package which became the "Infrastructure Investment and Advancement Act of 2021" in where Investments is made to begin the modernization of Cambridge Infrastructure while starting the Construction of High Speed Rail Lines throughout the Commonwealth of Cambridge.

After the Actions taken in Washington D.C. regarding both Foreign and Domestic Issues, The National Economy took a hit which resulted in rising unemployment and more economic hardships as a whole. Cunningham got to work and quickly got the "Cambridge Economic Recovery Plan" together and signed into law on September 19th which provides direct stimulus checks to Working Class Cantabrigans and give relief to small businesses who are in need of it.

#### **October Election**

On October 11th, Governor Cunningham filed to run for a Second Term as Governor of Cambridge with a Kickoff rally in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland the next day.

He won a pretty contested Democratic Primary against Challenger Senator Michael Sturgis with 55.6% of the Vote.

Cunningham faced Congressman Frankie Acitelli for the majority of the campaign season where polls indicated that it would a close between the Incumbent Governor and the Congressman until on October 26th Congressman Acitelli suspended his Campaign for Governor due to Personal reasons. Acitelli running mate Richard Carro replaced him as the Republican Nominee for Governor.

Henry Cunningham was re-elected Governor of Cambridge on October 29, with 59.3%% of the vote against Republican Challenger Richard Carro, with Gina Hassan being elected as Lt. Governor to succeed Leslie Knope.

## Political Positions

**Healthcare-**

Cunningham supports transitioning into a single-payer healthcare system and views healthcare as a human right, and that states "The United States is behind the rest of the world in terms of ensuring that all Americans has real healthcare coverage without that put them into debt."

**Education-**

Cunningham supports and campaigned in favor of making higher education more affordable and the cancellation of all student loan debt.

**Labor rights-**

Cunningham is very vocal support of labor and union rights and that he supports strong pro union legislation and maintaining a $15 dollar federal min wage.

**Environment-**

Consider very progressive on the environment and conservation. Cunningham believes the current climate crisis is a national security threat and that during his time in the United States Senate he wrote the Green New Deal Resolution to address the climate crisis.