[PAR] [TLE] Tammy Duckworth [SEP] Ladda Tammy Duckworth (born March 12, 1968) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, serving as the junior United States Senator for Illinois since 2017.  A member of the Democratic Party, she earlier represented Illinois' 8th district for two terms (2013–2017) in the United States House of Representatives.  Before seeking elective office, she served as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (2009-2011), and she was the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (2006-2009).  In the 2016 election, Duckworth defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk for the seat in the United States Senate. [PAR] [TLE] Carol Moseley Braun [SEP] Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun, also sometimes Moseley-Braun (born August 16, 1947), is an American diplomat, politician and lawyer who represented Illinois in the United States Senate from 1993 to 1999.  She was the first female African-American Senator, the first African-American U.S. Senator for the Democratic Party, the first woman to defeat an incumbent U.S. Senator in an election, and the first female Senator from Illinois.  She was the only female U.S. Senator from Illinois until Tammy Duckworth who became the U.S. Senator from Illinois in January 2017.  From 1999 until 2001, she was the United States Ambassador to New Zealand.  She was a candidate for the Democratic nomination during the 2004 U.S. presidential election.  Following the public announcement by Richard M. Daley that he would not seek re-election, in November 2010, Braun began her campaign for Mayor of Chicago.  The former Senator placed fourth in a field of six candidates, losing the February 22, 2011, election to Rahm Emanuel.
[PAR] [TLE] Tammy Duckworth [ SEP ] Ladda Tammy Duckworth ( born March 12 , 1968 ) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel , serving as the junior United States Senator for Illinois since 2017 . A member of the Democratic Party , she earlier represented Illinois ' 8th district for two terms ( 2013–2017 ) in the United States House of Representatives . Before seeking elective office , she served as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( 2009 - 2011 ) , and she was the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs ( 2006 - 2009 ) . In the 2016 election , Duckworth defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk for the seat in the United States Senate . [PAR] [TLE] Carol Moseley Braun [ SEP ] Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun , also sometimes Moseley - Braun ( born August 16 , 1947 ) , is an American diplomat , politician and lawyer who represented Illinois in the United States Senate from 1993 to 1999 . She was the first female African - American Senator , the first African - American U.S. Senator for the Democratic Party , the first woman to defeat an incumbent U.S. Senator in an election , and the first female Senator from Illinois . She was the only female U.S. Senator from Illinois until Tammy Duckworth who became the U.S. Senator from Illinois in January 2017 . From 1999 until 2001 , she was the United States Ambassador to New Zealand . She was a candidate for the Democratic nomination during the 2004 U.S. presidential election . Following the public announcement by Richard M. Daley that he would not seek re - election , in November 2010 , Braun began her campaign for Mayor of Chicago . The former Senator placed fourth in a field of six candidates , losing the February 22 , 2011 , election to Rahm Emanuel .
Who defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk to become the second female U.S. Senator from Illinois?
Who defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk to become the second female U.S. Senator from Illinois ?
Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth